London final preparations!

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  Teddington, England, United Kingdom
Saturday, May 24, 2008

"Traveling is what makes people"...I looked up at the face of this charismatic South African man who was speaking to me, he must have been in his mid  60s, his hair graying but his face still  handsome and a sparkle in his eyes.  He was busy packing suitcases into the boot of his car outside his daughters flat - in the small community  where I live. He went on..."I have professional friend's who are lawyers and accountants but I've traveled..I speak to people, its what makes you what you are.." and he paused looking intently at me.

I  remembered then that this was what traveling was all about.  Sure the places are wonderful along the way but its the people you meet that makes it. My first encounter with travel -  one my parents wil never forget - was at the age of 3 on a beach in Northern France .  Distracted by sandcastle building I'd not noticed my parents had moved from their original position to on the wall a few feet behind us.  I'd set off to find them but on discovering they were no longer there i set off down a five mile beach, trailing my blanket , thumb firmly in my mouth with a determination that has been with me ever since.  I continued to scan the whole beach until a young french student put me on his shoulders and walked me to the nearest police station.  The french officer gave me a kit kat to console me and the Pavlovian connection between travel and reward was made.  I don't remember much about the beach but i do remember the ride on the students shoulders and the nice french policeman...

As the  mans daughter joined him, about my age - he turned and cheekily said..."Think   about it, I've got money and I'm a good lover.." his daughter looked at him with one of those "Gaawd Dad..." looks and I just grinned back,  I laughed, admiring this stranger both for his bold confidence and self assuredness .  I was pretty sure he would not be alone for long.

I bade them farewell and walked down towards the river....one of my favorite things in the morning is to sit outside in my big chair with a cup of coffee and watch the river and plan my day. The last few weeks preparing for the off have gone from an initial laid approach, waking up - going to the gym,messing about on the boat,having long lazy lunches with friends,  to sorting finances, selling stuff at car boot sales and Internet sites, browsing  couchsurfers, emailing contacts, booking flights and endless clearing out clutter in order to rent my flat.  Then abruptly last Monday I managed to rent my flat, moved  into my pal Bridgett's house and went into frantic overdrive to complete all the jobs left on a list that only seemed to get longer.... 

On Monday 26th I fly to Spain -to catch up with my parents then back for a couple of days in Manchester for a ski re-union party - and then on to Scandinavia.  From there the trip pans out roughly either  due South to Spain and across to Croatia or  to Croatia and Italy via Berlin and Vienna.  Meandering around until beginning of July when I re-visit St Anton to sort out an apartment.  Then back to Stockholm possibly passing through Norway for last leg of Europe.  Then the second phase  starts in Costa Rica, on to South America, Australia and returning via Thailand in November.....

And then on Thursday I bought myself a new red bikini....

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