(Buns Of Steel is my mixed martial arts fighting name, FYI)

Oh, hello there. I didn't see you come in.
Have a seat. No, not there, that's a fishtank, you can't sit on that.
It won't be comfortable for you or the fish, and you'll get a wet bottom.

This, dearest friend, is a matter of requirement. I need to keep writing this drivel to keep my mind active and remain awake and alert. Ish. Work related pishposh, don't you know. Tis a tale of glorious tidings that I must weave for your pretty ears, this fine evening.

Let's begin with a summary of the past 14 months in this frankly mindboggling land.
It's clear to me now that I was absolutely not ready to leave Ireland last March, as I was still grieving the loss of my dear friend Gary, and the added stress of saying goodbye to friends and family really did not cater to my fragile mindset. It was tough. But perhaps it was the right way to go about things, I don't know. I'm finally out of the fog, and have been since probably Christmas, and it feels good to be looking forward again after many months of looking back.

Homesickness hit many times, usually when I least expected it, and it hit a lot harder than I predicted. I still miss my family terribly, but it's something that I've been forced to come to terms with. I've learned a lot about my character and previously unbeknownst steely determination. It feels good to know that I'm a much stronger human being than I was many moons ago. I'm finally something like the person I once aspired to be. Being stranded in a strange country with no friends forces a man out of his shell, for the betterment of his own wellbeing and sense of self-preservation.

I'm not the shy wallflower I once was. Coming here like I did was probably the only way I would ever throw off the shackles of shyness, and I'm so glad I have.

Of course, myself and my lovely wife are merely on the first step of this hopefully long journey, but it's good to know that I've at least made that first step.

I'll take me leave for now. I don't even know what the point in writing this was, if there ever was one. Forgive me for soiling your eyes and draining the valuable minutes of your day, good sir/ma'am.

I remain,
P. 'BOS' Brennan.