Grays Hotel and Conference Centre Telford

... by 9.30 but about 9.50 I realised that I was stalling: the huge reality of the situation was causing me to shy away and dither rather than taking action - it was probably behind my stomach cramps too. :-)

This was not really a surprise - the North Staffs (and South Cheshire) region has been my primary area of residence for 10 of the last 12 years, and is the only place I have lived where ...

... filled with Laphroig single malt but will probably hold a number of different spirits around the way).)

Backpack: Clothes, Food and cooking utensils, Duck tape

Top Bar: Energy tablets, gels and Caffiene tablets

I'm glad that is sorted - now just to put my affairs in order.

Precisely 1 week today!

... in Cologne Hostel
CityNightLine Sleeper train from Cologne to Copenhagen
3 Nights in Copenhagen Hotel
Mum and Brother return to Manchester via Easyjet

It's taken me 4 weeks to get the timing and money right, but today I've booked the majority of the tickets, and I have a shortlist of accommodation.

It's weird how it's all coming together now, it still feels like booking a holiday....but it's slowly starting to sink in that this is a 1000 mile house move ...

So I'm back in Stoke after my brief trip back to Cumbria (where, sadly I did not see everybody that I could have). I would just like to say now that if I didn't get a chance to catch up with anyone during the whirlwind that was the last couple of months then I'm sorry and I'll see you down the road.

With a little over 10 days til departure three goals need to be achieved:

1 ...

So there we have it - the ferry is booked! I will be taking the 'King of Scandanavia' out of the country at 1700 on the 5th December. It's another one of those milestone events that forces one to reflect on the reality of the situation; however fear has given way to anticipation on that score.

For a few hours yesterday I considered "copping out" with the Dover to Calais crossing - being cheaper ...

... Friday, and I am going to be ready for it if it does. I have a huge chunk of admin blocked out so will have time on my side but fingers crossed it all goes well.

The weather has turned pretty horrid today with the first major winds - had to wear a beanie to the bus stop for the first time today as my hair was blowing madly and obstructed my visual field - and even then it was tied ...

Ten more sleeps - yippee.
Woke this am not to the sound of rain as in the previous how ever many mornings but to the sound of the shop across the road opening up - ok it was 9.30am, and I had a lovely little lie in.
Weather actually ok - didn't rain for the first time in over a week, and the sun actually shone today. I'm getting sick of getting soaked wherever I go and hanging for some warmth from sunshine - an alien concept ...

An early start from London and back in Crewe by 9.15, shortly thereafter I had the slightly surreal experience of helping someone move into my flat. Many hands made light work and we had all of the stuff moved into the flat within 30 minutes.

After a fantastic lunch I went back and removed the very last of the stuff, including the bike and the backpack; and now I am staying at Steve's ...

... and bags. Inevitably the cases were over-weight and they proceeded to empty cases on the floor to try and get the weight down. I had to ask them to shift their cases out of the way so that we could get to the next desk and as usual, you get the looks of derision that say 'how dare you tell US what to do!!'.........bloody FOREIGNERS!!!

After dropping off cases, we had to pass through the inevitable pantomime that is Security - American Style before we could get ...

... one of randomness. The rest is right here, in ...