17 August

Crunch time has come!
After starting to wash, prepare and pack, and making sure I had plenty of time, etc., everything which could go wrong, did.
Firstly, my jacket would not dry – and I can’t put it through the dryer, so I had to have the heater full on in the house, then in the car. Now, just thirty-five hours after coming out of the machine, it’s dry.
Secondly, a printing job which I had arranged to do for Lions started off well and then collapsed, as the printers would not work for me. The inkjet required the cartridges to be topped up, printed a brilliant test page but would not print text well. Then the laser needed the cartridges to be changed, but refused to let the computer control it so I could get to the cartridges to put the new ones in. After five hours, I finally got it to allow me to change the cartridges (all four!) and then print the work.
Thirdly, all my careful planning of times and supplies within the house came to naught when I ran out of some things (not worth buying more) and then had too much of others, so I will have to get rid of them tomorrow morning.
Finally, by six, I had finished that, so I put DOUG away and finished packing (though I will check again tomorrow morning), so I had some tea and then went to have an early night – I will be flying on four sectors tomorrow and the day after, so I want as much sleep as I can get.
I am sure my luggage gets under the limit, so I will check again tomorrow morning before I leave. I get 7 kg for my backpack, 20 kg for my suitcase, a laptop bag – from National Geographic, as I can’t carry my usual one, and my camera. I have to get used to toting it again.
Naturally other things are “interesting”, so I am keeping my eyes on the situation for each country I will be going through. I have a list of recipients for “Santa” postcards and all my adaptors and some guide books to take with me.
My biggest concern at the moment is how well I will fit into the tour groups on the four tours included in what I’m doing. The independent parts don’t worry me, as I am sure even if what I want to do doesn’t happen, something good and interesting will.
Now to sleep.