Five years later and I am back here...wow, what a journey the past five years have been!

The book that I mentioned in my first (and last to date) last post was stolen...twice.

I moved from Johannesburg to Cape Town and back again and now travel between South African and England, with my official home being in South Africa and my heart home being in England...what a long story of falling in love and immigration administration - interesting times are being had.

My beautiful daughter finished school and became a visitor in my home rather than a full-time resident...that was a big heart adjustment but with her beautiful, feisty spirit the joy has out-weighed the pain.

My sister & her husband and children relocated from South Africa to Australia which means that I haven't seen them in the flesh for more than a year...another big adjustment, though I was lucky enough to have my time in Cape Town prepare us all for longer gaps between our visits...a visit down under will need to be planned!

My Mom & Dad sold their home to my eldest brother whilst staying on in a renovated, smaller section of the house - with two couples and four children that is a fun zone of note and I have very happily become a regular couch surfer there.

My maternal aunt moved to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape to live closer to her son and his wife after having lived in the city of Pretoria for her entire 66 years of life...what a wonderful adventure in her stage of life - she is learning to embrace semi-retirement in the South African Winelands and I was lucky enough to be able to "assist" her with this process whilst I was still living in Cape Town. Let's just say that plenty of excellent South African wine was sampled...

One of my cousins immigrated to re Republic of Ireland with her husband and children and her mom (my paternal aunt) has visited them a few times and they all seem to be having a ball.

Speaking of Ireland, my daughter and her dad are both citizens of the Republic of Ireland and are now living in Northern Ireland along with my beloved ex-husband's partner and his son...one of many homes that I call home from home and after a lengthy administrative process, my daughter is now waiting for the arrival of her Irish Passport as the final step in her process of becoming a prospective world traveller.

I have grown my yoga practice from once a week to six days a week and as a result I am more centred, stronger and calmer than ever...joy flows through my body and my health is also better than ever - I call myself a yogi now.

Friends have surprised me in the most spectacular ways - human spirit and potential will never fail to absolutely amaze me and more and more with every year that passes...friends truly are the family we choose.

My life partner, soul mate, lover, hero of my heart re-entered my life 32 months ago and we embarked on a whirlwind journey including long-distance romance, visits & many changes to make a life together which we are now happily creating every day. This changed everything for me. Just as I was reaching a peak in my journey to understanding love and self-love, the love of my life walked into my life and everything changed. I have been pushed up against a wall, held over the edge of a cliff and faced all my demons more than once in the dark rooms of my soul. Love and self-love have been tested and twisted and tested again. My beliefs have been to trial and I am pleased to say that they have seen maturation and success and great growth as a result.

My book Love Me Beautiful - "The book" (as I have referred to it twice), is now close to completion with the next phase of the journey being to publish and promote it.