Dreams are becomming plans.

I have finally done the most simple piece of paper work that has enabled the money I've been saving through the kids scholarship fund to be released to me and the interest earned paid to the kids. I don't know why I found this so difficult to do before now. (All I can say is thank goodness for antidepressants!)
Tim finally does exist. There was a number of dramas in his attempts to get a passport. The first being that he didn't exist on the births register, his name was spelt wrongly and then they gave him a copy of someone else's birth certificate with a very similar name and birth date. Anyway his passport is on it's way.
I went through all my jewellery and ended up recycling about $1000 worth of silver! Tim had collected quite a bit too so now with cash behind us I have spent the day planning, really planning not just wistfully "pinning" pictures to my holiday board on pinterest.
I'm planning 6 weeks away (now that the kids have reassured me they will look after each other and I need not feel guilty for abandoning them for some time during their end of semester uni exams- Why is it I continue to feel like a bad mama when they are almost 18 and a half and almost 20!!?)
I've decided to fly into London then explore Paris, Barcelona, Venice via Marseilles, Florence, Rome, and then back to London via Milan on the train. Once back in London I would like to spend some time Kombi Camper Vanning around at a leisurely pace.
It sounds like a lot but several of the train trips connecting cities are overnight and will be in sleeper carriages and I decided we may as well check out a couple of places along the way! I used to live in Mt Magnet and thought nothing of doing a three hour drive to Geraldton to do a bit of shopping or to dip my feet into the ocean! and returning in the afternoon before the roos, emus and occasionally cows came out and made driving a little more exciting than one would like! So 2 and a half hours from Venice to Milan sounds like a much better proposition to me- even 13 hours from paris to Barcelona sounds more appealing! Especially when there are Gaudi's mosaic buildings and a Picasso museum to visit.

We will start our trip with two weeks in Paris. Then the mad dash about Contiki tour style but just the two of us on a train stopping exactly where and when we want to! Then two weeks in the UK crocheting in sea side villages and at loch sides in Scotland.
I've bought a new netbook computer to use at home -rather than renewing my school laptop rental as I thought I could take it with me when I travel. It is quite nice to use. I've used it all afternoon to do a bit of research and to post this too.
Although I think I might take a break now to do some more crochet for a cardigan I'm working on or my cotton bed spread. And just let the information I've found seep gently into my head, roll about a bit and see if I am happy with it all. (I wish I had more money, more time and less guilt to be able to do and see everything on my wish list!)