Saying goodbye...

Three weeks to go until I dive into the unknown and my flights are booked, my passport has been stamped and my notice has been handed in. But before I even start to think about what lies ahead, there is much to prepare, lot's to organise and many goodbyes to be said.

This week will be one of the hardest, as I will be saying goodbye to my best friend and soul mate, Gabor.

I first met Gabor at work, lifeguarding in an outdoor pool in central London. I had just broken up with my girlfriend and had had just been through a rough couple of months. Seeing that I was having a tough time, Gabor asked me to meet for drinks and a few shots of a Hungarian speciality, Panlinka.

I will never forget the night we met to have these 'few' drinks. I wasn't in the best of moods and was fully intent on have one drink before escaping home where I could continue to wallow in my own self pity. But after a couple of shots of the home made Panlinka, I was informed that I was a terrible dancer and dragged onto the dance floor for some lessons. Before I knew it, it was 4.00am, the birds were tweeting and Gabor had had me laughing harder than I had laughed in a long time. Since that day, our friendship has continued to grow and grow. He has been there for me through some of the toughest times but also shared in some of the best.

As I prepare to leave and move on to the next chapter, I realise that London has been a place of growth and personal development for us both. We came here with no expectations and took everything London had to offer. There have been tears but also utter delight. There were anxious times but also sheer contentment. I will never forget my time in London, but more importantly, I will never forget the people I spent my time with.

I hope that they won't forget me either...