I went to Emporia mid day and got four bags of dog food that I had forgotten yesterday. I also got some cash to leave with Kathy in case she needs something or the kiddos need something while I am gone. I filled the car with gas and got a travel purse and wallet. I usually carry a very small purse and I needed something I could put my water bottle in as well as the other little things I like to have with me when I am out and about and traveling.
I haven’t done much else yet. It is hot again today and I need to go down and check on the chickens and make some water puddles for them to cool down in.
Thanks to the advice of one of my friends that travels a lot, I got travel medical insurance for the trip. That eliminates one of my concerns for the trip. With Covid rearing it’s ugly head again, there is always the chance I can get Covid again. This way if I get it, the travel insurance will help pay for any medical expense as well as the travel difficulties it may present.
Trying to decide if I want to drive to the airport and park my car there or if I want to go to Nicole’s house and leave my car with her and use an Uber to get to the airport. It would be cheaper and probably safer to use the Uber. It would take about 30 more minutes to my day though. It will be a long travel day either way so what is an extra 30 minutes – right?
I have heard at the new airport the pickup line is awful. It would take longer when I get back to wait for an Uber than just walk to my car and go. The parking cost for three weeks would be outrageous though. I guess I will decide the day before or the day of.
I need to remember to type up my reminder notes for Michelle and Kathy of what needs to be done when. It is nice to not need to housesitter this time as I already have them built-in.
A part of me is still hoping that I can get a contract signed for the windows and siding before I leave but I doubt that can happen. I still need to get the EFIS bid and then hear back from the insurance adjuster that he is willing to pay the bid amount for that and the windows. I can’t sign a contract until I know how big of pot I have to work with. It sure would make it easier to leave if I could get that nailed down before I left.
I signed up for full international coverage for my phone for while I am gone. I learned when I walked the Camino to pay the extra dollars to have cell service. I need to remember to drop it when I get back as they sign you up for it to last beyond one month and you have to tell them to drop it off.
I called my debit card bank and put a travel alert on my account for the time I will be in the UK. I trust that they will honor any charges I attempt to put on the card. The credit cards no longer require advanced travel notice. Last time I traveled I had better luck with the credit cards then I did with the debit card. Someone who recently traveled to the UK said cards are king and cash is no longer needed or used much. I will get some cash as the airport in London just in case but am thinking I will use cards for most of my spending.
I don’t have anything on my calendar before I leave except a haircut on Wednesday morning. I will pick up a grocery order after my haircut and then I think I will be ready to go.
I need to finish my packing list so I don’t forget something. I keep reminding myself I am going to the UK and not some third world country where they don’t have the modern conveniences. I can always pick up what I need there if I forget something. I am only taking a carry on bag so can’t take many what-if things. We will be moving from hotel to hotel almost every day so I don’t want to have to drag a big suitcase around daily. I only took a carry-on when I walked the Camino and was gone from home for 60 days. I will manage just fine as I am only going to be gone for 3 weeks this time.
I may checked my bag for the trip as I have a five hour layover before the long flight to London. It is a pain to drag a bag around an airport for that long. I also have trouble getting the carry-on lifted over my head to put in the bin. That kinda defeats one of the reasons for taking only a carry-on though. We shall see what I decide to do. Now that I am 70, maybe I can plead I am old and some young thing will take pity on me and lift it up for me.
Four full days left for me to get ready. It felt good to get a few more things taken care of today. Now I just need to get the final things organized and I will be ready to go.
Sitting with some restlessness still but it is easing up a bit. I think I just needed to take a few steps to get ready to go and allow myself to let go of some reservations I have about leaving. All is well and all will be well.
Grateful some things got checked off my to-do list today, grateful I am feeling less anxious about the trip, and grateful for all the options and choices I get to make.