First Visit to FNB Slow Lounge

Ok. So we are all travelling...

Sitting at KSIA waiting for the first plane to arrive and thought of taking the guys at FNB up on their Slow Lounge offering. Just love the fact that they call you Sir! upon arival.

What a nice and relaxing experience. Couches that hug your love handles and just about any channel on TV you can imagine.  Best of all is that the horrible flight announcements are replaced by the most wonderfull chill music.

I sooo recommend the suuuper tasty snax and drinks that are lurking round every table screaming 'eat me, eat me'.

Now .. just got to be carefull not to dose off in this abyss of relaxation... gladly there s a friendly personalised its your time time to fly person walking around..

One more Sleepie ...

Ok, so the work from home attempt this afternoon proved to be quite a good idea. I managed to get my suitcase repacked about 4 times and got all the 'stuff' and items that is joining me for the journey into a single bag that is within the weight restriction.  Although it took 4 attempts, I must say that what did not make it into the bag by now.. Well it will just have to stay right where it is.

Oh boy... so much of  bantering on facebook about the trip today.. I never thought it would be possible for anyone to almost have a realtime conversation on a Facebook Wall, but Hell we did it today.

Tomorrow is the big day .. got to get to the Airport to make my connecting flight to LHR in the evening. Hopefully we can check in as soon as we arrive in JNB so that we can choose some spacious seats.. Daddy Long legs does not like to be dumped into a small place for 11 hours.

I think it is time to doze off into anohter galaxy for a few hours .... check ya in the morning!

2 Days to Travel

It has suddenly dawned that there is a mere two days left (if you count today ;-) before having to make our way to the airport! Our breakfast in the sky was rained out this morning... So were not going to head up into the sky with the rain 'peleting down'  - to quote a friend!  So I opted for a quick shop rather.

I got a jacket! Whoop.. So there went the plan for shopping in the UK for one. A budgie wispered in my ear that it was going to be -1 on the morning we land, so this could not have come at a more opportune time. Thanks Cape Union Mart! You guys are just awesome! Come Rain .. Come Snow .. I have myself covered ;-)

Just weighed in all the pressies to take to the UK with me.. Soooo going to be playing Postman Pat (wink wink). I think that leaves me with a luggage allowance of about 1 kilo for clothing and everything else I need to take once the parcels are packed! It makes ideal space for doing plenty of shopping whilst in Paris as there will be loads of holes to fill for the return flight.

Ey, let me go and continue getting some stuff ready. So ideal to have a day off work before one travels, you can get so much more things done!

3 Days to Travel..

Ok. So in the spirit of all crazy people today was the day to head over to the shopping mall to get some forex sorted out. OH MY HO HO HO .....  So I work like less than 2 kilometers return from the mall where I do my forex, but boy did I forget that it was the silly season.

It took me more time driving the two kilometers and finding parking than what it took to do all the paperwork and legal rubbish to get money converted at the foreign exchange counter and pop in to one or two shops!  I should have darn well grabbed my tackies and ran there it would be quicker!

Good thing it was Payday and Bonus day today! Cause the piggy bank did not have to go on a complete diet as usual ;-), weird how the currencies match up... and how one only realises the strenght of other currencies when you do forex. Everything is like 10 times more expensive using a number to number comparison!

So, now we have some spending money sorted and now it is just for the packing and travelling! 

Last Few Days ...

So its the last few days of slavery before the journey begins. Let's hope that our passports arrive on Monday afternoon as is originally planned, else the stress levels are going to become explosive...

Looking at the weather forecasts it would appear that it might be a good idea to get a hot jacket ... and maybe some other hot clothes ;-)  Just browsing the websites I think it will be much more cost effective to get some stuff upon arrival. Costed a jacket this morning at the shops ... Hmm ZAR1900... and can get it there for less than ZAR600. So I think It will be only essential bits that travel.. the rest will be obtained upon arrival.. Lets just hope we don't freeze before between the plane and the terminal building .. LOL.

I should probably start thinking about what to pack.. Packing is such an evil. I prefer travelling light.. with just the stuff I have one me... LOL ... ok now I know I am exaggerating..  Will start the packing tomorrow evening. Will make a list of all the essential bits that need to travel and tick them off one piece at a time as it makes it's way into my luggage.

If this trip is going to be anything like my Facebook Statuses!

If this trip is going to be anything like my facebook statuses over 2010, then Hell Yea I am  there like a bear! LOL, what an interesting year 2010 has been!

[Click on the image for a larger viewable size]

Almost enroute....

OK, so it has been some time since the last update, but a lot has transpired. First of all VISAS are required to enter most of the foreign countries when you are on a passport like I have. This is usually not a challenge as there should be no reason for declining any VISA for me. (to be proven wrongly later...)

Getting VISAs sorted for the United Kingdom was a breese and took all of three days to get done and dusted and delivered.  The second round was to get VISAs sorted for the European Union. Eesh... This is where the fun started.

The application and all supporting documentation was furnished as was required by the Italian Embasy. It was checked and verified and confirmed that all is in order. This process normally takes between seven and ten days to complete. Something soon to be discovered not to be the case. After over two weeks  the applications came back... Declined!... The reason for this was that the documentation provided for financial support and proof of funding was not in a language that the consulate understood. (TIP: Make sure all your supporting documentation is in English or French before you send this for and application for a VISA for the EU).

The corrective measure was simple. Updated information requested from my bank in English.  This had proven to be an even more cumbersome task. Statements are issued legal documents, and since they had been issued in a non English language, the bank could not reproduce them in english.  After a huge fight and many disputes, finally it was decided to request this information from another bank who I bank with.  This time... They are in English.

So today I got the confirmation that the VISA should be ready for collection in the next 2 days. All thumbs are held and all possible items that could be crossed are crossed. Lets hope all is in order.... It is only eight days before departure, there is NO time to waist!