It's official

I have left the UK and started my trip! Thought it would feel more of an occasion but maybe it still hasn't actually sunk in still.

Started to finally feel real as a repacked my bag a few times on Thursday morning and then had to stuff all my hand luggage into my little bag and run as the taxi arrived to take me to the station. As ever an extra hour would have been handy, or even really an extra day! Maybe my head is still full of the bits and bobs from home that I needed/wanted to do before I left.

Guess although I am actually going to the other side of the world, that doesn’t mean what it used to. [Insert musical interlude: Things ain’t what they used to beeeee.] So much of life these days is online that it is possible still to do things from anyway. I suppose that is a blessing and a curse. I need to make sure that I am not spending all my time getting online to get through my to do list! Or worse, feeling guilty for not.

Also, we’ve deliberately not planned our trip to the letter, leaving space to see how we feel, be a tad spontaneous and generally adjust to what works for us as we go. That, and there was no way I was in any state to actually plan much before we left, so there will be some research and planning as we go. I am looking forward to that. Somehow I often forget how much I do like to read the guide book and plan and research places. I am spoilt that Dann does a lot for us in advance but lets me add my late, random input. I am a tad hampered at the moment. The most muppet like thing I have done so far (not yet a full 24h since I left home I hasten to add) is leave the brand spanking new, up to date South East Guidebook behind. The one I was going to read in my evenings around Southern India and highlight with the special highlighter I brought specially and mark sections with the tabs I brought specially… Slight dampener there. Will need to seek a local replacement or stomach the postage costs… (Well for Mummy to arrange for me! Again super helpful to have a home back-up support system.)

Feel that my kindle will come into its own here. Have a couple of books suggested by friends, a couple I have been meaning to read for a while, a few top feminist classics to stay in touch with Reading Group and a couple of exclusive, preview film scripts to read before they hit the big time…

Of course on the plane I watched a film with the dinner instead of embarking on all these books. I would recommend Hysteria – a sweet, English film with a couple of strong performances and an intriguing topic.