That just when you think you are winning, suddenly you are awake at 4.30am drinking hot chocolate and wondering why you aren’t sleeping. Not being a seasoned transatlantic traveller I managed to do a few things wrong. Firstly I let my hubby tell me that his normal window seat would be a good idea for our return 9 hour flight from San Francisco, this meant that I was pinned in the middle between him and a man who spent the entire journey (or would have done had I not woken him twice). Secondly I wasn’t tired at the start of the journey (I was calm and rested following my holiday and not suffering from any sleep deprivation) and so couldn’t sleep) and thirdly I went back to work too soon.

In this ‘back to blog’ post I am reporting my trip kind of from the wrong way round, but the last few days have made it difficult to think straight about the great time I had climbing hills in San Francisco, feezing in Vegas and watching the ocean in Bodega Bay (but if I am serious about the return to blogging then that will come). I guess I should say something about my lack of posts, now down to 1-2 a month. The time has come to either put up (posts that is) or shut up, although recently I have had more visitors in my absence than sometimes called by when I was posting daily! But no, actually I have lots to say, both about my recent experiences across the pond and my thoughts on the current state of play in the NHS. I just needed some time to get my thoughts back together, and back together they are. It is just that before 5am in the morning is not the time I would choose to do this, but I seem to be awake and so here I am.

We returned home on Tuesday morning, and strangely that felt like the middle of the night (we landed about 2am Pacific Time, so I guess that is accurate), ever since then I have struggled to understand why it is light when I would like to be asleep and visa versa. On my first day back (Wednesday was too soon) I lost my car park pass (luckily it was handed in by and honest soul), and I sat at my desk unable to do more than open and close emails and drink coffee. On the second day I realised jet lag was about a splitting headache, a complete inability to sleep at all even though you are extremely sleep deprived but I managed to sit through two meetings without falling asleep and without looking completely idiotic. By day 3, yesterday, I was reasonably normal (well normal for me) but now on Saturday morning I am awake too early (but ever hopeful of another hour before day light).

I know I have made promises before, but this time I mean it. I have lots to say and share. I have opinions on life in the good old US; somethings I loved, somethings I find slightly odd because I am a brit and somethings I think we could learn (even now). So I promise to return very soon. I leave you with a picture of the view from our rented house across the Pacific ocean, which actually is where I’d like to be right now, and where I’d take a 10 hour flight to, even pinned in the middle of the cabin and even allowing for jet lag!