With one day to go before the off, my stuff is stacked but not yet packed. How I am going to fit everything into my bag, I do not know.

The weather here has been beautiful lately, and it reached 30 degrees at the beginning of the week - the hottest temperature in Belgium so far this year. I had to run to catch a tram, and as I boarded - panting and dishevelled - I was troubled by the thought that it's about 40 degrees in Delhi at the moment. If I find it hot in Brussels, with its air-conditioning, parks and breezes, I'm going to BAKE in India.

I have decided to buy a Lonely Planet/Rough Guide to India. I didn't want to because of the weight, the expense, and the fact that you end up going to the same places as hoards of other people all clutching their copies. I was hoping to manage with a smaller guide book, information gleaned from BootsnAll Insiders and bits of research I've done, and word of mouth when I get there. In the end, though, I don't think it's enough and since I'm not there for all that long and it's my first visit, I want to make the most of it.

I haven't worked out a definite itinerary for my time in India. There are so many places I want to go, but I think it will depend on the heat and train availability. A wonderful website called Seat Sixty-One, which provides comprehensive information about international rail travel, recommended booking in advance at the IRCTC site, but I couldn't find the routes I wanted and got so frustrated that I decided to sort it out when I get there. Or take busses instead.

I've got to book my first night's accomodation and confirm my flight. Oh, and pack...