The Final Countdown
Apart from being a hit song for Europe back in the 80’s, “The Final Countdown” is the heading for this blog entry as I am exactly 2 weeks away from boarding my first flight on what I hope to be an epic and truly amazing journey.
My tickets arrived yesterday and all looks good. I just need to confirm the first leg with Virgin and New Zealand Air.
Some more good news, my brother looks like he will be in Hong Kong around the time I plan to get there and my friend Dave, a well heeled traveller, will be in Shanghai too so it will be good to catch up after my jaunt in New Zealand and Oz.
More guide book reading and gear shuffling has been taking place over the last couple of days but at a rather slower pace as I have a bloomin’ cold! That and giving myself some 3rd degree burns on my hand (ok I exagerate) after spilling lethally hot soup fresh from the microwave have made this a thorouhly enjoyable day ;0).
Sorry for the doom and gloom of that last paragraph, the English weather is back with a vengence and that does not help. In fact the storm yesterday resulted in thousands of tonnes of raw sewage entering the river Thames due to the pipes not being able to cope.
I remember while working for the Prudential I would train with the rowing crew at Barnes and never relished walking the boat into the Thames as you have to do. I was told that anyone falling into the Thames and swallowing any water was recommended to go get their stomach pumped! Perhaps that is extreme but when you see what washes up at low tide you tend to agree with this.
Talking about the Pru makes me think back to the jobs I have had. Looking back over the years I have worked at some interesting places with some great characters. I always leave every job with at least one person who leaves a lasting memory in terms of either remaining a friend or just having been a great person to work with, or lets face it, great to go get drunk with.
I am sure my journey down under will result in similar memories, I raise a glass to that…
Tags: Pre-Trip
