7 sleeps!

OMG, I can't believe it is only 1 week away. Just bought a laptop bag, only $19 in Kmart. Strong, and plenty of room for a few extra bits and pieces. Booked a 3 hour tour with Viator, to see the Vatican Museums, St Peters, the Cistene Chapel. Very reasonable, too at less than $90 for 2 of us. It is hard to believe we are actually going to be seeing these amazing structures and creations. Dreams are certainly coming true.

Another dream came true today, too. For many years I wanted to write a memoir of my father-in-law. He was a very interesting and eccentric man, who had the ability to frustrate and yet endear you at the same time. Fascinating. Well, I finally finished it and collected it from the printer today. It took much wheedling and threatening to get some of the family members to cough up their memories, and some never did, of course, but it was worth the hassle, and I am very happy with the end result. All 20 copies will be going into the bottom of the suitcase to be distributed among his children and grandchildren in England. I think they will be pleasantly surprised...

Of course, hubby and I will be travelling together most of the time but while in the UK, our son and daughter, pictured here, and their families will be joining us for the family reunion (s). It will be the first time we have all been in England at the same time since our son's wedding in 2002.

By the way, the necklace I am wearing belonged to my step-grandmother, who was given it by her husband over 70 years ago. It is Spanish and was bought during the Spanish Civil War. I feel privileged to be wearing it.

The clock is running down

Well, only 8 more sleeps! After nearly 5 years of dreaming, wishing, saving, planning and hoping, it is almost here! Gosh, there doesn't seem enough time to finish all the last minute jobs. There is so much to do when planning on being away from home for such a long time.

This week I have been tying up loose ends: medical checkups, transferring money between accounts, setting up the email accounts on the new laptop so we can keep in touch with reality while we are travelling; then there has been the last minute shopping, you know, tiny packets of tissues for the handbag and pocket, tiny bottle of hand sanitiser; socks and undies. Not to mention the cleaning. And another gong for my Simple Savings friends: acting on a hint I picked up on the website (see top of page) I contacted our pay TV supplier and asked if payments could be suspended and they agreed for a small fee; hubby did the same with his gym membership. I also discovered that if we change phone carriers (which we intended doing) we can ask them to suspend the service until we return, saving more money! All up about $450 saved in bill payments.

On top of all that I have been finishing my writing project, my father-in-law's memoirs. That went to the printer on Friday and is ready to be picked up tomorrow. That was the result of several years of frustration: waiting for family members to send their memories. Hah! Like waiting for paint to dry! Some followed through but most didn't, so much of it is my own memories of an interesting and eccentric man of whom I was alternately very fond, and very frustrated with. But it gives me great pleasure to know it is finally finished and I will be taking copies with me to the family in England.

Of course, the boogie man tried to scare me by getting into my head when I had a couple of angina attacks over the last two weeks. But I put paid to that. No one and nothing is stopping me from getting on that plane.

So now I have only to photocopy some travel documents and sort through them all in the folder to make sure all are present and correct; to pack the BIG bag; to email everyone and ask them NOT to email ME for the duration; have my legs waxed, my hair coloured and my nails made beautiful, and then I am set to go.

Am I really? Set to go? Seems surreal somehow...

Travel Insurance that doesn't insure you.

So the insurance company said no. They will cover me for my migraine, which I haven't had for 7 years! IF I pay an extra $55 premium. Really? Well don't bother. We will just have to go on faith and make do with the standard insurance cover. I have been really looking after myself recently, lots of long walks, eating very healthily, too, so I am thinking I am quite fit anyway. Who needs 'em.

The passports have arrived! Yay! Well, at least I think so as I had a card to pick up a registered package but was too late to get it today. Can't think it could be anything else.

I have always wanted to travel light. I made my mind up for this trip that we would take carry-on baggage only. A Simple Savings member (see above banner) gave me some tips and I did a practice run packing 7 outfits, all light clothing, undies, socks, PJ's and an evening outfit. Plus a pair of evening shoes. It was exactly 7k in weight. Woohoo! Then I did the same for my hubby. It worked really well. I decided I could manage the digital camera. my make up and toiletries and medication in my handbag, and he could take the video camera, his meds, and toiletries in a small backpack. Perfect! We would travel in jeans, jumper, walking shoes and jacket. I was so pleased with the results!

Then DH told me this week he wants to take his golf shoes and his gym gear! He also thinks we will need more clothing than I have allowed for. So he is insisting on taking a suitcase. Grrr... Now we will spend half our holiday standing around baggage carousels. I am so annoyed. I will get my own back, though! Haha! I will take everything now, so the case will be so heavy, he will be wishing we hadn't. Hmph...

Another cloud on the horizon. We had been told we were covered by Visa Gold Card for travel insurance. Yippee! More $$$ saved! But then we realised my pre-existing heart condition might not be covered. And after doing a check of the policy, we found it wasn't. So a phone call, an emailed form and the condition is being assessed as I write. One good thing is that both the UK and Italy have reciprocal agreements with Australia so they are not really a concern. However, Singapore hasn't, so there was the need to have the policy extended to include extra cover.