London one-way!

Yesterday mum and I went to the Travel Expo in the city, held at the Old Exhibition Building. I tended to focus on a few of the issues we’ve currently been having when talking to the exhibitors, and not just picking up random pamphlets for random places that, let’s face it, I really won’t be getting to within the next 12 months!

I found out the difference between quarantine and customs, which yeah, I really never knew. And told the guy I think it sucks that I can’t take my knitting needles on the plane because I might stab someone with them – what am I supposed to do for a 24 hour flight?! Even a small tiny sewing needle isn’t allowed.

I found out a lot of information about the different insurance companies, a drunk Russian lady for Renault let me know that you don’t need an International Driver’s Licence unless you plan to drive in Spain, Portugal or Italy. Whether or not I trust what she says is under debate. Because I’ve been looking around I’m aware of my prices and I bought a combination lock, tag locks, a European adaptor, hanging shower bag and, oh yeah, a suitcase that, because we caught the train into the city I then had to lug back down to Melbourne Central!

I’ve decided to go blue (not green!) with all my accessories – suitacase, backpack, etc. so I have some commonalities, but one guy I spoke to made a really good point when he said he’s looking for the ugliest pack ever – to ward off thieves. He also made a good recommendation, saying I should make my bags look really “wanky” (his word) not only so they stand out, but again to deter thieves. Puff paint here I come!

A sigh of relief comes tonight and it’s all thanks to Daniella at the British High Commission. She has been looking after my visa application, and has been conversing with the passport department about my applications. Basically I explained the difficulty I’ve had getting original documents and Daniella gave me another option. I have one more document she needs to see, and I can get Right of Abode, which is better than a UK Ancestry visa. The right of abode will allow me to work and live in the UK indefinitely. How cool is that? I can still apply for the passport overseas, which is worth doing because the passport gives me more freedom in Europe. Once I hunt down the remaining documents overseas I can apply for the UK passport.

For now – I can live there as long as I want.

Lija texted me last night to say “OMG I can’t believe it’s April 1st, not long to go now, how exciting!”

My reply wasn’t so positive. “SHIT”

Yes, until 2pm today I have been panicking that I may have to delay my flight otherwise British customs won’t welcome me with open arms to their country, instead forced to replay the horrific 24 hour flight back to Melbourne. Okay, so I can be a bit melodramatic at times, but who’d want to go through that?

Anyway, at 2 o’clock my brother calls me to say my grandparent’s original documents have arrived from Jersey. So I went home and put together the relevant documents required for my UK Ancestry Visa. It should take 5 – 10 working days, and because of Easter holidays, I should get it in two weeks.

Last week I attended a seminar in the city for 1st Contact, an agency that helps you with every aspect of travelling and working in the UK. I’ve just (2 minutes ago) signed up for their Kickstart program, which includes (in their own words):

• An orientation meeting in our London office covering topics such as the UK tax and health system, information on how to apply for National Insurance numbers as well as general job, accommodation and travel advice.
• Assistance with opening a UK bank account.
• A Mobile Phone Sim Card
• The new Contact Card offering loads of great discounts to use in and around London.
• An international calling card

Yes Mars, I know we’re lazy and could do all this ourselves, but what the hey – someone can work for me for a bit!

I suppose it’s not good enough to say I’m leaving in, what is it now? Six weeks!

Well, we fly out from Melbourne Airport on Wednesday May 17, at the lovely hour of 11.30pm. Nine and a half hours after sleep, plane food and endless in-flight movies we land in Bangkok, Thailand, for a five hour stopover between 6am and midday. Back on board for a gruelling twelve hour flight hopefully with different movies and even a bit of Super Mario, and we land at Heathrow Airport at 6.30pm on Thursday May 18.

We’re flying with Thai Airways, and because London is our first stopover and we’ve signed up for the Thai frequent flyer program we can take up to 40kgs of luggage. Woo hoo!

It’s eleven weeks until I pack my bags and take off to land on the other side of the world. The tickets are paid for, the passports are on their way, and the doctor has kindly booked in the relevant jabs before I go.

Now for those of you who don’t know, or are too lazy to remember, I’m travelling with my cousin Lija. We did a ‘trial run’ in New Zealand, the two of us for ten days of skydiving, quad-biking, and bungy jumping (well that was just me), so now we’re on to the big guns, Europe.

The plan is that there isn’t much of a plan. I’ve always lived to a concrete itinerary throughout school and uni, and now it’s time to live a little. A bit of work here, a bit of play there.

Tune in soon, and find out more…