An Adelaide Advocate returns home...

Coming home to Adelaide, in my opinion, is always a good thing...Except this time round. 

I arrived safely on the tarmac of Adelaide airport a little after 9am this Monday after just under eight months away studying and travelling. Naturally, I was excited to see my family after such a long time. As I walked through the arrivals gate I first saw my Grandy waving frantically at me, then I spotted my Mum, Dad and Grumpy. There were some happy tears (or so I thought) as I greeted them all with a hug. It was a very happy moment, and I guess it is a funny thing to think back on in hindsight. This is because about twenty minutes later, during the car ride home, I would find out that my parents had to put my beloved dog to sleep a few days before. My little Milly had become very sick quite suddenly, and she could not hold on.

I was completely in shock and totally devastated. I didn't know what to do with myself- I had been looking forward to seeing her for the entire time I was away! I cried for 12 hours straight until my face muscles hurt and I couldn't cry anymore. 

It is a shame that this is the first thing I have to write about on this blog, but I feel that she deserves a mention. She was a good dog, and an even better friend. I will miss her very much!

I will miss that wet little nose!

After my first day home was spent in tears, I knew that I had to keep myself busy- not only to distract myself from my sadness, but also because I have a lot planned for the next few months! So on that morning (and every morning since) I went for a run in Semaphore. Apart from everything reminding me of Milly, running through my home town has been very gratifying. Being away from it for a while has given me reason to appreciate how lucky I am to live where I do! 

Semaphore Jetty

The walks and runs are part of one of the items on my 'to-do-list' that I have created for myself. As I mentioned in the blog introduction, I want to focus on my health and fitness, so I have been doing a lot of exercise and eating really healthy since I got back.

Semaphore Road

Everyday has started with one of these babies!!!
Green Smoothies always make
me feel good on
the inside but also give me good skin!

Oats with coconut water, blueberries, greek yogurt and peanut butter. Plus one of
the pretty flowers my Nanna gave me as a welcome home present! 

It has been salads galore in our kitchen!
Mostly vegetarian, but also
some smoked salmon occasionally.

I swam twice this week (thanks to Dad for paying for me since I am COMPLETELY BROKE!) and I found that sticking to swimming twice a week while I was away really helped to keep my swimming fitness up. I thought I would not be able to keep up with the others, but it seems I am the same as when I left! 
I also went for my first tennis game with good friend (and sometimes personal trainer), Alex, followed by a weights session. Alex runs his own personal training business called First Class Fitness (FCF), and he is extremely knowledgable about diet and exercise regimes. He has suggested that I start counting my Macros (daily intake of protein, fats and carbs) to see where my diet needs changes. Clearly, a very informed fitness friend to have around! I also love training with him because he pushes me REALLY hard, yet I still enjoy it!
I plan to really stick to my health efforts after my 8 months away- which, of course, was filled with copious amounts of alcohol and 'tasting' each and every place I visited through the wonder of food! I don't regret any of it, but it is time to start getting healthy and looking fit again for my next trip (hopefully in June or July this year!.)In the meantime, I also need to save money like crazy, but I also have an aim of enjoying my hometown as much as possible while I am here. I am, and always will be, an Adelaide Advocate- so I plan on blogging about some of the reasons why!