Nottingham and the Cemetery...

We had a very prompt reply to an email about Stapleford cemetery, which is near the suburb where some rellies have lived. I only sent the email on Wednesday, and a reply came back this morning (Friday),  with some very helpful and interesting information.

The gentleman who dealt with my enquiry answered all my questions as to opening times, etc., but then added the names of those past relations who are buried there and in which plot numbers. It will just make our visit potentially very rewarding, as we won't have to wander around checking all the grave sites, but have will have some idea in which area we are to look.

He has definitely excelled himself, and I have replied to thank him sincerely for all his work, indicating how good it is to get such a response when so many other people we have contacted, either can't be bothered or take forever to respond.

It never hurts to thank someone for a job well done! 

"Hello Sailor!", and Leaving on a jet plane...

Yesterday, we paid the balance of the bigger cruise to Norway. Lots of money, but we are so looking forward to it.
We also got our flight tickets, and you will know by now, that I have checked them from top to bottom, fine print and all. We even know where we will be sitting, and are quite happy with the allocation. (Just waiting for that very nice check-in person to say we've been up-graded to Business Class!!! Our travel agent tells us that it's more likely to happen from Premium Economy than from Economy, so fingers crossed)

There was a bit of fine tuning with scheduled departure times, but nothing too serious. We just have to make sure we have checked in around 6.00am the day we fly to Japan. Six a.m. is usually the time I am settling back down for that final bit of sleep before the body clock says I have to wake up for the 7.00am news on ABC/Classic FM - of course. 
(We haven't listened to any commercial radio station for about 30 years! Can't stand talk-back radio of any kind, and don't like some of the newer music. If that's what they call lyrics today, anyone could be a famous songwriter!)

So, there we are, all paid up and ready to go. Just need to do that dreaded trial packing!!!

Teeth and pills, asthma and "droppings"...

Well, we are both all clear on the teeth front, and have been for checkups, to ensure there was nothing untoward going to happen whilst away. Then I got my prescriptions for the medication (blood pressure & cholesterol). Thing is, I don't believe I have serious problems in either area, but my doctor won't take me off them yet.

The other important one is the eye drops for the glaucoma, and I had to sit down and work out how many packets and potions I have to take.

Then you have to make sure you've got a letter from your doctor(s) to say that it is vital for you to carry this stuff, and so I have six of this and six of that, and enough puffers to alleviate the breathing problems!!

It only weighs 500gms or so, but it's the bulk, because you are supposed to take things in their original packaging, and that's all the cardboard packets, etc.

The one good thing is that at least this time, they haven't cost nearly as much as they could have, because I've now got the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

The "droppings" is now a little joke between Lee and I, when on one recent night, just before I went to bed, she said, "have you done your droppings?"
(I usually do all the pills and eye drops and puffer,and calls of nature, last thing at night)

The other thing that happened this week, is that they've taken the balance of the money required for the mini-cruise around the Western Isles of Scotland, so that's another thing out of the way.

Finally, we have been very diligent with the exercise, and have tried to make sure we keep at our three-times-a-week at the gym, and in between the walking, etc. We are already much fitter than when we went last time, so hopefully we will cope better with all the moving around, the driving, and the stairs...

Money stuff and mail, etc...

Another piece of the puzzle in place!
Today we went and got one of those Travelex cash passport money cards, that you put your own money into, in the denomination of the country you're travelling to.
Just a bit of extra security and extra purchasing options in the U.K.
Then we decided to have our mail held for the duration of our holiday. It doesn't always work asking other people to remember to clear the mailbox, (and we have to get a sticker about NO JUNK MAIL), and so (hopefully), our mail will be held at a local Oz Post depot and we can get it when we get back. Probably only magazines and the like, as we have also arranged to do the usual bills on-line and by direct debit.
So, all is just about ready, and only 6 weeks to go. 
Only the end of the world will stop us now!!!

A small, sad glitch in the plans...

We've just heard today from our dear friend in North Wales. He has been taken off his chemotherapy treatments, and tells us he might not be there when we come over.
What a blow. This is a lovely man, who showed us so many wonderful sights when we were there in 2007.
Naturally we will still call in and see the family, no matter what happens, but it will be hard, as even tho we are so far away, we've kept in touch regularly, and followed his trials and pitfalls.

It's not like we haven't dealt with this sort of thing before, but it never gets any easier...

Cameras and photos and clothes and stuff...

Lee and I both have cameras, and perhaps we don't need to take both, but you invariably end up with either of us catching something the other missed. And, because of the diversity of the places we will be visiting, there will be much to photograph. I hope to be able to master inserting them into these "posts", so that anyone following our travels will get an idea of where we are and what we're doing.

(The photo I have inserted here is from another trip, but practice for me. It is Scotney Castle in Kent)

My camera is very light. I did have a Digital SLR, but found it too heavy, and too complicated, so I have 'downgraded/downsized' to just a digital camera, and am quite happy with that. Trouble is, like I've said before, you still have to take the chargers, etc, and that's space and weight.

We spent some money the other day, investing in some gear for the trip. I got a new pair of those trousers, that zip off and become shorts if needed. I was about to take the young guy to task with my usual tirade of, "why don't they make travel clothes for shorter, wider people?", and he showed me a rack of just what I wanted, so all is well. (I mean not everyone who travels is normal size and six feet tall!)
Also got ourselves a money pouch thingy to go under our shirts, just for a bit more security. We both already have special shoulder bags (Pacsafe), which are reinforced with steel wire throughout the bag, so that they cannot be taken from you by cutting the strap.

Golly, it's almost March.....

Planes and boats and cars and trains...

If you watch the news regularly like I do, you will have seen all the bits and pieces on crashes, engine problems, etc. If I think too much about them, I might never go on another flight, but when you think again, there are hundreds and thousands of people in the air at any time of the day or night, and so the odds of anything happening are really quite minimal.
As we did on our last overseas trip, we have chosen to pay a bit more and do the Premium Economy thing. It just gives you a little more room to spread out, and there are usually only 32(?) people in the section. If I thought I might get stuck in the middle seat of a row of five, in economy, then I wouldn't go!

You also hear from time to time of people being upgraded to a different class. It has never happened to us, but please, by all means, try me! 
I'll take a trip in Business Class anytime, just to see how the wealthy people live!

Our flight with JAL includes a hotel stopover at Narita, so we'll have a small taste of Japan on the way over. We only get most of the first night, and a bit of the next morning, but it might be enough to see if we ever wanted to go back and have a better look.
We've had confirmation of the booking number for our big cruise to Norway, so I went on-line and entered our personal details so they have all the information they need. It just makes it a little easier later on. We have a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship (is port, the left??), BUT they have indicated there are four (4) Formal Nights, which we just don't do. 
Apart from anything else, we would have to carry "good frocks" all the way 'round the world and the UK, just to use it at the end of the holiday. I prefer my days and nights to be casual, and not have to wear a collar and tie at any time! We'll have some nicer gear for other occasions, but forget formal!!!

When we get to Oban, for the small cruise around the Island of Mull, and to Fingal's Cave, we can leave the car in a secure lockup with a local business for the week, and just come back and pick it up after we disembark. It will cost $60 for the week, (about $9 a day), but good to know it will be safe somewhere.

We will also have taken the car with us on the ferries across to Lewis/Harris, and for the benefit of anyone hiring cars for the UK, Hertz are one of the only car hire companies to cover you for taking their cars on ferries. They also let you pick up the car in one location, and then return it to another location, which is very handy.


Trains are another favourite, but we are not sure yet whether or not we can fit a little trip into the itinerary, we'll have to check....