Monday
25th Feb 2008
Today I have to go to the hospital for my diabetic check-up, hopefully
all will be ok (had some bloods done last week for this appointment. After
the hosp I am going to my friend Kates for a yap and a coffee and usually
some moaning (does you good I think!)
A pic of J and I yesterday
Tuesday 26th Feb
I can't believe how quick the
time has come and that I will be flying to AMERICA on Sunday morning!
I cannot wait. I am so looking forward to going.
I went on the treadmill this morning, only 10 minutes brisk walk but better
than nothing.
Wed 27th Feb
Poor R is off school today (got sent home yesterday) with a pukey bug. She seems better today so far and will be back in school tomorrow. Neils dad looked after her this morning while I was in work, I came home 12.45pm.
We did not feel the earthquake that took place early this morning though lots of people in work said they felt it. I have some tidying to do this afternoon and I will also do some packing ready for Sunday. I am getting so excited ....I cannot wait! #
Have
checked that my mobile phone works in the US and it does. It is quite
an oldish one (not the one pictured here). It has to be a tri-band one
apparently to work in the US and mine apparently is. And it's 49p to send
a text home!!!!
Have not done any tidying up or
packing. Think I will cart the suitcase upstairs and put some things in
it. I am in work all day tomorrow and Friday and can pack on Saturday.
I am not packing tons of stuff.
I would say the only thing I am nervous of is getting checked in (hope
there are no probs with the E-Ticket and delayed flights etc. I am hoping
all goes smoothly and Sunday night I will meet Rachel
at the airport and then we go to her house. I think she said it was about
an hour and a half drive - about the same as from here to Manchester,
maybe a bit further.
Also
while I am in Kentucky I have the possiblity of meeting up with Kathy
(an email pen-friend) from Ohio and her hubby Jim. Depending on one thing
and another, it may be possible for Rachel and I to meet them somwewhere
that isn't a huge drive away. I love how the internet brings people together.
The only other person I have met (from the internet) is Jennie in Norwich,
we happened to have booked a holiday near her several eyars ago and she
kindl met us at our holiday camp with her hubby and kids and we even got
to visit her home - she was a lovely person.
When I first met Neil I had a penfriend in Czechoslovakia
and had been writing to her for quite a few years - I almost got my visa
and was going to stay with her and her family - but met Neil instead and
there you go. Renata did contact me about a year ago, it was lovely to
hear from her, a nice surprise. My sisters and I all had many penfriends
over the years. I used to write to a girl in Mauritius too. I think it's
lovely to have pen-friends (or email friends). I have many lovely
friends that I have met on the internet.
Did 2 hours dancing tonight which
was really nice and I totally enjoyed it. Everyone wished me to have a
good trip on Sunday (am not dancing this Friday night as the 2 I go with
are also away). Am just going to have a nice cup of tea then bed Nite
nite
Friday 29th Feb 2008
I have the morning off work this
morning (an in lieu day as I have a training afternoon on 12th March).
SO.....I am going to weigh my suitcase! Hehe!!! The suitcase is fairly
heavy without anything in it! I am not packing loads of clothes, I am
sure Rachel won't expect me to have a different outfit for every day.
Tomorrow I am going to go and buy a nice comfy pair of pants to wear on
the flight. I am so so excited, I cannot wait. I shall miss Neil and the
kids like mad but I know I will have a fab time staying with Rachel.
I am looking forward to having a taste of USA life in a nice place called
Lake Cumberland (Somerset Kentucky)
It
is so so kind of Rachel to allow me to stay as a guest in her home for
the week and I know she is a full time carer for her
hubby Phil, so I hope she knows I don't ecpect to be going here there
and everywhere for the week. I am looking forward to meeting her and being
able to chat to her and ooooooohhhhhhhh I am just looking forward to it
!!!
J said he wishes he was going to, R is a bit more Mmmm maybe not but only
because she has never been on a plane. Neil has been to the US in 1999
when he went with his boss to Gaitesburg Washington for a week (work).
That was his first and only ever flights. I have been to Portugal and
Malta (1983 and 1984)....a few of the patients at work have said "oh
airplanes have changed since then, you get to sit inside them now"
Ha ha!!!!!!!!!!
IF we had the money I would love
to do more travelling (as a family). J has been to Sweden with the Scouts.
We are lucky that we are going to Scotland in the summer for 2 weeks (have
not been to Scotland on a holiday before). In December I am going on a
4 day line dance trip to the Isle of Wight (going on a ferry). Neil, J
and I are off to Nottingham to a Fantasy
and Horror convention for 4 days staying in the hotel the convention
is at. Neil went on it last year and enjoyed it, he met lots of writes
there. Fantasy + Horror is not my type of reading really but I am looking
forward to being at the hotel, mingling with all the writer types and
shopping! When Neil described it last year it sounded interesting!
We have relatives in Australia (Neils brother and his wife) and one day I would love to go there, also one of the Optometrists emigrated there just after Christmas and she moved to Melbourne, not so far from Phil and Angela so I could go see her too. All we need is the ££££££!!!!!!!!!!!!
Right,
I'm off to do some packing!
Almost
time to go to work. It is raining out and cold. I have done some packing
and will finish it off tomorrow. 
I
braved the scales and dissapointingly I have stayed the same YET again,
but at least I haven't gained. I want to lose some weight if only to make
my work uniform feel better (is too tight). Had toast for breakky but
did not bother with lunch as am not hungry, might go have a cup of tea
before Neil has to run me to work in about an hour.
I have booked our hotel for the September SciFi/Fantasy/Horror convention
in Nottingham. It was a low deposit and the balance to be paid on arrival
or departure at the hotel. Neil and I have a double room and J has a single
room - that is something to look forward to.
Fell
asleep on the couch for an hour or two at 7pm - was so knackered! Neil
ran J to the cinema where he went with his girlfriend and 2 others, they
went to see the new Jack Black film which J said was not that good.
Nothing
much on telly tonight (typical for a Friday night).
Bathroom scales: equipment which only seems to work correctly when one holds on to towel rail, stands on one foot and leans hard to the left. Since I plonk our scales in the kitchen to get weighed, I usually (without realising it HONEST) just lightly place one finger on the kitchen worktop when I get weighed. Note to me: Must remember not to do this in future
Sat 1st March 2008
Mum and dad just phoned
(10am) to wish me a happy flight tomorrow, they thought they'd ring early
today just in case they missed speaking to me tonight. I said I'd ring
them tonight.
J is off to Liverpool today with his friends
and Neil, R and I are going round a few shops. I am going to look for
a few little extra gifts I can take over for Rachel, I am trying to look
for things that are 'British', which isn't that easy actually!!! Local
shops sell local things though and they can be nice.
Well
everyone, see you in in just over a week. It is just gone 10pm Sat night
and we are getting up early to be at the airport for 6am (is about an
hour to drive there). I look forward to posting my pics and telling you
all about my fab trip to Rachels in Kentucky USA when I get back XXCathy