As there are a few people leaving around the same time in my office, we decided to throw one big goodbye party rather than four, so we would only look bleary-eyed and hung over for just one day instead of a whole week.

Yesterday evening we went out for a drink and a meal in Guildford, where I work (soon to read: where I used to work!)

It's very odd, no matter how much you hate your job, once you are actually ready to leave it suddenly doesn't seem like it was all that bad. Not that I'm going to miss the job itself, but the people were lovely - esp. those who came to the leaving do for making us all feel so popular- and I do hope they will read this blog and let me know what's happening to them.

As one other of my workmates is going travelling as well and the two others are starting new jobs. obviously we spent much of the evening discussing future travel plans and past travel experiences, new job prospects and overall life plans. When you work in a global company, lots of the people there have moved countries like other people move houses, and have often met their partners in a very romantic way, so everyone has their own story tell. It was a lovely evening and we had a great time taking over the Italian restaurant with our digital cameras as if it was a glossy magazine's photoshoot.

I am now also the proud owner of a Cuban visa, the only visa I will need on this trip in fact, so I'm treasuring it. I also bought a LP Latin American phrase book. Rather than studying it, I spent the better part of an evening annoying Keiron and mom with useful quotes such as the Spanish translations for 'Not if you were the last man on earth', 'piss off' and my favourite 'Easy tiger!'

Before testing out my Cuban visa, I am going to Belgium for a week and I have been pestering my friends with emails to meet up. Four of my eight evenings are now already booked solid, so it will be great to meet up with them and be Belgian for a while (which usually includes nice food, nice wine and chatting for hours).

Thank you very much to Imola for the following photos:

Virginie, Imola, Gema and Sam

Judit, Ralf and Kerstin

Karina and me

Me

Imola