Home to see the Parents

Crazy time unloading a full van of all my worldly possessions, having moved out of a student digs for the very last time. Next time I live in Manchester, it'll be in hospital accommodation. Quite the come-down from Mallowdale Avenue, the Buckingham Palace of student houses.

Home was a stressful time. A combination of frustration at moving probably over one tonne of stuff into my little room, stress at the realisation that I would be leaving home for two months, and yet hadn't even begun to think about packing, and at the standard Albert family nuttiness that characterises any extended visit to our home.

Leaving Manchester...

The weather was atrocious - constant rain, thunder and lightning when I was loaded up the van, and not a glimpse of sun for the entire time.

I'm hoping that this will make the contrast when I land in sunny Israel even more special.

My folks took me to the airport today (Sunday 20th); always a mixed bad of emotions; excitement and apprehension of leaving, combined with the extra stress of concerned parents.

But with a John Grisham, John Le Carre, and a Karin Slaughter to keep me company (based largely on Talia's advice), I'm sure I won't be lonely.