There’s about a 30 degree temperature difference between the UK and Perth where we were for our test series against Australia recently, so it’s taken a while to readjust to life in the UK.

We got back from Australia about two weeks ago but I’m just about feeling back to normal now. It’s nice to be back having been away for so long but I’m missing the sun and beaches!

We set out with the target to win the series against Australia. We knew it would be a tough ask but we believed we could do it so are disappointed not to have won.

Considering how close the games were and to win a game against Australia – in Australia – compared to where we were a couple of years ago is a big achievement. A couple of years ago we didn’t come close to Australia. So we’ve made so much progress and we’re getting closer.

It sets us up nicely for Rio because they’re in our pool.

We know it’s probably going to be a one-goal difference between the sides and it could go either way but we’ll have a lot of confidence going into that match whereas a couple of years ago I don’t think we truly believed we could beat them.

In the first week in Australia the coaches were relaxed with us and gave us a lot of time to do our own thing, which was nice. That set us up nicely for the Tests as we got the exploring and initial excitement out of our system so we could focus on the matches.

A tour for us is different to a typical sports tour. I’ve never been on a hockey tour where the matches aren’t the main focus, so while we had lots of fun, there aren’t any crazy stories to tell.

The nice thing was that we got to stay in apartments with about six people to an apartment which was fun and gave you a bit more freedom than being in a hotel room with just one room-mate for the whole tour.

We had a few fun evenings with games. I brought out the card game ‘Cards Against Humanity’ which is hilarious and provided us with a lot of entertainment.

We also did a ‘Come Dine with Me’ one night and swapped flats. The way we set up our living arrangements helped us and it meant we could socialise more.

It also gave us a bit more of a feel for what it will be like in Rio in the Athletes’ Village.

On trips away it can get very ‘hockey-focused’ and you can become internal and almost a bit obsessive about your performances. The more time you can spend with each other away from hockey the better.

The Rio squad will be announced before the Champions Trophy in June. The side that plays in the Champions Trophy will very much be the Olympic side.

There’s 31 of us in training now and that will be reduced to 16 on the plane to Rio, so the focus is on getting selected and working hard. You can’t hide away from that.

We’ve got four training blocks and we’re playing about five or six countries within those blocks so it’s a busy time with loads of hockey left. It’s all about getting your head down so that when coach Danny Kerry comes to picking that final 16, your name is on the list.

Investec, the specialist bank and asset manager, support women’s hockey from grass roots level through to the national team. See investec.co.uk/hockey or on Twitter @Investec_Sport