Step Four - Shipping Out

Last Wednesday's start to our little adventure had to be cancelled. A death in Chappers' family, which he decided he'd like to hang around for in order to pay his respects. The funeral is in the morning, and he'll be back at the house on Wednesday morning. The plan now is to fly on Friday.
The hotel cancellation was a pain in the arse. I've had to do most of the reorganising for him, and simple things like phone security become a moment of nervous tension while I give his details and yet I'm convinced somehow they're just know it's not him really. Still, all sorted and given the circumstances the lovely lady in LA waived the cancellation fee, and bizarrely upgraded us from two standard singles to a luxury twin. I'm sure we can cope with one anothers snoring for a bit of extra opulence.

I've not had a lot to do, and have been spending my time buying stuff I'll probably not need, and end up giving away. Had to wait in for several of Chappers' new credit cards to arrive by recorded post too. He's a bit twitchy with all the banks collapsing, so has decided to spread his money around a few places with different parent companies to mitigate the losses should the whole thing go tits-up, and taking advantage of their new customer offers on plastic while he's at it. A few quid has gone off-shore as well, and he's a lot more relaxed now about it all.
Also spent far much time playing computer games to pass the time. Call of Duty 4 has become a little world to disappear into and forget the mundane realities of clock-watching on a 10-day-long scale. I quite like running around killing people from all around the world, although I tend to die far more often than I should if I were to claim I'm any good. Getting enough kills to have a gold uzi has become a little bit of an obsession though, and I doubt I'll do it before we fly out. It's like I'm a kid again, playing Sonic on the Mega Drive, and needing to get the end-of-level boss, and defeat it.

Other than that, it's been guide books and big fold-out maps spread across the tables at McDonalds, annoying the staff by taking three hours to work through a big mac meal and a few coca colas. Free wi-fi is worth it though, as it gets me out of the house after the postlady has been.

I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas now, though I'm keeping it under wraps while Chapman and family go through these tough days. Last thing they need while having a quiet cry on the phone to each other is one end having a grinning northern buffoon leering at them, excitedly waving a passport around.

No doubt I'll post up some travel tips and such when I arrive Stateside, and I intend to post to my blog every 2 or 3 days while out there, rather than every 2 or 3 weeks.

Cheerio for now!