I'm Tired of Summits, Thank You Very Much

As mentioned, I was in London on 7/7. What I hadn't realized was that the bombings were linked to the G8 summit. Somehow that had slipped my mind. That's making the news of the massive protests over the G20 a little more unsettling to me. I just pray that my kids' parents aren't watching the news like I am right now. It's going to be a traffic and security nightmare as it is. I'm thinking the less we're on the Tube, the better and the sooner we're out of London, the better I'm going to feel. It really pisses me off to say that, too, since there is really no city in the world I'd rather be in than London.

I'm packed and about to change into plane clothes and load up the car. It's going to be a long night, but I'm hoping the cough medicine will kick in and knock me out on the way over. I don't want to be jetlagging on top of all this damn stress.

Heading back

Five and I are leaving tomorrow for his first trip to London. We're packed and pretty much ready. I think it's a personal record--I don't need to run buy anything tomorrow, I'm not waiting on anything to finish up in the dryer and I am not dead tired or all jittery.

Will update once we arrive--assuming we survive the trip and the schlep of 100 lbs. of luggage from Heathrow to Bayswater--still not sure on the best method of transport. We're going to assess our level of deadness upon arrival and choose between tube and a train to get in from the airport.

Ten days, staying in a studio flat--we'll probably be bat shit crazy after all that together time in such a confined place, but I'm looking forward to the trip. Very excited to see how Five reacts to seeing the touristy things and also looking forward to hitting the markets: Portobello, Camden, Spitalsfiled and Borough for sure. Oh, and Primark on Oxford St. I'm soooo going shopping this trip. Can.not.wait!

Make That Kim In Nashville

Oy.

I've had some adventures in travel--kids with lost passports, running through Newark to make connections with 15 kids, getting stuck in Toronto for two days due to an ice storm, kid stranded in Chicago due to same ice storm, busses having minor wrecks, students getting sick, and then the whole 7/7 thing a couple of years ago, so this latest installment in Travel With Kim is not that extreme, really, but it is irritating and frustrating beyond belief.



Instead of lunching in London this morning, I am breakfasting at the La Quinta Nashville airport eating oatmeal and toast. It's all free (damn good thing) and we'll be leaving today for London around 1.00. We have $25 worth of food vouchers to use at the airport, so we plan to stock up on whatever we can for free. Then we'll attempt to get to Dulles once again.



The problem? Not weather, not mechanical--just flat out ineptitude. Evidently, from what was announced, United had TWO first officers show up for the flight instead of one, which didn't seem like a problem initially, just a delay. Welllllll, then about fifteen minutes later, and when we were supposed to be about to take-off, they announced that the flight was CANCELLED due to a lack of ANY qualified first officer. Seriously. From two to zero, just like that.



At first, I assumed they would just fly us to Dulles on another airline or let us go via another hub, but it soon became obvious that wasn't going to happen. No other flights to D.C. on any airline and precious few to a city where we might get to London at night. So we resigned ourselves to staying another night.



After much working and manuevering, the best ticketing agent ever, Stacy, rebooked us on a flight today to Dulles and then on to London (actually on two flights that arrive twenty minutes apart). Business Class. So I'm not as irate as I might be, provided I do actually get to sit in THIS on my way there:







Sooooooo, we'll see how it goes. Hopefully next time I log on here, it will be from London.

Crisis Averted

New camera purchased, spending money diminished considerably. Now just have to wait until it's time to go to the airport. I hate waiting.

Typical

My digital camera is broken as of this morning. I tried to turn it on and the lens is totally screwed up and won't go back in. It just keeps saying reset camera. I did NOT need this today. Ugh.

Almost Ready

Most of the clothing is packed with room to spare. Carry-on bag is packed. Just have to put together my stuff in my laptop bag and I should be set. This is far too easy. I feel as if I must be leaving something very important behind. Not good.

Packing Sucks

I'm a terrible packer. I do this every time I travel--I try to plan out "outfits" and end up taking far too much crap wherever I go. When I get there, invariably, I only wear the same three things over and over, in different mixes, because the weather sucks, my other shoes are uncomfortable, or whatever. Yet, here I sit, two days before I leave and my suitcase is brimming with clothing. I can't make decisions, so I have about four lightweight sweaters. I have three or four jackets to take--lightweight, outfit jackets, not coats. I have long and short sleeved t-shirts. Jeans and pants. Etc. I wasn't going to take my giant suitcase because, well, it's giant, but now it's clear that I will have to if I intend to make any purchases or take things such as shampoo and a hairdryer (and I must take a hairdryer because those in the hotels that our tour company provides are usually not that great, if they are even present).

I read on a travel board where a woman said she was going to Europe for three weeks and she was taking two pair of pants, two skirts, three shirts and a couple of cardigans and jackets. At this moment I have at least five t-shirts packed--some long, some short-sleeved. And then there are the three light-weight sweaters and the jackets and the blouse or two. Granted, she's planning on doing laundry and I'm not, but SERIOUSLY? There is just no way. I guess since I am not really crammed for space--the big suitcase is not a big deal except being a bit unwieldy--I should just embrace the wardrobe and move on because I know that as sure as I leave a long-sleeved tee back here, something will stain one and rip the other and then I'll freeze to death. If I'm prepared, I'll just wear the black one over and over and y'all can laugh when I post pictures.

Crises Averted

Iran has released the hostages. This is great news on a number of fronts; selfishly, I am most glad because that means I don't have to worry about some international incident causing me grief on my trip. BTDT and I don't want to try it while accompanied by other people's children.

Second, I've found my passport and have placed it securely in my underwear drawer until such time as I put it in my carry-on bag. I would have put it in the freezer (in case of fire) but I was afraid we'd have another ice-maker melt down. The lock box isn't a sure bet either, since knowing me I'd lose the key suddenly. So drawer it is.

Now, on to the next disaster-in-the-making. As of just a moment ago, the UK/US exchange rate is 1.97. Fuuuuuuuuuuck. That's obscene. Truly. I was distressed about 1.75 last time. Who knew that I would be tickled to see that number again. This means that I will be bringing back no souvenirs for anyone other than my children. They will be getting whatever free shit is in the hotel and maybe, maybe a cheap plastic toy in the .99p bin. I'm aghast. This is going to suck rocks. I'm thinking my plan to go see a play on the cheap is a no-go unless I can get tickets for about 20 pounds (need to find the pound symbol key, but I'm too lazy).

It's That Time Again, Kids!

Yes, time to get packed and ready to head back to my second favorite country, jolly old England. I'm taking a very, very small school group over on the 9th and we're staying for ten days. I've packed nothing. I've planned nothing to wear. I don't even have a suitcase for this trip. The one I bought the last time-described here--is just entirely too large for this trip. I am trying to keep my stuff more managable this time around, plus I've lost a bunch of weight so I don't actually need as much room for my clothes as I used to. I haven't even actually laid eyes on my passport in months. I guess I better get in the mood. I think I'm going to read old blog entries to fire up some excitement.