Of preparations....as one must prepare to meander....

Meandering does not bring out an image of preparations, rather a quiet wander following "the whatever".  However, and I must put in a however, when your Mother and your four year old daughter accompany you in the peak of the tourist season, "One" (note: here I refer to me as One) must prepare.  As a side note; now, I also have time to prepare and I do so love to get "organised"...do you think there is a Yahoo group called the "Organisers" - if so maybe I should moderate.....


Firstly, One organises by planning a theme.  Ours (now I use the travelling team reference) is "the journey and the fun of getting there".  We shall travel predominantly by public transport and on foot a comfortable full length of the UK and travel as lightly as possible...anyone that knows my work travel style....it is light!


To orientate yourselves on Our journey, I have spent much time crafting this elaborate map....

I am wondering if preparations actually save time.  Obviously, it will save stress as through "google maps" and "slow travel", I can easily, via a photographic walking route, get a tired "Ours" from the Roissy OperaBus to our hotel on Rue Montgolfier; a total distance of 2.4 km on foot (I have decided not to use the Metro as we will see more on foot).  Now back to my point on time, it has taken me about 40 minutes to plot out how to get from the airport to the hotel following an all night flight.  No doubt, if nothing was planned, it would have taken less than 10 minutes to sort out at the airport!  Take your pick - to plan or not to plan.


On total planning, that I have really enjoyed.  The web is my friend (as is a credit card) for the intinerary.  I have perused Trip Advisor with alacrity, got the inside word on train travel via Seat61 and found that the booking site of preference for me is booking.com. 






















Gear, here we have my "bestest" friend, I LOVE GEAR.  My fully packed 50 L backpack is under filled and weighs in at 8.2 kg including its outer airline strapping.  Have I left items out, you ask (as clearly, I am carrying gear for Teagan too).  No, infact, I have lots of "tools", I answer.  Included in my kit bag is a range consisting of: incup water boiler, binoculars, medical kit, reading lights, lunchvwraps and box, camera, netbook, plate and utensils including the necessary milk frother for in room cappuccinos, Teagan toys and drawing gear.  And yes, no excrement of a man cow, it does all fit in easily and weigh 8.2 kg.  Teagan, naturally will be carrying a small backpack of her own at a total weight of 1.5 kg: clothes in a roll, toothbrush, and a small extra toy and I have a small shoulder bag. Clothing is minimal but not extremely so.  All in all, hopefully, we have room for some purchases and low weight so I can actually enjoy pushing Miss 4 yrs in the buggy 3 km from ferry to backpackers at 10pm at night in Plymouth!


So this is  our next meander.  A fairly windy course, gently travelled but well planned.  Ours is three generations one spending her kids inheritance via backpack and the other two getting break from the intense heat here in the sandpit and introducing a preschooler, who happens to love "a long time ago" (history) to some real prehistoric history and a good taste of the industrialisation period (we do have to see Brunel's bridge and his Daddy's tunnels).  All the best for your winter in NZ or heat in the Sandpit (noting that temperatures in the 30's will be cool to us).

Of the heat and our inside....

What does one do when it is 49 deg C?  Yes, indeed, we complain of the heat, yet, I am told, it is not "really" hot yet!

Teagan and I are spending our days inside.  Even the swimming pool is too hot.  The toddlers pool is warm like a bath and the adult lap pool is around 33 deg C.  Swimming is thus left until the early evening when there is not the baking heat that must be escaped.

All up, we are still having fun.  Friday night was camping night.  Teagan spend a good portion of the day preparing for the adventure (inside on the couch) and an extremely happy night for one four year old was endured by one back and neck pained mother.  And yes, we will be doing it again - apparently "every night".

On to some photos, I thought a still photo tour of the house might be interesting(downstairs only as my layout abilities are somewhat  marginal) .  Let's see how it goes....