Testing ....testing....one ....two....three....

The technology expert has set up a new system for me to use for blogging so this is the test post!

He (who never misses an opportunity to go to Dick Smith's and buy new gadgetry) has purchased a Bluetooth keyboard and a Bluetooth mouse for me so I can easily blog. Just what I've always wanted!! 

At least this time it is something useful, as opposed to those times when he returns (after hours perusing various bits of technology) with some item that I have no idea about. What is a router anyway? And does it come in nice colours?!

He did return empty handed after one such trip only to announce that there was a special tablet that was very cheap that we couldn't live without. He thinks I don't understand his tactics but he should remember that I am the one who perfected the 'it was a bargain!!' technique. When I pointed out that we appeared to already have more tablets than people in our house, he reluctantly agreed that perhaps we would survive without it. 

Anyway we have 3 days before we finally depart.

The only decisions left are to estimate the appropriate amount of toothpaste for 6 weeks and nut out the solution to the problem of whether or not to take a raincoat. Forecast for Rome is 30 degrees Celsius! Fabulous.

Going....going....but not quite gone,

Dianne 

Decisions

11 days to go .... and decisions to make

Less than two weeks to go before Ewan and I squeeze the last essential item into our luggage and head for the airport. We will be enroute to Italy for 6 weeks of doing the 'Grand Tour' of Italy, just as the ladies and gentlemen of Europe were wont to do decades ago.

Forget the crinolines and knee britches: it's sturdy comfy shoes, shorts, sunscreen and T-shirts for us! Farewell to the lousy Melbourne winter, the icy winds and the drizzle: we're off to experience Autumn in Italy.

The big questions at the moment are:

1.How will I manage to last another 5 days at work? In summary: motivation zero, expectations high, care factor zero, burnout level high.

2.What do I need to say to poor Richard who will be filling my shoes for the next few weeks? (On second thoughts if he does too good a job I might find myself jobless on my return!?).
It's not a lot to ask: he only has to cut $200k from the budget without reducing services, and get us through accreditation, and move my office, and make sure Mark and Michael keep the buildings standing and keep Natalie under control with her hand hygiene emails and........on second thoughts it is a lot to ask! (Thanks Richard).

3. What to pack and not to pack? How many pairs of shoes does a girl need to traverse the wilds of Italy and attend a Conference in Brighton in the middle of it? Most importantly how much space does a girl need to leave in her bag to accommodate the odd purchase or two....or three....or four....?.

4. How many parties can we expect the girls to have whilst we are away? And more importantly will they clean up before we arrive home?

5. Will the dogs survive? I don't care but I thought one of these questions should come from Ewan as he is the travel partner. Last time we went away we returned to find Gracie ( the stupid beagle: hang on they're both stupid!) to be a shadow of her former self: Lauren had implemented a Weightwatchers for Dog plan and Gracie was positively svelte. It lasted about two weeks post our return : Ewan had to overcome his feelings of guilt about leaving the dog behind by making up for it with copious unhealthy treats.

6. Will Mum and Dad survive without me bossing them around for 6 weeks? Brother Glenn I bestow on you the honour of being named "the bossy one" during my absence .

That about takes care of the burning issues so far.

Roll on the 4th September!

your impatient traveler-to-be

Dianne