Preparation

At last its time for a new chapter to begin.

I really struggle with that last bit of things, but its done. Stuff is packed for storage, addresses changed, clothes and essentials are packed, alarm is set and I will be off bright and early in the morning.

This leaving has been very low key and I'm more than ready to be getting on that plane tomorrow.

I have caught up with all the people I love, goodbyes are done .. well there will be the last goodbye with the boys tomorrow but thats to be expected.

On that note I shall also keep my last post from Perth low-key, short and sweet.

Goodbye Perth and I will write when I get to London.

This one I have to shout from the rooftops .. I had vaguely heard about Couchsurfing but never really followed it up. I suppose you find things when you are ready, but OMG I am so excited about this.

Its a travellers dream. Their words are so much better than mine, so I shall quote from the website.

CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance and facilitate cultural understanding.

As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to create world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a mean to accomplish this goal.

CouchSurfing is not about the furniture, not just about finding free accommodations around the world; it's about making connections worldwide. We make the world a better place by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!

I have already found wonderful people to host me and show me around Edinburgh and Lerwick (Shetland Islands) and suprise suprise they are having a huge 3 day gathering from all over in London the day I get back from Scotland.

I would love to encourage any of you reading this to check out the website http://www.couchsurfing.com and get involved if it appeals to you.

On the home front, I am 95% ready to roll .. despite my procrastinatic (lol is that a word) ways and counting sleeps ..

4 Sleeps to go !!!!!

How cool is that. As of last Friday, I am now officially unemployed.
One whole week to go and its time to .. be leaving on a jet plane (sing with me people )

I have to say despite all the fun that we've had on this project, I have been incredibly blessed twice.
Having moved across 2 teams, each time my managers have been absolutely wonderful. Nigel and Aaron, if you ever read this, Thankyou :-)
Besides just being truly wonderful people, they both trust you to do the job they are paying you for and let you get on with it.
My co-workers in both teams, what can I say ... we have all been so diverse, yet have that same vision to pull together and get things done, with a sense of humour and fun. It really has been a fantastic journey and I have learnt so much from these people on both a professional and personal level.

Heres a little peek .. unfortunately it looks like I cant embed slideshows in here, so it will have to be a link.
Disclaimer: That flash was brutal, yeah thats why I look so bad

http://www.slide.com/r/yIzDkGO2xD_J0ZrBN4KiYGaZV0AbOX9S?view=original

Now for a reality check, yes I have a million and one things to do this week and I am in diversionary plus mode. Started trying to pack yesterday and so far I have managed to make huge piles of stuff all over the place without actually achieving much.

OK, not very exciting stuff to everyone .. BUT .. I just practiced the bundle wrapping for this weeks work trip as detailed on http://www.onebag.com/pack.html and it really works.
I've got half a case free. I will have to see how it holds up when I get there but for now I'm amazed.

I just might get the hang of this travelling light thing yet.

For anyone that travels a lot, I recommend you have a read and give it a whirl.

OK, I'm starting to get things together in my slow, rambling way.

I have booked flights to Scotland and planned a quick journey around the countryside.

This is what the plan looks like at the moment, but somehow I get this feeling I am going to spend all my time in the Shetlands and have to return another day.

The UK2OZ group is having a get together on the 27th May in Wimbledon and I can't miss that, hence the rather hectic timeframes.

You young'uns reading should really get your butts out there. The whole industry is geared towards the under 30's. Once you reach the ripe old age of 26 you are no longer eligible for cheap Rail Passes. It seems that over 26 you only want (read have) to travel 1st class which puts the prices way up there.
Rock on Easyjet. Because I have booked so far ahead, the fare from London to Edinburgh is .. tada .. wait .. yes just under 3 pound. Add taxes and its still under 40 pounds for return airfare, taxes and bus fare to / from London to the Airport. How ridiculously wonderful is that !!!!!!

I have also been reading up on travelling light. As anyone that knows me knows, it is not a skill I am even remotely close to achieving. I am really serious in learning how to do this, I am so tired of carting around a tonne of junk that in reality I never use.
I found this fantastic website which is putting me on the right track (http://www.onebag.com/) and I am going to follow as best as I can.
I went out and tried on backpacks today, not that we have a great selection in Perth, and found a nice one from Mainpeak which fits within the carry on baggage limits and also fits me nicely. Being very short between the hips and the shoulders makes fitting a pack extremely frustrating, so I'm glad I found such a comfortable one here.

I keep looking at it and shaking my head, I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I am determined that I WILL do it ....

To put some perspective on it, here is a shot of the new bag (blue) vs my usual bag for 2 - 3 day trips .. oh boy !!!

While I'm at it I will also put up this shot I took yesterday. I was sitting outside getting some fresh air as usual .. haha ... and decided to take a shot of the view for posterity. I couldn't believe it when I downloaded the pic, the cloud formation just made the shot.