So picture the scene – a really pissed off Linda – training went well but too many unknowns, emails from London making my blood boil, still too far away from DM for sleep or comfort.

The team said ‘let’s go out for dinner’ – no bosses and no pretensions. Cool I thought.

We went to Mediterra. My ‘gang’ are just to the left of the door. A Southern European restaurant in downtown Princeton and you know what? I loved it. Good company and great food – what more could a homesick girl want? Nothing.

I ate pumpkin ravioli with walnuts and butter – it was gorgeous. More than gorgeous, it was heavenly.

My colleagues were charming and the ambience was fantastic. Sometimes this job throws you a curve ball that is so far from what you expect, it’s a complete joy. This was such an occasion.

Back at the hotel I’m still completely wired. I can’t sleep – without DM wrapped up with me it’s simply not an option. My life just ain’t like that. So, I here am, waiting for a train to hit me and put me out of my sleeplessness but it’s not happening.

Tomorrow we set off for Baltimore and the next leg of this world tour. We leave obscenely early and arrive there sometime mid-morning. We stay in a place that is by the sea……I can’t wait for some sea air. This Princeton dryness is still making me feel lousy. I know that tomorrow night I will face an equally lovely evening with other friends from within this humongous organisation that is the new TNS Healthcare and I know that the experience will leave me enriched and with new friends.

But tonight I sleep alone and tomorrow too. After that, I get to spend a night on a plane and back to my lovely home of which I see way too little and DM. I will get my fix of hairy snouts in my face and breathe the smells of those I love best. I can’t wait. I am beside myself with delicious anticipation. I have even voluntarily forgone the charms of a cold WHL (and boy do we need all the support we can muster – we’ve lost every game we’ve played since I’ve been here) and a crucial fixture with Man City for the simple, exquisite pleasure of being with my own love. (I land early enough to stick my bags in a taxi and go straight to the game but I know already I can't face it....shame on me - I let my team down...)

I do see some exciting things while away and I do make friendships that bring strong bonds. It’s only a year since I first clapped eyes on the woman who is now so dear to me that I can barely stand the thought that it will be three months before we meet again, my lovely Patti. It’s by no means all bad.

I was overwhelmed last year by the support from my pbase friends. What a community it was then. Two years ago, we got a thrashing off Lisa's Liverpool - but we won't hold it against her!!!