one day to go

I just finally go around to checking the actual street map locations of the places I am staying. Well, Glasgow I couldn't check until this morning as I did not have the address. so:
Glasgow- hotel pretty close to the city centre. Is well on the Lonely Planet city map. A long walk (with suitcase) or short taxi trip? north of Central station.
Edinburgh- House of Bro. Not far from the city centre, Bro says it is a 20min walk to the Old Town. Great! Or a bus ride.
London-Friend H's little flat is not as close in as I hoped but it is still shown on one of the LP maps. South East of the centre. Does not seem to be on the underground system :-(   Well I said I wanted to do things in London that I had not done before. Apparently one of them is learning to get around outside the tube network.

Does anyone else find packing takes way longer than you think? All sorts of tasks emerge that were not on the original list. Having decided last night to pack my hiking boots to help fill my half empty case, I had a look at them. Well I have just washed the dust off and washed the laces. They are drying in the useful breeze before I put some polish on them. Must say, polishing shoes is not my favourite job.

So, the To Do list for today
-polish hiking boots
-finish packing case
-pack carry on
-launder towels
-add pockets to my brown cardigan.
-water garden as the sky does not seem to want to. Have bath water saved for this purpose
-put dolomite lime under the passion fruit vine
-inspect water heater so I can manage to turn it off in the dark tomorrow morning
-have lunch with Erudito and possibly a few others. talk keys
-see the neighbours about their house extension plans
-tidy house so it is fit to leave. More to the point, fit to come back to. Not spring cleaning, just putting stuff away.
-clean budgie cage
-take budgie to his holiday home (and get fed dinner while I am there, lovely)

one sleep

pleased that I did all the things on my earlier list. Most unusual, something generally gets left off.
I have thought of some new things
-disconnect car battery? might just leave it and hope.
-check all the windows. I'm sure they are shut but anyway
-check the fridge for dead food or things that will likely become dead
-set the alarm clock for the middle of the night.

I have had a lovely couple of days. 3 different bon voyage meals, all provided by my lovely friends, either cooked or paid for, or both I suppose. I have been lent a funky gadget that sucks data off my camera card up to (many, cant remember)gigs worth. Still might buy another card but less urgent now. I have been offered a lift to the airport, very sweet.

I have a suspicion that I don't need to be at the airport as early as I plan. The first leg seems to be domestic. I'd rather be there early than late though so will stick with plan A.

The case is packed, not full. I hope I have been restrained enough. Several kilo and cubic centimetres are taken up by hiking boots and gifts for Bro and wife. My carry-on is packed too. That is much heavier than I would like. Can't think of anything else I can take out though. I already swapped out my few toiletries for smaller versions. It is the books I think that are causing the problem. I'll just have to cope. I'm not going on the plane without a novel, the LP and a notebook.

I should go to bed soon. I'm still a bit worked up though. Ah there is a Cadfael I am part way through. That will help. Think calm thoughts montjoye.