What Happened?

Oh, I bet you're wondering what happened to my idea of having a travel companion.

I did advertise, and a couple of folks responded - then dropped off the face of the planet. I guess they determined they really didn't want to go after all. And Woofie, my adopted mom, decided that the trip would be much too strenuous for her (so we're thinking maybe an Alaskan cruise next year).

So, it looks like I'm on me own for now.

My job contract ends in June. I'm just hoping that I'll be able to afford it all. (I'm going anyway - just saying). LOL Once I have the plane ticket and rail pass, it's a pretty sure bet I'm ready to take the leap.

Speaking of the job market... I just went through an interesting series of interviews with a company in West Virginia. It's beautiful there, but so many difficulties in actually making it happen. I finally had to just say no to the opportunity. *sigh*

So, I'm out there and looking again. :) I wonder if Austin can support all the tech writers out there looking for work. I'm just grateful that LSI has been so berry berry good to me this past year. They've made it possible to make my bills and keep my puppies fed - so that's all good news.

I guess I'm out of steam for this blog entry, so chins up! Go 'ave a butchah's and I'll rabbit with ya latah.

Of Railways and Fur

I know, strange title, but I can't be held responsible for the workings of my brain this early in the morning. :)

Just wanted to drop a quick note about my latest updates.

Yesterday, I ordered my Britrail Pass (Lupe was my agent). He was such a funny guy! LOL. I should have pass in hand by the end of the week - as well as a Fodor's guide which he's throwing in just because he thinks I'm cool. *chuckles*

I also sent Kim 150 pounds for all the trouble they've gone through recently to make sure I have a good time on my visit with them. Kim's adamant that I shouldn't have sent so much, but she's also off researching whether I should wear a fur coat or stole to the 1940s event. Bless 'er cotton socks (as Greg would say).

I'm debating going ahead and paying for all the rest of my trip while the dollar is down so much against the pound. I shall give that some more thought. Any comments?

This weekend, I'm doing my taxes (ugh). Wish me luck (and a large return).

Seeya next time!

More Worms...

See earlier post for worm reference.

It happened again.

I contacted the car hire (not rental - hire) in the Lake District. They don't do these contracts via email, so I actually had to call on the phone.

As he was taking my information, the gentleman said:

"saname"

"What?" asks I.

"saname"

um....

I'm wracking my brains for what he could be talking about.

Then, it dawns...

Surname!

ahhh... God bless 'em. Not "last name" which is just fine and to the point. no no... let's call it surname and speak in a thick accent to befuddle the poor American woman!

I emailed the same gentleman a bit later to ask for a total for the car, GPS, and insurance.

Here is the gist of his answer:

Hi Joy

The total for your hire £135 inc sat nav.

The above price does not include our CDW if you wish to include this it
would be an additional £22.50.

Regards

Now... do YOU know what a CDW is? No? Well, I wrote back asking... and here is the response.

CDW is collision damage waver which reduces your excess from £750.00 down to
£250.00 which is £7.50 per day. Hope this explains what CDW is.

I can hear them talking now... "Dumb American Woman Strikes Again!" LOL

Will I ever learn how to speak English???

And yet, there's more!

Well, I heard from dearest darling Kim yesterday. You won't believe what they've gone and done.

Not only have they booked me on the 1940s murder mystery... not ONLY am I goingto the Tim Minchin concert...

But they've rented me a lovely room in town as well.

Almost made me cry, it did... how very sweet of them both!

So, when I'm in Norfolk, I'll be staying here:

http://www.oxfordhotelsandinns.com/OurHotels/OldBreweryHouse

Thanks for everything Kim and Greg!!!

It's Fitting...

So, Kim and Greg are spending all their waking hours running around trying to make sure I'm entertained, bless 'em. Haven't heard a peep from Sarn, so not sure how my plans for that end of the trip are going. I hope to hear something soon, though.

At any rate, Greg writes me that they need my clothing sizes so they can outfit me for the 1940s railway adventure...

Have you ever tried fitting yourself overseas?

Let me tell you, being a curvy American in England can be a challenge! Brits seem to usually be thinner and less-busty. Smaller all round, I'd say.

So, if you're a size 14, say, in US size... you'd be a 16 in the UK (boy, doesn't that make me feel better about all those past twinkies and choco shakes?).

Here's a cool tool that lets you convert dress sizes with a click: http://www.85b.org/dress_conv.php.

But as soon as you get that all figured out, then the shoe sizes come at you!

If you are a size 9 ladies in the US, you are a 6.5 in the UK (or a 40 in Europe). There's a similar conversion tool for shoe sizes here: http://www.onlineconversion.com/clothing_shoes_womens.htm.

Now, I don't mind going down a few sizes... but from a 9 to a 40???? I'm starting to feel like something from Gulliver's Travels.

Ah well, it will be interesting to see if what they get me actually fits. :)

Off for now, me ducks!

Lastest itinerary stuff

Hello me ducks,

Just heard from Greg and Kim, and have some other itinerary changes, so I thought I'd go ahead and post here.

Tuesday: Leave the US.
Wednesday: Arrive in London. Staying at Melrose House
Thursday: London
Friday: London to Stoke-on-Trent, then to Leicester (long day!)
Saturday: Sandringham Castle (or wherever). Saturday night, 1940s train ride http://www.nnrailway.co.uk/1940s_weekend.htm.
Sunday: Leicester to Norfolk for the Tim Minchin concert.
Monday: Norfolk to Edinburgh (Castleview B&B)
Tuesday: Edinburgh (Tour bus to the highlands and whiskey distillery)
Wednesday: Edinburgh to Keswick (Goodwin House)
Thursday: Keswick
Friday: Keswick
Saturday: Keswick to London
Sunday: Leave London for the US

News Flash

Well, here it is! Still 189 days to go and (as I suspected), my travel plans are morphing. :)

Heard from Greg and Kim yesterday (which was luvly). I was so glad I was actually home when they called! But anyway, we were discussing which days we were going to get together so they could show me Windsor castle.

This lead to a discussion about how it couldn't be the weekend of September 12 and 13 since they were going to a concert. "Oh," says I... what concert? And not really meaning anything by that - really just curious... out of that all of a sudden, I had a ticket to this concert! LOL... God bless Greg and Kim, they are the best.

Anyway, I'm going to see some bloke called Tim Minchin (who I've never heard of before). But I Youtubed him, and he seems hilarious! So, I'm very much looking forward to that.


Tim Minchin


Gregus and Kimus Maximus want to take me to Windsor (as I said), but that is like a billion miles away from either of them. So, I'm not sure exactly, but here's (so far) how my schedule looks.

Wednesday - arrive in London
Thursday - London
Friday - Day trip to Stoke on Trent with Sarn
Saturday - London to Windsor - stay at Leicester? (still working the bugs out)
Sunday - Leicester to Norfolk. Tim Minchin concert that night.
Monday - Norfolk to... ? Edinburgh?
Tuesday - From wherever I am to Keswick
Weds to Friday - Keswick.
Saturday - Keswick to London
Sunday - Leave for the states

I also need to find Sarn to see how all this plays into what they wanted to do. I had hoped to see them in the Lake District, but don't know if they can afford the time off during the week like that.

Anywho, it's all good. :)