Crazy.

The pre - overseas trip craziness has started. It happens every time, but it seems to have started early.

We've been installing a gas fired heater, a job I budgeted for as we were trying to save for our trip. The installation of our heater went from a couple of hundred to over a thousand dollars. The cost of the heater was double what I'd budgeted for, and it took a whole month to install. Needless to say I wasn't overly impressed. But it's finally done and I have a large bill to find money to pay.

The America / Canadian travel insurance is 3 times the price of SE Asia and that also blew the budget. And to add insult to injury, I needed to get new glasses. I've developed eye damage from the UV light and now need photo sensitive glasses at a cool
$1000.

I've had to employ the services of a lawyer to fight a negative ACC judgement on my knee. Those of you reading this who aren't from New Zealand, the ACC stands for Accident Compensation Corporation. When you have an accident, the ACC can pay for your medical treatment if you pass their criteria. Following my bike crash in Vietnam last year, the ACC turned down my claim for no reason. They do that in the hopes that you go away and forget about it. My case is so clear cut, it was patently wrong, and my specialist told me to fight the judgement. Just what I need before a big trip!!

'Harry' the new kitten. 

Just to add to the stress of this week, another abandoned kitten has turned up under our house.
That is 3 kittens in 3 months! Where do they keep coming from? Do they evolve out of the primordial soup of the compost bin? ( That is Niel's suggestion by the way). We don't know what to do with it. Do we rush it through vaccinations etc and add it to the cattery booking at lots of extra cost ( it is very attached to our other kitten who is almost full grown now).Or do we get it used to being handled and then take it to the SPCA. ( Society for the Protection and Care of Animals). Of course the longer we look after it, the more attached we get to it. I've even temporarily called it 'Harry' after Prince Harry, as he is the youngest son and he is ginger haired.

'Harry' is very attached to 'Henry'

Phew, and that's just been in one week.

It's less than a month to go now (25 days to be exact). The weather is getting colder, so I can only assume that it's getting warmer in Canada.

I still have a few things to replace from my stolen bike and gear on last years trip to Vietnam. Some running shoes and a cycling top that I'll get in Canada. And a silk sleeping bag liner, and a pair of bike shorts and ordinary shorts which I'll get here in the next week or so. Niel also needs a poly prop top too. All my first aid stuff was also stolen, so I'll need to top that up before we go, although some stuff can be bought over there.

Niel has built up our touring wheels, with a new cluster and chain and new tyres. So the bikes are prepared. I'm hoping Canada is good to me and I don't get anything stolen or have any bad crashes. Someone told me to break a match to break the spell of bad luck.

As I said, things get crazy before a trip. You never know what tomorrow will bring.