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Jen's from Aberdeen, Scotland, and her accent is just gorgeous. She
used to work for Shell in London, where she met Laura, who she flatted with in trendy Clapham, in south London, until Laura
left. Jen is now contracting in the HR world, currently for a bank. I first met Jen when we went to Sweden in
February 2004 where we instantly became friends. Jen is a snowboard expert and, after recovering from breaking
her leg in 2004, organised our ski trip in 2005! This photo was taken after our "photoshoot" in June!
I met Jennifer through Bree, my flatmate from my first flat in Rotherhithe,
as they went to college together in London. After Bree left London, I decided to ring Jennifer to see if she remembered
who I was. She did, and now we're good friends! Jennifer is from New York and is now my closest neighbour as she
lives just east of me in Mile End. She works as a consultant checking out clients' websites (at least, that's my limited
understanding of it - I know it's much more complicated than that!)
Kat and Andy are my inspiration! I met Andy in Queenstown while he
was in the middle of cycling around the world. Andy's stories of travelling inspired me and convinced me that leaving
the perceived comforts of home would be worth it! The story of how Andy and Kat met also provides me with hope - Valentines
Day 2003 and they met in a hostel in Vancouver, Canada, although they had lived just across the Thames from each other for
several years before! They now live in Manchester where Kat is at medical school and they always welcome me to stay
with them up there.
RIP - Returned In Plane (to Oz) - August 2005
Laura is our best aussie friend! Although I am very envious because
she also has the UK passport, as she was born in England. She's got an amazing job as an accountant for Shell which
requires her to travel often to the Hague, where cleverly she had herself a lovely man to keep her company.
I've got to know Laura well on many of our mini-breaks together, where we tease poor Laura to death for having a suitcase
instead of a backpack! Megan is the link again, as she and Justine are in a netball team with Laura.
RIP - Returned In Plane (to NZ) - December 2004
I am so glad I met Toni. Quite apart from the fact that it was through
her that I met most of my other friends, Toni is a fabulous peron to be with! She is so outrageously full of fun that
you can't help but be swept up in it all. She was my number one friend for going out and often just the two of us would
hit some cheesy antipodean bar for an evening. And Toni's presence guaranteed a great night out! Sadly Toni has
gone back to Auckland where she is now cruising the city in her Porsche and trying out the local boys! I miss her terribly
as I have no one else quite as keen for a night out as she is.
RIP - Returned In Plane (to NZ) - September 2004
Suse is an awesome "chick" (to use her own favourite word) from Oamaru.
Sadly, she's already had her two years in the UK and has to go home in September. I'll miss her cheery smile and her
never-ending enthusiam to go out for brunches, lunches, shopping and big nights out. Suse is one of the
first "links" in my web of friends: I met her through Toni, who knows Hayden (below). Suse's older sister was good
friends with Toni and Suse also went to Otago and got her accountancy degree.
RIP - Returned In Plane (to NZ) - September 2004
I met Megan through Suse (they went to Otago University together) and
didn't know her that well yet when Suse suggested that I go to Ireland with Megan for Christmas '03. From that time
on, Megan has been my travel agent extraordinaire and most of my trips in 2004 have been organised by her, as well as
most of my social life generally, actually! I don't know what I'd have done without her, or how I'll cope after she's left in September to go home. I'm going to be lost without her!
In London Megan works as a committee clerk and was in the airforce in NZ. She's heading home through Thailand
and then plans to go to Japan to teach English next year.
RIP - Returned In Plane (to NZ) - September 2004
Christine might seem quiet at first meeting her, but wait till she's had
a sip of margarita and you'll change your mind! Christine's from Auckland originally and is now living in Golders Green
in North London. She and Megan used to flat together there. Christine is a great person to take out for dim sum
cos she knows what's in all those little baskets! Christine works for the London Borough of Camden in social services,
but isn't mad enough to be involved with child care!
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