Archive for July, 2004
July 27th, 2004
We have a pile of “essentials”, a pile of “maybes”, and an enormous pile which constitutes wishful thinking. I am actually starting to wonder if it should all come under the heading of wishful thinking – the document case which holds the maps from here to Paris alone weighs a ton. We haven’t put the tent, stove, or first aid kits in yet, and the packs already feel like they need their own trolley. I realise that books come under the heading of luxury, but there are some that we decided were essential, like the first aid book and the rather crucial “how to navigate” book. Crucial for us, as we have no idea. Great way to contemplate crossing the Sahara by camel. Ah, I’m sure we’ll work it out…
Every man and his dog wants to catch up this week for dinner. Obviously any excuse to get out of cooking for ourselves is good, but we are getting nowhere fast with the whole room clean out operation, and as for sorting the paperwork out – well, let’s just say it’s a good thing this is the last lot we’ll be doing for a while. The other idea was that we would have a healthy, clean living kind of a week to prepare ourselves for the rather physical task ahead. Dinner out every night and copious amounts of wine and nicotine haven’t really helped that little scenario – but hey, I figure that with our budget, this will be the last of either I’ll be seeing for a while, so may as well make the most of it huh?
Tonight is another in the long line of boozy dinners – thankyou Sarah and James – so I had better go and dress in my lone outfit which doesn’t consist of hiking boots. I have to say goodbye even to it by Friday. I still can’t wrap my head around it all. Where is that wine bottle?
July 26th, 2004
What a mad, crazy time it all is. The fact that we are actually leaving in a week is something I cannot wrap my little head around at all. The state of both our belongings and our bank account gives no indication that we are ready to go anywhere, let alone walking for the next 3 years. One must have faith that it will all sort itself out. Preferably before Sunday.
My fantastic boots, which I have worn with utter impunity for the last 6 months, have suddenly decided to start giving me blisters. On their last outing, I studiously ignored the slight tingling sensation in my heel for about an hour, until it turned into the kind of red sharp feeling which is impossible to dismiss. In cringing disbelief I rolled my fancy trekking socks down to reveal a total monster, puffed up and billowing, the size of a two pound coin. Now perhaps this is just nature’s way of giving me a taste of what is to come, but I do think it could have started on them a bit sooner. How can the boots have been walking perfectly all this time and suddenly now start to hurt? Bizarre and very worrying.
On another note, if you have been trying to log in this week and had difficulties, it is just my incompetence that is to blame. Web site is all back and happening now and hopefully will stay where it is supposed to. Fingers crossed.
How on earth we managed to accumulate this much stuff is totally beyond me. I seem to have been packing forever and am still nowhere near the bottom of the pile. I haven’t got around to actually packing my backpack yet as I keep on waiting for the rest of the room to get packed up. Knowing my particular levels of efficiency in this direction, we may well be packing the morning of our departure.
Which brings me to the last thing – if you by any chance happen to be reading this blog, and fancy a good laugh at our expense, feel free to come down to Trafalgar Square next Sunday at 10.00 for a glass of something alchoholic and to wave us off. If you are feeling particularly energetic you could also walk with us down to Greenwich, which is the sum total of our walking efforts for the first day. We would love to see anyone who can be bothered.
The next entry will be closer to our leaving date. Even closer than today. Very scary biscuits.
July 19th, 2004
Well, for me, that is. Gary still has one week to go. It was a distinctly odd feeling to wake up this morning and realise that not only am I now unemployed, for the first time in my adult life I have no actual plans of gaining employment. Odd for about two minutes. After which I turned the odd cartwheel on the bed, screamed like a banshee, and thanked every conceivable deity I could think of for such a glorious reprieve. I am sure that as the money runs out, and the trip gets tough, I may miss the security of a regular pay check and knowing where I am going to sleep. But, lazy coward that I am, at the moment the sheer bliss of the thought of no fixed address and never having to face the North Circular at 7.30am again is enough to keep a blissed out smile on my face.
Obviously the slightly more terrifying aspect of all this is that we now only have two weeks to go, and I am trying frantically to get all the loose ends tied up. Thank god I have this weblog to procrastinate with, as I can only justify cruising the net for a certain amount of time each day. I am also in the middle of my last lot of vaccinations, and constantly feel as though my arm is falling off. I honestly must have such a cocktail of viruses running about in my bloodstream at the moment it is any wonder I am still kicking.
Possibly the biggest challenge facing me right now is simply getting rid of possessions. I have no idea how on earth I accumulate all this junk, nor what on earth I am supposed to do with it, but I suspect it is going to wind up in the trash. I just can’t be bothered shipping yet another load of stuff back to our already overloaded shipping container in my Auntie’s back paddock.
I keep having to remind myself that it is impossible to get everything I had ever hoped for done, and that I must just do what I can and forget the rest – frustrating. Hopefully down the line things will feel a little more together. All I know for the moment is that we are definitely going on the 1st. And that I don’t have to work anymore. Oh, did I already mention that?
July 11th, 2004
and an eerie calm has settled in the Constant household. The equipment is bought, technology sorted out, vaccinations almost done, and I finish teaching at the end of the week. After four years of planning it looks like we are actually going. Thats if, of course, we manage to actually lift the massive appendages we are supposed to be carrying on our backs, not to mention walk anywhere further than the nearest pub. Not that we are taking anything which isn’t entirely essential, of course. And I do intend to actually learn to play the guitar strapped on the back. As I keep telling Gary.
Contrary to all hallucinatory expectations, no obscenely rich backer has emerged from the big business woodwork to fund our little jaunt, a temporary oversight I am magnanimously prepared to forgive in light of the fact that the diary page has been out of action for a few months. Obviously now that we are back up again that situation will alter, and I await the imminent arrival of your fat contributions. Don’t all jump at once.
We had a very funky weekend up in Wales test-driving all the camping equipment, which passed with flying colours. More than I can say about the car, which decided to choose North Wales in the rain to quietly shit itself. At least on foot it is only us that can (and most probably will) break down. It was a bit of a revelation to go camping in equipment which actually works, as averse to my cherished childhood memories of waking in the middle of the night to a dripping A- frame tent and flat lilo. Outdoor equipment is one area which has definitely benefited from the technological revolution. They even have multi-fuel stoves now, which should come in handy when the whiskey runs out.
The next major challenge is attempting to sort out our paperwork. I’m doing quite a good job of avoiding that today, don’t you think?