Cheery's buttling diary: tea in one hand, plant pot in the other, running shoes on

Cheery_Daff

Tis indeed :j Didn't even think of wool - will have to leave room in my suitcase :eek: I've got a hand luggage only ticket so there won't be much room!! :eek: (although also not much *time* for wandering about but I will try!)

Accidentally went to the off licence and started drinking so probably nowt else will get done now in case I put my passport in the washing machine or something :rotfl:

Cheery_Daff

Morning :hello: late start for me as had disturbed night - next door but one had a party, not deadloud but there were people outside smoking and chattering from 8pm, and cos all our houses are close together, it echoes round the little courtyard thing... went to bed at 12 and heard someone say 'come inside now, I don't want to be a bad neighbour' :rotfl: but they were still going at 2 and had just had a pizza delivered so I popped out in my nightie they were very nice (don't think people I spoke to actually lived there though) but it took them another half an hour or so to shut up and then therewas a flurry of taxis and loud goodbyes at 4. Urgh. First offence for them though and it really was a very calm party so no harm done, I'm just a bit vacant this morning :rotfl:

Mr Cheery's band is playing later so I want to get all my Norway stuff packed before that so I've got the afternoon for ad hoc cheerfulness if it arises :j

Remembered today I'll probably need some kind of adapter plug so might need to pop into town, and possibly a present for the nice woman who's hosting me in her dept - is that a thing? What on earth is appropriate?? Might pop to the museum and get something (small!) With my city on

Right -breakfast first and it was payday yesterday so need to do some YNAB shuffling :j :j

starnac

I personally would take something "local" We are lucky here as we gave a good choice of "local" things. Especially edible things.

Glad the party wasn't too bad and they were pretty sensible even if they were a bit loud.

rtandon27

How about a jar of local WI jam & nice piece of cheese?

Agree with Star that edible is usualy the way to go!

Cheery_Daff

Edible is good Local museum shop basically had lots of Hendersons Relish nonsense and a very nondescript mug that had no reference to the city at all. Not conviced I'm allowed to take relishy liquid on the plane :rotfl: so it might well have to be cheese! Problem is I'm setting off tomorrow morning and won't see her for 24 hours then we"ll both be away from home for another 12 hours so I'm not covinced cheese will survive... :eek: Does jam count as liquid?! Didn't get up early enough for the WI sadly :rotfl: :rotfl:

Cheery_Daff

Well, it turns out jam *does* count as liquid :rotfl: No options left now other than getting something vaguely English (or just 'nice') in London on the way. Although I did just happen to bump into a professor friend this morning who suggested presents aren't expected, and if I really wanted to do something I could just take her out for a meal while we're there. We'll see what I can get in London - she might not want to spend any more time with me than she has to :rotfl:

Anyway... all packed :j and bizarrely I've checked in online and printed boarding pass. How is that even a thing? I thought the whole point of check in was to register that you were in the airport and ready for the flight? I'm several hundred miles from the airport and there's plenty that could still happen to prevent me getting there! :eek: :rotfl: Ah well, done now

Got SO much time tomorrow :rotfl: I've only ever flown twice I think, and am rather nervous about doing something stupid and missing the flight so I've basically allowed myself four hours to get across London :rotfl: :rotfl: Going to be lots of wandering around tomorrow I think :rotfl:

YNAB all up to date - might be a bit of a mess with the foreign currency though when I come back :eek: Oh! And I haven't figured out whether my phone will work!

Fuss fuss fuss :rotfl: :rotfl:

rtandon27

Any chance you are going anywhere near a museum while in London? (Nati0nal Gallery has a very nice gift shop!)

Does YNAB only take one currency Cheery? Thought it did more than one for some reason - think I better do more of their tutorials before signing up!

milasavesmoney

Can you call your phone provider and make sure?

I'm excited for you! I am wishing you a wonderful trip!! I know it's work related but, well, you know...
Fun times can be had and being in another country is exciting. :j:j:j

We print out everything beforehand and go straight to the security line. If we have larger luggage it can be ticketed curbside when we arrive at the our air line terminal. Very much more efficient. But getting through TSA security has become a nightmare on the scale of Tel Aviv airport!:eek:

Our airlines now charge for larger luggage so everyone is trying to take carry on only. Screening time is unreal! At some US airports it's been 3-4 hrs in line. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to get through security and into the actual boarding terminal.

Hasta la vista!!! Que tenga un buen viaje!!!

Cheery_Daff

That's a good point! :j Thanks Since I've got such a ludicrous amount of time I could well go near a museum :rotfl:

Just been doing things I should have done before, like checking whether I can use my phone (yes :j and it only costs 0.5p a minute to receive calls from Mr Cheery while I'm out there, and doesn't cost him anything other than ringing me normally :j ), informing bank and checking currency rates etc.

Checked bank website, said I need to inform if going outside EU. Norway not part of EU - but after waiting over 10 mins on the phone I was informed that, while technically not part of EU, it does in fact count as part of EU for banking purposes so no need to tell them at all... :rotfl:

Also checked currency - needless to say I haven't organised anything and am reluctant to carry large amounts of cash but Martin says spending on card is cheaper than cash, and getting cash out is better in bigger amounts than smaller... so that's the advice I shall follow. Should only need airport bus a few times, plus meals. Might change a bit in London before I go, we'll see if I've got time after going to the museum :rotfl:

Cheery_Daff

Oops, missed you there Mila! :hello: Phone provider website is straightforward and they don't have a call centre, all online, so all sorted there :j

Boarding pass printed and I have a hand baggage only ticket so nowt to check in. Having investigated a few websites of museum shops (thanks RT ) I'm going to take the straightforward option and go to the British Library (since it's next to the train station...) :j Great suggestion :j Still not sure what I'll get but I suspect price will dictate that :money:

That should still allow me an hour to get to the airport, and then 3 more hours to just get through security :rotfl: Think I'll be fine