Four weeks or so to go, and then I'm back on British soil with my family after a 6 year absence. Although I am very excited to get back to the real world I do have to admit I have some trepidation about returning.

The first is after such a long period away I wonder how things of changed, and how I have changed myself since leaving the UK, will I pick up friendships I had when I left? Will they still feel the same? Or will they think I am too different a person compared to who I was 6 years ago. My best friend back home for sure will be the same, we speak on the phone at least once a month and it's like I never left, the rest I'm not so sure.

Life in the Philippines has for sure "hardened me" to certain aspects of life which I think I had more compassion about before.

I also wonder what the attitude towards my wife will be like, will I be faced with the standard "mail order bride" comments? I hope not as I'm 34 and my wife is 32 and she is very westernized as her parents live in the States and she's well educated.

I can't help but wonder what waits for us in the UK. Has anyone else ever felt like this?

-Dan.