Counting down...

I've been plannning this trip for months and months and now, with 3 weeks to go, I'm feeling totally unprepared...

The practical details are all there. Visa, passport, ticket? Check. A place to crash? Check. (thanks Sar!) Jobs applied for, photocopied paperwork stashed somewhere safe? Check. English Heritage membership, shortlist of places to see in the first week... All good.

But after years of intending to 'one day' live overseas, suddenly I'm full of longing for all the things I'm leaving behind, and the stuff I've been meaning to do but haven't got around to yet. Capoeira. Joining that 'slow music session' at the pub so I can finally learn proper tin whistle (THAT would've been good to get under my belt before I go to Ireland...). The fabulous Anthony. Swimming, cycling and more volunteer stuff. And there's an election to fight come November that I'm going to miss...

I'm reminded - for about the zillionth time in my life - that you never know how life is going to unfold, no matter how carefully you plan, so it really is best to try to live each day fully, embracing the options open to you today, because they may not be here tomorrow.

So with that in mind... here I go.