One more Day to Go On My Adventure 6 July 2014

Good evening to all you readers, well its here at long last, another tick on my bucket list being achieved, case is finally packed, I have never had such a long list of things that I need to take, from swimming cossie to scarf and winter woollies, Bright clothes to drab green, hope the animals appreciate my efforts. Hope that South Africa is worth it all
I start the trip hopefully at 1.30pm with a kind Saga driver taking me to Heathrow, don't know yet if there will be others in the vehicle, hopefully we will stop somewhere along the way for a break. I have found an app that is called Evernote and have listed things I need to do when I get to the airport, just have to remember to use, maybe will do a couple of Post It notes in case, firstly have to to get the case wrapped in what seems to be cling film in the hope it discourages theft, then to check in or drop case off, I have tried to check in today but it seems Virgin will only let me do 24 hours before and already I cannot have a window seat, even if I try.

Then I want to use the airports support service to get me to the lounge where I hopefully can have a shower then relax, having something to drink and eat whilst waiting to board, I believe they have free Wi Fi so I may take the opportunity to let you know how the trip down went. Then its onto the plane, unfortunately I will have to refuse the champagne and settle for something else. I have plenty of reading matter as well as a supply of music, hopefully I will need neither and be able to use what the plane provides to keep me occupied until I fall asleep. It seems by the time I eventually get to my destination I will of been travelling for over 20 hours, for most people not a problem but the trapped nerve in my right shoulder is still causing issues and possibly sitting for all these hours will set off my bad back. Gail my physio has told me to keep doing the exercises she has given me, just hope other passengers and crew do not find it an issue. hopefully my flight socks will help cope with preventing DVTs. Hope there are no screaming children or drunken adults to cope with, not sure if will prefer someone sat next to me who is chatty or quiet

Only 2 more weeks to go to safari 22 June 2014

Well its not long to go now before the big adventure,  I think I have most the things I need like insect repellant, South African Rand money, I have just paid for a lounge pass for the airport so I can relax and have a shower hopefully before the flight, but also ordered flight socks and sorted out my seat on the plane. Just found out my international plug adaptor is not right, so back to thr shops for another.
Think I have all the leads and adaptors for camera etc and hopefully have enough memory cards for my camera and camcorder. How times have changed over the years,  when we used to send postcards from our destinations and never thought of being in touch whilst away whereas now by the magic of technology I will be able hopefully, to keep you readers up to date with the help of the internet and Wi Fi.
I have yet to check everything will go in my case, I would prefer to take the one, but have a luggage allowance to take either a larger case or two smaller ones. It's going to be hard to decide just how many and type of clothes that I will need, for the variation of temperature and environment, plus sunscreen,  aftersun extra shoes and layers of clothes. I have yet to put a range of music on the tablet for the trip but have enough in E books to keep me going for a long time.

Safari here I come 9 June 2014

Well folks the safari to South Africa is not far away, I did worry last month when I had problems with my health,& mainly my back started to play up but also I started getting something that felt like electric shocks down my right arm. Luckily due to Gail and Andrea the physios things have improved, just now have to do more exercises to prevent a re occurrence.
I have had all my inoculations, I had read about monkeys being about the lodge so decided to have the rabies one as well but after buying it was warned I could have a bad reaction to it, so at present have vaccine in my fridge, sob sob. I did contact Saga who are arranging the trip, their view was, if I dont bother the monkeys, they will leave me alone, maybe I should of contacted them first.

I have bought a camcorder for the trip, couldent believe how small it is but can be used as conventional camera also. I have had to buy extra clothes for the trip, that are dark colours for when on safari, but also needed a mixture of warm for the early and late trips out but lighter for the middle of the day, have a list of things need for the trip such as special adapter for their electrical sockets, insect repellent, luckily was able to get this trip in a malarial free zone so one less tablet and adverse reaction to worry about, but have strong painkillers from GP just in case I need them for other aches and pains.
I had decided that when I found out I was travelling with Virgin that I would upgrade on the plane to their economy plus both there and back, because it would give me a better seat and more legroom on the 10 hour flight, I also joined their frequent flyer scheme in the hope it would help for future trips, also Saga had arranged for me to be picked up from home by car and transported to London by them. It was only the other day that I realised how much travelling was involved on this trip. I am being picked up at 1 30 pm on the day, then down to London for the evening flight at 9 30pm, then there is a trip of approximately 3 hours after to the lodge so it looks like in total is will be in excess of 20 hours before I reach my destination.
Well I will close for now but give more background on the trip as I get closer.