You treat me too kindly
Like a guest that you know
But watch out with kindness
Or I'll not want to go

You talk and you listen
On topics I care
Not like in hostels
Where same words we share

Your flat is just awesome
The views are a dream
And with no complaint
You keep it so clean
And even folded my clothes
Seriously, ease off with kindness
Or I'll not want to go

And now for the food
Best not forget that
Spoilt with flavour so good
I'd eat till I'm fat

You've made me feel wellcome
Your house is my home
You've taken me places
Otherwise I'd not know

I'm not quite sure now
How best to thank
But I've only got words
Not much left in my bank

I hope my words
In some way can show
You've been great and I'm thankful
Much more than you'd know

But now it's my turn to be kind to you
So I think the time's come
That I actually go!

One Pose
The sun spread
With one purpose
Brown my skin
A tactile turn
For an even coat
Eyelids closed
No crows feet
So little clothes
To make the most
For no white marks
Tan me please

Smashing white against the rocks the sound soothes my ears
Whilst my eyes are lost in a mass of blue
The salt has reached my lungs and cleansed my skin
And the rays have blessed me with a golden tint
The grains have rubbed through old to new
Tonight I will sleep well and deeply
Like the elements have sedated me

I can count on my hand the sleeps till with you
And now you too can count it, plus a few
The big number is the once since last time
Sleeps spent on separate sides of the line
Since then so much growth you've made
Even your bed has had an upgrade
Whilst your lips have learnt the local tongue
For now you live the way of Mum
And out here for you so much has changed
Especially when new little Sister came
So I forgive if at first you're not so sure
Though I've not changed since you've met many more
Remember me for I am your Aunt
Though not surprising if you just can't
As I've been lost all the way over there
Making lost time needed now for us to share
But trust me for I speak like Dad
And we've too much fun now to be had
And so we'll make memories more
You'll know me soon I'll make it sure

Tanned skin and pink shoes
Australia looks good on you
To make a choice of work or fun
You ponder this whilst spread in sun
Move on to see the world in all
Or find job on land not so small?
Sure it would not be so hard
If not for here a fantastic start
But for now to take your mind the most
Road trip planning of the East Coast
These things of which you have to choose
There's no result in which you'd lose
So why not let fate act from above
And help make for you this life you love?

These words feel all too small
As thanks for your kind gift of all
With you wellcome comes with ease
What's yours is ours if we please
You've shared with us your perfect home
And taught us of the land you know
The food, the beds it's all been great
But more than that you've been our mate
And our first sight of kangaroo
We'll remember was all thanks to you
So I think we've had a lot of fun
As you'll hear in our happy hum
Now how to thank you I don't know
But I hope these few words will show
Of all the hosts you've been the best
And the best Bob we'll never forget

I’m heading west and I’ll tell you why
I’m young and the world’s still mine
Last chance whilst I’m not tied
And West has caught my eye

Where to go was hard to choose
This world of mine is rather huge
So listening to other people views
South America suits me, so why not Peru?!

One stop there I have to make
The Inca trail, and not a fake
So I booked it first, even before the plane
A starting point to lead the way

Flights further west frequent from Chile
So that decision made more easily
And then with Bolivia’s close proximity
My route was made clear to me

The finer details I’m still unsure
The options are vast of which I’m allured
Spoilt for choice of landscape and more
No part of this continent will be a bore

Except perhaps the time spent on roads
Long distance between places that I’ll go
And doing it all whilst alone
My own head may become too well known

I’ve written a route but expect it to change
As I meet new people along the way
Stories of experiences will lead me astray
Or personalities might hold me for an extra day

This is the beauty of this trip
All the decisions are in my grip
And although daunted by the Spanish lip
Independence will force me a learning hit

I’ll tick some boxes of my bucket list
Some of which I know I wont miss
Lone travel, new language-even if just bits
Volcanoes, salt planes, surfing-they’ll be blitzed

Then further west I’ll be on my way
To meet my family for that special day
Hear new words my niece has learnt to say
And meet her little sister, for which I cannot wait

But before they show me their new home
Up the coast of their country I shall roam
Starting Sydney where I’ll be stunned I know
Then toward where all the hippies go

After Father Christmas has been
And they’ve shown me all that must be seen
And fed me plenty barbeque supreme
The West of Aus is where I’ll next lean

Here I’ve more family ready to meet
And a New Year for us to greet
My uncle will keep me upon my feet
Showing me places that make their life neat

These chances I’m so lucky to take
Though I miss them so and it does ache
At least they all live in a wondrous place
And happily share with me all that is great

But it doesn’t quite end there
There’s more the world has to share
So to make the most of my fare
I’ll touch down in Bangkok to taste Thai air

And although I wont have long to lurk
I’ll squeeze in sights the city serves
It depends on when I am due to start work
For at some point it’s time I became a nurse

But even that I look forward to
I love my job and what I do
And at least the role is not all new
I know it but my responsibilities’ have grew

By this time I’m sure to say
I’ll be in desperate need of pay
So although I’ll be living back in gray
I’ll be glad when a salary comes my way