9 Days and Counting

A wonderful Sunday lunch with friends has capped off a busy week in preparation for our trip to Europe. In their inimitable style, Kel & Jan hosted Peter and his wife Maria ,John, and ourselves at their house in Brisbane's west. Reminiscing of "old dreams and past glories" from our military days was a reminder of the conviviality we all shared and the social bond soldiers and their families enjoyed. Personally, I still miss the lifestyle and the comradeship even after nearly 20 years of "civilianisation".( I wonder if that is a real word?)
Good news!! Telstra Bigpond got their technical act together and we are now proud broadband users. The leap from 28Kbps to 512Kbps has seen me in a frenzy of internet surfing as previously unthinkable downloads now happen in seconds. I'm not sure all this speed is going to improve my sometimes ponderous writing style however,it is probable that with practise, some sort of acceptable standard will be achieved. I think it was Winston Churchill who said "if I had more time I would have written a shorter letter".
Our inoculations are now completed much to Donna's delight. She hates needles but I must say, her stoicism was impressive as I, normally relaxed about such things, felt a wave of nausea as the nurse punctured my dear wife's arm...I really am an old softy at heart.
We spent a day in Brisbane shopping for those little things that seem to be popping up as essential to take with us. The selection of a secure passport and cash holder was made difficult as each salesperson seemed to have a different idea of the best solution. Our solution has been a wallet worn around the neck and under the shirt. The purchase of cash and travelers cheques was a bit alarming with one Euro costing $1.61AUD. British pounds were each $2.3AUD. We left the bank (which bank) feeling we had a lot less money than when we went in. I also paid $20 for the privilege of having an International driving license.
People have been calling us to check whether or not we will actually fly out next Tuesday week in the light of the tragic bombings in London and the scare in Birmingham. The First Test in the Ashes Series is played in London and the Second Test in Birmingham. We accept that the smooth flow of our movements will be seriously affected by security measures. In itself, that will not be so bad as hopefully, any one set on doing damage will be similarly inconvenienced. Besides, we have waited many years for this adventure...