...and, in the end, it is the dream of a greener future that prevails and haunts me down here.

The relationship with Paul proved to be a path to unprecedented personal growth.

It was certainly a time in which we confronted one another with our strong personalities and ideals.

That's how the story ended: with a disagreement, and probably covert understanding, that we could not grow in the same soil. Beauty had a large share of it, though.

So, as the story goes, in february 2005 I returned to the country of ocean, desert, mountains and.... terrible cockatoos!
Had I done the right thing? Made the right step toward new opportunities?
At the time it was a 50:50 whether it would be Paul or work.
I certainly happened to face more than I had burgained for.
As an old russian friend of mine used to say: 'All happens for the best'.
Alles komt goed uitendelijk ;-D