loose ends

It's funny how I feel obliged to 'tie up loose ends', even though we'll only be gone for five weeks. But now we're practically down to three weeks to go, I'm madly trying to do everything so I can head off with a clear conscience (and probably severe sleep deprivation).

Consequently, I've made the decision not to take on any new work in the next few weeks. I'm concentrating on getting through the jobs that are already in progress, and practising saying 'no'. We'll see how long that lasts ...

I've also found that the closer The Big Trip gets, the more I think 'Oh - I should take that. It might come in handy.' I really want to travel light, so every time the brain goes into just-in-case mode, I need to stop and think logically: Do I really need it? If by some chance I do, is there any reason I can't just buy it there? Do I really want to lug it halfway across the world? So far, the answer has been a resounding NO! every single time. So now I'm avoiding the travel tips web sites, anything that mentions the phrase travel essentials, in fact, anything that involves travel-related stuff. Which gives me more time to research all the potential experiences. Win for my time, and win for my bank account :)

Stairs in Rome

On another note, yesterday I helped some friends move house. I love that they asked us for help, I love that my kids are old enough to be useful (and enjoyed it too, and I don't think they got in the way too much), and I love that they haven't gone too far away. But it hammered home the fact that I spend far too much time sitting on my backside in front of the computer - for work, for social interaction with busy friends, for mindless entertainment, for personal research. I certainly used some muscles yesterday that haven't been required on active service for some time! I am very glad I've booked apartments with stairs - the unavoidable exercise involved will do me a world of good, and hopefully I can keep it up when we return home. Funny - my first reaction was 'This trip is going to hurt!', but it's something I'm looking forward to in an odd way - it will wake me up physically as well as mentally.

23 days until take-off!