Tim's UK Safari - May 2000

I had my Grandmothers 90th birthday today so it was a great chance to see all the extended family for the last time before I head off on my safari. I went around the room with my digital camera and will be posting the photo's here tonight. I find myself constantly thinking, this is the last time I'll do this, and this is the last time I'll see this person for a year - it's quite a strange feeling. One person who I'm really going to miss is Stu who is currently overseas crusing through the US on his holiday. Unfortunately he gets back after I leave, so Stu, if you're reading this. See ya mate! I hope you get a chance to drop over and have a beer or four. Last night I headed over to Biz's place and watched the mighty Tigers defeat Brisbane, this is the last game of footy I'll see for a while so thank christ we had a win!! I told him that if Richmond make the Final and I have enough money, I might come back to see them play. It's gotta be that way as I know he'll never get off his arse and save to head over there - will 'ya mate?? Anyway enough for today I'll have some interesting news if all goes well tomorrow.

I heard from Lucy last night that we were successful in getting the flat, we'll be picking up the keys next Saturday, it seems strange that I'll be there this time next week, my safari will have started. I don't know how many of you have experienced the "list" phenomenon, (where you realise you must get organised but all you can do is start writing "to-do" lists). To date, I have twenty four things to do before I leave next Wednesday and have completed only two in the last two days (pay a bill and cancel a subscription). So I better get cracking. I'll write more tomorrow as I'm updating a Web site at the moment for a customer and need to get it finished quickly. This isn't even an item on my to-do list!

What a morning! I was starting to think I'd never get there and POW! My VISA arrived and I have my flight booked! My official departure date is the 31^stof May 2000. Now I have a mad panic while I try and organise finishing off my work commitments and packing. Meanwhile Lucy has been busy looking for a place for us to live, she believes she has found somewhere and has put an application in. She will be visiting it again tonight to figure out what will be there and what we will need to buy (it's a furnished flat). She even managed to talk them down from £800 to £775 per month - every cent counts. Looks like everything is beginning to fall together - finally. My biggest worry now is finding a job. Planetel are going to allow me to do some project work and they suggested that it may be possible for me to work for them from the UK. I'm just waiting on their final ok. If this goes ahead theres not much that can bother me apart from being away from my family and friends for a year.

It's now been three weeks since I submitted my UK VISA application, the form stated it could take anytime between 3-4 weeks, so by that gauge it should be here any day now. I had my going away party at the Depot last night, thanks to everyone who came! I *think* I had a great time, judging by the pounding headache I experienced when I woke up this morning. I seem to remember dancing with the guys from Planetel so somehow I have to face them with a small degree of dignity tomorrow... I was speaking to Biz earlier today, he told me that Tony cut his lunch with the "Tooheys New" chick. So Tony - cut it out dude, bad boy!

Anyway I'll be making another entry later this week. My head still hurts and I want to go to bed...

If I can get my finger out of my butt, I'll be sending out the invitations to the going away party tonight, it's proving to be a challenge to track down everyone's email address. I'm still a little woried that my UK VISA hasn't arrived yet - although they did confirm my application was received on the 1/5/2000. Apparently it takes anywhere up to four weeks to process, problem is, I hope to be in London in four weeks time. Planing ahead has never been one of my strong points.

I've decided to keep a running journal of my travels, primarily to keep everone up to date as to what's going on in my life while I'm away, and partly to remind me as to what I did once I get back. I'm bringing my Digital Camera so this way I can post photos without overloading everyone's Inbox and drive space.