27/02. 21 hours until departure

Wow! is that how long I have left, thats crazy. As anticipated Thursday was just painfully long, I got up to London pretty fast and collected the passports and visas from the Embassy of Vietnam on Kensington high street. As soon as I left the building I quickly flicked through my passport to find out what a Vietnamese Visa looks like. What an anti climax, I don't quite know what I was expecting but I was rather disappointed to find a sticker stamped and signed with a squiggle. Perhaps I was expecting a gold gilt Vietnam emblem in the middle of my passport, thats fine just as long as I have a good time there.

 I got into work at around 11:30, again my mind was rather pre occupied with the thought of gallivanting around Asia in the sunshine. On my lunch break I took advantage of Gatwick's great transport system, I picked up Katie's anti malarial tablets and treated myself to a take away lunch from costa. Upon returning to the office Katie was quick to let me know I had bought too many tablets. I immediately phoned the clinic to beg if I could return the expensive drugs in which they happily agreed. My partially reluctant manager agreed that I could go. He has been very tolerant with me over the last week, what a great lad. Instead of taking the luxury of the free bus and monorail, this time I decided to take the monkey bike that lives downstairs underneath the staircase. This machine is probably the smallest bike I have ever seen. It has a bright orange and silver paint job with tiny 12" wheels and a ridiculously short wheel base making it, absolutely lethal. Putting its substantial flaws aside it was most certainly great fun to ride. I nearly fell off on quite a few occasions and even took the audacity to be rebellious and ride down a moving walkway the wrong way, as if I could look any more cretinous. Later I was punished for my stunt, I pinch flatted the front wheel and was left to ride the slowest and worst handling bike back to the office. I had the the joy of sitting in my sweaty t-shirt until I left at 8.

Friday evening we had privilege of dining with Rob and Chloe. Chef Roberto cooked the most amazing dinner; a spinach and feta pie accompanied by a tomato salad and cucumber salad. Thank you Rob it was amazing.

Today I went shopping and I did a pretty good job. I came home with a tote towel, a nice jumper and t-shirt , an expensive Goretex waterproof jacket, loads of sun creme and insect repellant and I also got a roll of film developed.  I am really happy with my jacket, thanks Tk Maxx you always make sure I pay a good price. The roll of film I had developed was a lot better than last one. I really can't wait until I have unlimited photographic opportunities. I hope this trip is going to be a photography course in its self, I am still undecided about subject for my project.

23/02 Still at home

With less than five days to go, our departure from the UK is drawing seriously close. Tomorrow Is a bit of a hectic one for me, in the morning I am off to town to pick up our Vietnamese Visas and our Passports on Kensington High Street. After battling through London's rush hour, Its back to The office in Gatwick. On the way I plan to grab a coffee in Victoria (don't tell Katie Im not allowed to spend a penny!) Once at work I will be popping off on my lunch Break to pick up Katie's Malarone tablets in Gatwick's Travel clinic. *Springs to mind "Score!" I got a prescription for my anti malarial drugs from my G.P. at great price! That should surely merit £2.60 for a coffee, Im still not going to mention it though! Once completing my errand If I am lucky, I might be able to have some lunch; probably not.

As you can probably tell by my ramblings work is not one of my highest priorities at this moment. For someone as easily distracted as me, it is incredibly hard for me to show an interest in the frivolous pursuit Mr Brooks is having to obtain a lamp for his Bicycle dynamo light from 1983. "I really don't care, just buy something so I can get back to looking at Thailand on Googlemaps!"

"So you've started packing?" A rhetorical question I have been asked numerous times this week NO! Of course I haven't, I am not even in possession of a passport at this minute. Well maybe that is a small lie I have, here is my packing list so far:

Wallet and NZ$300, Olympus Film SLR with 28mm fixed and 35mm -125mm zoom lens, 200 ASA film and a remote release, a gas burner for cooking food, a led sensor stainless steel torch, Toothbrush (no Toothpaste), Victorianox penknife for opening beer wine fish and most consumable goods, Lock Knife a manly essential for cutting stuff?, deodorant, boxers and t-shirt It's hot where were going, Mountain Biking UK I should really pack many more issues.

Perhaps I have missed a few items but nothing essential. Katie will probably be telling me otherwise. I best go to bed.