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!)

Plans,dreams and wishful thinking

Chicky babe wants to go to Melbourne to see Wicked. Now, just any ordinary ticket is not good enough for her, she particularly wants to have the super duper cocktail tickets with the extra special treats like drinks and nibbles at intermission. She does not suffer her mothers general mantra of making do and going for the cheaper option! She values herself and believes she deserves to have the best not that she is spoiled, rather that she does not undervalue herself or sell herself short. I actually admire her self assuredness!

Hopefully we will be able to make the whole thing come together , ie flights, tickets and hotel. We found a hotel that looks quite nice on the net which is I believe in the Bourke Hill precinct. It is called the Punt Hill on Little Bourke St. On the net I discovered it is nearby to many eating places including one called Piadina Slowfood which sounds quite interesting. Especially since I suffer from allergies to preservatives, colouring and flavorings used in food at many restaurants. This makes traveling and eating out a bit tricky. Luckily there is a move away from using prepackaged stuff. The hotel appears to be close to tram lines and public transport.

The kids and I are quite keen to see snow while we are there if it is possible. The net has provided me with some information about Lake Mountain, it tells me it is about 2hours from Melbourne and makes it a good place for a day trip and that there are bus tours that operate etc. But I cant find out where, when or how much they cost. We don't want to ski, sorry, I don't want to ski. Chicky babe would give it a go! Bantam Boy might too. But if we are going to splurge on the theater tickets there is not a huge budget available for the rest of the trip. (Especially since Bantam boy is off to Sydney to compete a sporting comp soon too.) Anyway I have never seen snow and would like to if there is the opportunity to do so.

It is funny really everything else has been so easy to plan and explore on line!
There are no pictures today. I've spent 6 hours cleaning up my art room at school today (this is the first chance I have had to get into it.) I have to go back and finish it tomorrow. The two skirts that are whirling around in my head along with some silver jewelery are just going to have to wait!!! Plans are being drawn up for the studio to be "retro submitted", so all is not lost yet!