As usual the rebirth of my blog (my blog has been reborn at least 6 times since 1999, making it a looser Christian than even myself) begins in a really random period, at a really random time, when thoughts are ample and my fingers are itching.

Tonight this strange phenomenon is taking hold of me for a number of factors: firstly (you guessed it), I am back in Europe, more specifically in the UK. I am here for six months on a work secondment. And considering the state of the markets today, you should already know - unless you have been living underneath the floorboards - that work is quiet. Hence, I have oodles of time.

Secondly, this is the first time in my life I am officially living alone. My firm has graciously set me up in a pad in Islington, basic but charming and fit for my needs. Perhaps I shall take a little time describing it later when I get past this awkward explanation for my sudden reappearance.

Thirdly, I have ended my year-long hiatus from reading novels. Correction: finishing novels. For some reason I hadn't been able to finish any book that I've picked up in the last year (with the exception of Paul Auster novels which I always manage to finish). Aptly, this ended on the plane ride from Asia here to what I regard as a new chapter of my life in HK. And I am glad this cruel separation is ending - a life without connection to literature is a life without a connection to inner thoughts, and hence yourself. I should say for good measure that this book was the first of the Millenium Trilogy by Steigg Larsson, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, a mighty fine crime novel with a surprisingly fine narrative despite having been translated from Swedish.

This one novel has unblocked the dam and I promptly visited Amazon.com and picked up 4 more books (though I must guiltily admit that one was another Auster paperback which I am reading now). What a relief that I can read again!

So, back onto my original vein, reading books again has rekindled my itch to write. Writing helps one get a stronger grasper of oneself, and I probably wouldn't count sending a SuperPoke to an overseas friend on Facebook reasonable prose of any kind (though arguable).


So, on to bigger things. As mentioned, I'm now put up in a one-bedroom pad near Highbury & Islington tube station. It's cosy with a sizable living room containing 2 olive sofas, a chest of drawers, a simple dining table for four, an open plan kitchen and a red brick wall on the far end, which I especially like. My bedroom includes a roomy double bed and a wardrobe just about roomy enough for my threads. Aside from my iPod docking speaker I have brought very few personalising touches for the flat, and so it will remain 6 months of white walls and wooden surfaces.

It's surreal to be back in the UK, even though this is my fourth week here and I really should have gotten over the novelty! London is a great city, and I'm glad I'm back here after heaps of support and encouragement from family and friends. Life has changed of late, changed very much indeed since my last post, and sometimes it takes a swap in scenery to take you out of context and take stock of yourself.

My life in summary: working for a year now; single; collecting and maintaining friendships; back to playing music but only for myself; active fundraiser; travelled several more countries; planning to run the Great Wall Marathon next May; well and truly living for myself .

Ahh my eyes fail me (it's almost 2am) and I really can't carry on. Just take this potpourri post as an indication that my blog is back! For those who care at all!

L