Playing catch-up

I must begin by apologising; I did not take my camera along to the wedding - I was in ao dai, the traditional vietnamese wedding costume which has no pockets and I was very much on display so I couldn't really carry around a bulky camera!! What's more is that loads of people were taking photos so in my next post I'll try and steal some of them, then I can explain traditional vietnamese weddings with visual aids!

The wedding was absolutely lovely. The traditional stuff took most of the day - started at 10 and kept going until about 2, then it was a bit of a chillout before running around trying to get last minute things for the reception at 6. It was all really good fun though, Jonny's mates are lovely - the 5 other best men I got on really well with, and of course I already knew Fran, one of my bro's oldest and best friends, but what's really really sweet is that while Jonny's been busy with wedding things or having Vy time, Fran and I have been getting to know each other a lot better, we've been chatting lots and everyone's been having much fun and much food together :) He was telling me about this stuff called monoatomic gold which if you ingest can make you remarkably intelligent (although a quick google will reveal a huge amount of skepticism!), the idea being that it is powder form so it can be ingested, and then it works as a superconductor in the brain, increasing function by lots and lots and lots. I started to fantasize about what I'd do with this newly found intellect and the first thing I thought of was learning Russian and Vietnamese :) and then take over the world..
Friday morning was a rather hanging trip to the dentist to finish the root canal so now I have a magnificent tooth again! I just need to get a crown before I fly back. Then I frantically packed to go on the train for three hours to get to Mui Ne. On the way I got addicted to this gorgeous chilli prawn crisps and I listened to some more of the Chekhov short stories on audiobook - I forgot to tell you, but on the return journey to Saigon I listened to The Avenger (which i LOVED, absolutely hilarious) as well as boys and one or two others. I then on the train listened to The Woman with the Dog, which really affected me actually. Now. This is something I often do when I'm on holiday, I start thinking LOADS. I will sit there and contemplate things endlessly, and so this is a sort of out-loud thought process that originated from this Chekhov story. I don't know what it was but I really identified with it, and started to ponder (and haven't yet finished pondering) when is adultery justified? One could say when it would make for a far happier life it is justified, as in the short story, but then surely what one has done is made another's life far more miserable - but then is that justified if they've brought that upon themselves? If I were to get married and never really love my wife then of course she'd cheat, but then that would probably be my fault. And if it was a loveless marriage, one would imagine that both parties would be a little miserable. I think it's affected me because on a couple of instances now I've really properly fallen for women who are in committed relationships. Of course, I do nothing, but the story led me to wonder if there's maybe a time when it's right to do something, or say something. Aaaaaaaaaahhh, why can't life be simple?? It's utterly rubbish :)

Now that I'm in Mui Ne, I'm staying in a different hotel from the rest of the family, instead being with my brother's mates. I've got a very nice room all to myself and it's got a mosquito net too - I don't know why, but mosquito nets I find quite romantic. Partly because it means you're somewhere tropical, perhaps also because it's rather like a four poster bed :) We had a gorgeous supper last night, sans famille, and then some drinks afterwards - first in a very nice bar and then we got questionable champagne from a little shop that said "brewed under French technology".......... kind of said it all, really.. And one of them claimed to have hints of forest fruits and suchlike, as wines often do. We popped it open when we were in the jacuzzi to find it was basically fizzy white wine with all sorts of artificial flavouring added to it!! Was slightly vile.. Anyway, it was another late night with another early start so I got my free breakfast (pancakes with lemon and sugar) and walked for three quarters of a mile to find an internet cafe.


I'm afraid I have some bad news though...... On the morning of the wedding, I checked my emails to find that Bristol had turned me down. Without explanation, and without an interview which they'd promised. I sent a slightly miffed but still professional email to the admissions tutor who I've been chatting to quite a bit and in return I got a very very thoughtful email from him. He obviously felt quite bad about it, and he said I'd been a victim of circumstance because Bristol was at risk of being fined ten grand per student that exceeded this year's quota, because they've been such repeat offenders in the past. So the first to go were mature students, really.. Never miiiiiiind. It's not any different course-wise to Southampton, it's just a much nicer place to live! Still, if I can put up with living at home for three years, I'm sure I can put up with Southampton for that long) it's still a great uni and an excellent course and I could potentially get a scholarship to the tune of a thousand pounds per annum on my voice. What's more is that they've got a fledgling conducting module on the course with a very good tutor called Robin Browning, a friend of my last tutor Jason. Should be good :) And it's very exciting to know where I'll be living next year!



and now a little more - the battery died on the netbook yesterday so things have happened since - I've been having a lovely time in Mui Ne, getting brown, getting a little blonder, as well as a bit sticky, it's just so so hot. Food here is stunning. The fish in claypot is the best I've had, they basically make a caramel with sugar, a bit of water/oil and then throw in spring onions, garlic, chilli, all sorts of nice things - occasionally five spice as well - and then cook the fish in this wonderful, sticky tasty mixture. Amazing.
Yesterday we went to these absolutely massive sand dunes to have some fun sliding down them. It was rather windy and I took to humming the Lawrence of Arabia theme to myself. Had fun there, it was absolutely stunning to be on these massive dunes with very orange sand, with views of the sea, of the sunset, it was just stunning. Also went out last night which was much fun! Jonny's friend Helena was having her leaving do as she's going back to Oslo (I think..) and so after supper we went to Joe's cafe, Joe being another friend of Jonny's, where we played with his kittens and galvanised ourselves with iced coffees and a chaser whereupon we walked down the road to a beach bar called Sankara. Sankara is absolutely gorgeous, they've got a pool, a nice beach with big waves and cheerful staff, and it's been very nicely designed.
We all got to chatting, and I started talking a lot with a very lovely girl who was really easy to talk to, we basically paired off for the evening and chatted about all sorts until half three thismorning. She was quite excited at finding a lobster whisker with a bit at the end that made it look like a dragon, and I was one of the few people to really get on board with the enthusiasm :) We tried coming up with potential uses for such a thing, with ideas such as disciplining children, using it as a smoking pipe, perhaps a straw to drink through and maybe gynecology, though that was quickly mooted.
She was really interested in finding out a bit more about classical music and asked for a list of not-too mainstream pieces that she might enjoy, so I gave her all sorts like Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Schubert, Richard Strauss and a little description of what the piece represents so she can pick up on the narrative of it all :)

Alas, I'm here at the computer, so is my camera but the lead that I thought was in my bag is unfortunately not, so photos will come later thisafternoon or thisevening. Not that it'll matter, you'll probably only just be waking and abluting by then.

A long lie-in

Yesterday, Fred got a nose-job. Not quite as such, but I had my nose cauterised for a THIRD time, this time electronically instead of the more traditional silver nitrate on a stick getting poked around. But thank goodness it's now done, I can stop worrying about my white trousers (although they DO need to go to the laundry anyway, they've got a bit of tailoring warehouse grubbiness on them - that's mission #1 for today) and I can almost take it easy.
It was a little bit strange a morning, though.. I got up at 6:45 and showered, making sure I smelled nice and looked good for the nurses there to then get on the back of Vy's motorbike (no breakfasty food or drink allowed!) to traverse Saigon during rush hour. Quite an experience in itself, I can tell you! Vy is an extremely good driver, very aware of what's going on which more than makes up for me being an extremely poor passenger. I didn't take my camera, but I assure you that the streets were just amass with motorcycles and filled with a cacophony of horns and engines, if anything further amplified by the tall buildings either side that contained it all. Very different from taxi journeying, to say the least.
Got to the hospital, said hello and they said what-ho and we all got along famously until what we thought was a malpractice form appeared. Big misunderstanding, they WERE actually responsible for what happened to me while I was in their care but I thought I could be signing my life away so I kicked up a little bit of a fuss just to make sure. But it was all okay so the gown went on, to the operating room we went in and like a light I went out. Although that's keeping it short, it took quite a lot to make me dosile let alone sleep.
I have had general anaesthetic before, but it was when I was about 5 years old. I can remember though, that I went out just like that. They asked me to count back from 10 and I barely reached 8. This time was rather different, they gave me an injection which just made me feel a bit woozy, then on came the mask which just made me feel drunk for a while. I can remember my breaths steadily slowing down quite a lot but just all of a sudden I found myself being wheeled through a coridoor with what felt like straws up my nose.
Instantly I recognised all the smells and tastes of the anaesthetic and the operating room from all those years ago, it was uncanny. And while I felt perfectly lucid and was thinking perfectly lucidly, it all came out perfectly bizarre. I had already thought to myself before the operation "Ah, now Vy is going to rejoin the family while I'm in recovery, so maybe she can pass on the message about trying to find some brass buttons for my jacket, and to get a couple of smaller ones for the cuff, too." Alas, the reality afterwards was more along the line of "blurble blurble blurble buttons blurble brass blurble". It made perfect sense to me, but when I came round a little more I realised I probably wasn't entirely coherent and so said to Vy "Vy, did I tell you about the buttons?" and she nodded - success, surely!! But no. I get picked up after an excruciatingly dull 4 hours in recovery (in which I resorted to chatting to a Frenchman's wife) just to be told I'd spent a while rambling about buttons, so still my jacket is incomplete - mission #2 for today.
But really, buttons are not properly appreciated in my opinion - now that I've had time to think about it, buttons are really a very important part of our lives. When have you ever considered the value of one's buttons? Next time you count your blessings, you should bless your buttons.
Also I managed to blag a copy of my CT scan. I have quite a massive head, really.. And there are two sheets, so I can still enjoy House-esque moments of holding them both up to the light and looking with worry and intrigue between the two.
Anyway, was finally discharged with a list of medications I need to get, so mission #3 for today is to find a pharmacy - something I failed rather dismally at yesterday, finding a bakery instead.
Lastly a haircut really is needed. There was a stage I thought I could get away with it, but it really is so uneven I just have to get it sorted. Maybe that's why the nurses weren't as flirtatious yesterday.. At least I haven't had any more sumo remarks, compared to the numerous times my dad has been called Buddha while having his belly patted by a grinning Vietnamese woman :)

Very excited about tomorrow!!! My next entry will probably be post-wedding, perhaps even post-morning after, which will be Friday evening as we'll be getting the train up to Mui Ne at that point. Hope everyone's well and please do keep me updated with emails as to what you're getting up to back home and how everything is!

Hugs xxxxxx

Cảm ơn, Hoi An

I've had a rather lovely couple of days! Yesterday the morning was spent chillaxing by the pool before having a phenomenal lunch of what was like a Vietnamese version of calamari (essentially calamari but SOOOOO much better!) and then everyone except Jonny and Vy, who wanted to stay behind and organise wedding gubbins, went into town (which is upriver from our hotel) and got on a boat that took us back downriver for about an hour to the hotel, where Jonny and Vy jumped on and we went all the way back, enjoying the sunset and seeing all the fisherman throwing their nets, people driving cattle on the banks and white cranes paddling in the shallows! Beautiful. Then a slightly nerve-wracking navigation of the river by night without any lights on any of the boats anywhere that were still buzzing around. They actually keep fishing by night, suspending a light over their nets to keep the fish awake and to draw them towards their chilli and lemongrass doom.
We made it back to the dock in town and hopped off in search of tailors. We went up to where we'd been having things made in the hope of a good fit and to find it all in good condition. My jacket looks absolutely phenomenal, really really amazing except that when I tried it on, the material didn't feel like what I asked for. Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassive drama ensues. They had to get a new roll of material to make the jacket from what I'd picked, so I was wondering if maybe, just maybe there might have been a mix-up in the composition of the fabric because it looked so similar. I was extremely gracious and diplomatic, as you know I can be, and as you know I cannot bear conflict of any sort, and they took immense offence, even with Vy kindly translating for me. Anyway, lots of frustration and 24hrs later it's pretty much finished and I get to keep it tomorrow. But I haven't really described quite how literally hot and extremely bothered we were. What made us even more suspicious was that she got so extremely defensive so extremely quickly. And now, let us never talk of it again, except to say how amazing my jacket and trousers look))
Today was quite lovely, if rather busy. I dashed to town and back first thing in the morning and then got an AWFUL haircut. My head looks wonky and bumpy and I hate it and I might just get my head shaved when I get to Saigon tomorrow for simplicity. I simply can't bear it. I don't think the hairdresser really knew what she was doing, but she was quite sweet and gave me an amazing head massage as she washed my hair. Come the afternoon we got on a bus that took us up into the hills to an ancient set of ruins, what used to be a temple. We timed it perfectly!! The journey took about an hour to get there, we then turned up just as four coachloads of schoolchildren were leaving, making us the only people in this amazing place. We walked up to the ruins surrounded by butterflies, all sorts of birdcalls and animal noises and a rather soporific sound of running water coming from a brook. Alas, also present was the sound of an exclaiming grandmother, so I hung back and let the others go on ahead while I had fun with butterflies and the forest/jungle around me - speaking of which, when does one become the other? Hmmmm..... - I felt rather like the little girl at the beginning of Pan's Labyrinth, just completely lost in my own world)
Long journey back and I have a humungously splitting headache by the end so once we had episode 3 of the tailors we started wandering aimlessly, dropped into a place where they show you how silk is made with silk worms and all sorts of incredible embroidery, followed by more aimless wandering - both more wandering AND much much more aimless, which I rather grew tired of so I excused myself and my sore head and came back to the hotel, which is where I am now! I might have a cold shower and a co-codamol to celebrate a saving of 200,000 Dong by my not having supper.
My immensely wise father thought it was an inspired idea to run a kitty for this trip. That would be fine if we were all earning similar amounts, but when everyone's ordering loads of beers, cocktails, massive amounts of food, etc etc it means that my savings are being depleted far more quickly than I had anticipated. It's very demoralising because as well as not thoroughly enjoying my company, I'm having to pay for the privilege. And pay more than otherwise. With each day that goes by, that's even less I can spend on things that I actually want. I don't want to be paying for Granny's third daquiri when it could be spent on a trip to the Vietnamese highlands or around Ha Long Bay. It's utterly ridiculous and I hate it immensely. I also think it's rather inconsiderate when it's well known how little money I have. I'd far rather just pay for the food that I eat and the beers that I drink. But still, I've had my grumble... That's the way it's going to be until the 29th and I just have to accept that. Maybe I should have the more complex operation afterall, more time recovering means less money spent. And to be honest, I really have no grounds to complain. That's right, I'm afraid Fred has had his rather clicheed travelling epiphany that everyone gets)) As we drove through these more suburban and rural areas, I was probably getting much the same thoughts as most people do get, so I shan't go into them now, nor shall I ever condescend with such lines as "oh look, they're so happy despite having so little", but I think that one, despite being aware, can empathise much much more when it's all there infront of you. Certainly it dissolves ones arrogance, of which I have plenty! And from a political point of view, one can start to see how something like communism can become so popular, because in situations like these it does start to make sense (if you take away the corruption, the single-party system, the restriction of media AND FACEBOOK, etc etc). Thisafternoon was a little like watching The Motorcycle Diaries in a way) It's just a shame that the theory and the practical realities are so different. And even then, the people of this country seem so detached from the political system, everyone just gets on with it while the place is governed around them. Afterall, how seriously can you take a man with a wonky beard? Although I'm told that means he's been stroking it while deep in thought!
What's more is that I've spent the last paragraph just pontificating, thinking aloud and just having one of those internal debates that one has with no real conclusion, as well as getting an extreme case of mosquito paranoia so I might finish now! Tomorrow afternoon we return to Saigon, my teeth return to the dentist and I will now return to bed :)

It's now the next morning, and I was wrong about the group in the hotel :) Fred just met a laaaaaady!! A lovely girl called Anna who was very interesting and down to earth, as well as rather pretty :) But it was a short-lived romance, she's leaving in 30min and has gone back to her room to pack. Never miiiiiiiiind!

Anyway, thank you Hoi An for a lovely stay - despite some ups and downs I still love you very much!


oh, and photo-wise.. I know I've repeated the coracle, but it was much prettier with a red flag :) and there'll be more to come when I can get the computer to be a bit happier with me.. But it's just a couple of butterflies, and I wasn't able to capture the REALLY amazing ones afterall.

Lots of love xxxx

Hoi An and all its charms

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, Hoi An is a beautiful place. Alas these past few days have not been all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, everything that's wonderful.. I must admit, Hoi An has attracted a lot more visitors since four years ago - something I've dubbed the 'Top Gear Effect'. When I saw that episode, I thought "Oh wonderful! Now everyone will see what a magnificent place this country is!" Shortly afterwards I realised "Bugger, now everyone will see what a magnificent place this country is.."
Obviously it's great news for local traders and everything like that, but all of a sudden I feel like I'm such a tourist, such an intrusion upon their everyday lives. Four years ago I felt like I was really appreciated here and that I was really seeing how life went on in Vietnam. Now it all seems a little false.
This hasn't been helped by the behaviour of my family. A few members are just really making me feel absolutely tiny, completely deflating any self-esteem that I had before and making me thoroughly miserable. Every single thing that I do or say is openly criticised and the worst is always assumed of me. I just cannot bear it, I cannot bear it anymore. Today I feigned illness just to go back to the hotel to get away from them I just couldn't bear it anymore. Thankfully I still have a couple of wonderful family members who are supportive, reliable and sweet-natured, it's just a shame that I find myself so excited at the thought of shedding my relatives and travelling by myself. But still, this blog would be remarkably boring if it was monotonously positive throughout.. And these things happen, it could well be that things pick up in the next couple of days.
And afterall, it hasn't all been awful, I'm just in a bad mood. Hoi An, despite the aforementioned critique, is still a beautiful town. The locals are still charming, the streets bustling and the beer flowing. Each morning so far I have woken early and gotten a table for breakfast right on the riverbank, and listen to the duggaduggaduggadugga of the passing fishing boats powered by a basic two-stroke and it is just so peaceful.
The peace is occasionally broken, however, by a vast tour group that have filled the hotel. We are one of 4 families that are here independently, but the rest are on some sort of yoga/healing retreat. They've taken over the place, making everything gluten-free, caffeine-free, alcohol-free, red meat-free and fun-free. I accept that gluten allergies are extremely serious but so often it's treated as a healthy living fad, and what's more is that these people don't even look happy, nor do they look healthy!! I'm actually all for things like homeopathy and what some people would call "new-age" with a scornful tone, but these people look thoroughly miserable! And every day they form a long line in groups of three and walk in a big circle around the grounds of the hotel, mostly the pool. There I was, sunbathing, listening to music when I was pounced upon and encircled by a plethora of mid-life crises all talking about how to achieve true whatever they might be trying to attain..
Brrrr, anyway.. Went to the tailor thisafternoon, my trousers are perfect and my jacket is now being made, which I shall try tomorrow. Also started taking the meds in preparation for my operation on Tuesday morning.

Apologies for such a long post - they took away the computer with a decent keyboard and USB socket for a couple of days.. I was thinking this would be easier to digest with more frequent but smaller posts rather than the occasional essay. Still, enjoy these photos I've taken lately :) Might have to add some to the post below, they may not allow me to upload as many as I like!! Also, the spirally thing is incence, you light the bottom and it goes all the way around and around and up, smelling lovely all the way :)

Peace out xxxxxx

Medical adventures

Oh my goodness, well after a very long day, I am now in Hoi An. I woke at half four thismorning, how goodness only knows, I don't see how anyone can progress backwards in jetlag recovery, but when I couldn't get back to sleep I went for a walk around Saigon at about 6 when the sun was up, chatted to some locals, that sort of thing. Got back for breakfast and then it was off to the hospital to try and fix my nose. What can I say, except that straight away the Vietnamese doctor saw what two trips to the Bath clinic never revealed, that I need an endoscopy in order to straighten a bone in my nose that has been majorly contributing to my excessive bleeding. But I was under the impression an endoscope is an observational tool, not a fixing one.. Either way, I won't undertake an endoscopy while I'm over here, it means about 5 days of my travels would be wasted recovering, so they tell me, so that'll have to wait until I get back. I will, however, be having general anaesthetic on Tuesday when I'm back in Saigon in order to have it properly cauterised. And they were so so thorough!! Once we decided on this course of action, they gave me a CT scan, a chest x-ray, an EKG, blood tests.. The former two I had to go down into the basement and tread carefully through a massive puddle from a leaking pipe in order to have them done. I felt like I was in a slightly low-budget version of House :) But I had absolutely every confidence in them and it's great that things are finally being sorted...... and I had some very flirtatious nurses. Although one of the nurse's idea of flattery was to describe me as "Sumo!!"

Anyhoo, after that we went to the Saigon market where I got yet more watches!! Now I've added a Breitling and a Bell & Ross to the collection, which might soon outnumber my pairs of shoes :) I have never been in such an absolutely sweltering, blisteringly hot building before though. We ran away once we got our watches and found lunch in a charming place where you order your food from the chefs, then cross the road to the seating area. Lo and behold, a few minutes later you see a waiter holding a tray up high with your food, crossing the road while all the motorbikes whizz past him! Food tastes better when it's served dramatically, it would seem.

Finally we got back to the hotel, gathered our bags and then headed off in a taxi for our flight up to Da Nang, followed by an hour in a bus to get to the hotel in Hoi An. Absolutely gorgeous hotel, if rather loud with the deafening roar of frogs. Lots and lots of frogs. They overpower crickets and don't sound quite as soothing, by any stretch of the imagination. Had a lovely supper though, extremely fresh fish on the beach, and tomorrow we're planning a complete rest day on the beach to recouperate before heading into Hoi An town to get things tailored - I for one envisage a replica of the Wimbledon blazer (like a blue rowing jacket, and I won't have the Wimbledon logo emblazened on the breast pocket) and I'll probably get some lightweight trousers done too, possibly even white! Although that could be tempting fate... But on Monday we'll fly back to Saigon and start preparing for the wedding, it'll all probably be rather stressful so we're trying to store some energy in anticipation!

And I so nearly forgot to mention the supper with Vy's family last night - what absolutely charming people!! They're very sweet and friendly, I think we're going to get on exceptionally well :) I got on really well with her brother in law, a very kind man who's been really helpful during our stay. And Vy herself has been absolutely amazing with all the wedding preparation she's been doing as well as looking after us and translating doctors for me! Astonishing :)

Anyhoo, I'm going to see if I can upload some photos! Wish me luck, I've not tried it before..

And I've rather decided I shall see Ha Long Bay by starlight. Instead, I'll come back to Hoi An for the night of the full moon - they turn off all the streetlights and instead use lanterns all over the old town :) Should be magical!

Hope everyone's well, lots of love to all back home
Freds xxxx

Arrivals

What can I say, except that I am just phenomenally happy to be here. The moment I stepped out of the airport I recognised all the smells, the heat, the humidity, the atmosphere overall, it put a huge grin on my face. With a temperature in the 30s, amazing food and lovely people, I could only be in Vietnam. What's more is that I don't think the guy behind the hotel desk actually realises I'm here, he's doing a lot of shadow boxing..
Alas, facebook is blocked. I tried outwitting the Vietnamese govt by using a proxy and failed, but you never know, it might do me some good!!
Flight was wonderful, very empty planes and barely any queueing, I think I'm pretty much on Vietnamese time now and so far I'm being a bit of a medical tourist, having been to the dentist for a root canal (a mere twenty pounds, and for a dentist I had more confidence in than most English ones I've seen so far) and tomorrow I go to hospital for a nose job - been having more problems with it, tis very annoying. I've been told I could have my teeth whitened for forty quid too, but I don't really want them too obviously white.. Especially with a tan; I'd look like a taller, fatter David Dickinson. Plus I'd far rather spend the money on a suit or some watches! Thinking I'm going to get a nice boating jacket made, similar to the Ralph Lauren ones worn at Wimbledon. Maybe a navy pinstripe 3-piece, too :) but that will probably wait until I go to Hoi An, which will be tomorrow afternoon.
Until then it's a case of finding a tie for thisevening's meal where I'll be meeting Vy's family for the first time, not to mention a celebratory cocktail or two beforehand for my grade 8 result - something that has me overjoyed! Now I can really relax and enjoy all my endeavours, safe in the knowledge that I can go wherever I please for university. SOOO excited!! I'm just in disbelief, and what's more is that the odds were really against me with not having a singing teacher since December, having a sore throat in the week preceding the exam, as well as little sleep and a 90min drive on the day itself. But I've done it, I can just chill on a beach in Hoi An while ladies on the beach give me massages and sweet smiles! The most difficult decision I face at the moment is whether I want to see Ha Long Bay by moonlight in two weeks or by starlight in four. I could not be more chilled :)

Hope everyone's well and taking care of themselves, do send me emails to let me know how you're getting on.
Love to all! xxxx

Departure!!

I'm sitting here feeling very superior as I can hear other memberes of the Platt family crashing about the house trying to organise their things while I admire my rather splendid rucksack, all bulging with clothes to last me for 6 weeks. This little ego trip of mine isn't helped by the fact that I've also managed to cook a pretty epic tarte flambée for lunch, perhaps my best one yet. Alas, having such a laissez-faire approach to a month and a half of travelling will probably be my downfall. I keep remembering little things I need to do, but at least I know I have all the essentials I could possibly need.
It feels a little odd to be leaving, especially as I've had almost no time to think about it what with everything else that's been going down in the last couple of weeks, but it's also extremely exciting! I need only stroke my now-shaven face to remind myself of what's to come :)

Take-off is at 2030ish, and we've got a brief stopover in Qatar. My next post will be from abroad, and with photos!! As for now, I think I should actually go and do something helpful like the good son I sometimes am.

And so it begins...

For those of you just tuning in, this is where I shall be keeping you all updated on where I go, most of what I get up to there and some photos to go with!

So, I leave on the 14th March for Saigon. Very exciting, although there's a lot diverting my attention just at the moment with grade VIII singing in a week and two hours and an entire weekend of St Johnning, what with the marathon going on. While I am extremely excited about going to Vietnam and seeing my dear brother get married, I think it'll really set in after all this has happened, then I shall be quivering with anticipation!