Yes we’re less than two weeks–I love the Virgin site for my ticket info—it actually counts down the time in days, hours and minutes till we take off.

I’ve been passing out join me on my blog cards like crazy and making lists of lists.  My co-adventurer came over Sat and we planned our last minute items for purchase–hopefully next Sat. at the latest.

“Seven Dials would have immortalized itself.  Seven Dials!  the region of song and poetry–first effusions and last dying speeches: hallowed by the names of Catnach and of Pitts…”  Charles Dickens.

We have the obvious stuff—like our passports (current of course and with the mandatory ugly picture).  Our suit cases are ready–one of mine newly bought…but the phones are of course a fun issue…and while my travel companion is looking into doing an international service I’m more interested in having a local phone while I’m wandering about the lonely little villages of Cornwall all on my own.

I have made copies of my hotels and the dates I’m there as well as phone numbers for each location in case some one want to ruin my vacation with bad news–since nobody ever calls you with good news—only bad is an emergency—it’s terribly depressing but so………………..so true.

So in my case I’m getting an unlocked phone–I have no idea what locked or unlocked is…other than totally confusing to me—Hey I grew up with phone that had different rings to denote who it was that was getting the  call and anybody could listen in on the line and forget any sense of privacy—let alone locking was totally from a land of future ideas and as crazy as atomic subs and rockets that flew to the moon.  But back on the subject…I’m getting an unlocked phone—they list them at Target so will see them first and then try others if they don’t have it….then when we get to London we’ll bye a sim card with limited service on it so that I can use it in and about the country especially when I’m on my own.

“…where is there such another maze of Street, courts, lanes, and alleys–where such a pure mixture of Englishmen and Irishmen, as in this complicated part of London.?”

A SIM card, also known as a subscriber identity module, is a smart card that stores data for GSM cellular telephone subscribers. Such data includes user identity, location and phone number, network authorization data, personal security keys, contact lists and stored text messages. Security features include authentication and encryption to protect data and prevent eavesdropping.  http://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/SIM-card

I ALSO want to start confirming all the reservations I made on line…the services on line are usually pretty reliable…but like I said I’m old and don’t trust anything or body.  I’ve used this service before and not had an issue but who wants to travel 4,348 miles / 6 998 km and have to sleep on the street.

Another thing is to be sure I have my meds with me.  I only actually take one RX but have had issues with my pharmacy, they will not let me have more than one month w/out my doctor’s OK…so after a couple of tries I’m heading back tomorrow to get my 2 months —keep your fingers crossed.

“The shabby-genteel man is an object of some mystery, but as he lads a life of seclusion, and never was known to buy anything beyond an occasional pen, except half pints of coffee, penny loaves, and ha’porths of ink, his fellow lodgers very naturally suppose him to be an author, and rumors are current…that he writes poems–for Mr. Warren.”  Charles Dickens.

And then there are the Credit Card issues.  I now have chips on all my cards as that’s pretty much all they use in Europe and have for years and have been awaiting our arrival to the 21st century.

But now I’ve found out about fees–like up to 3% on purchases for conversion of funds from dollars to pounds….etc and additional fees were using the card abroad.    So now I have to call and see who does and doesn’t have the fees.  Help.

Now you have to realize that I have already called to tell my cards that I’m leaving the country–not to mention that if I don’t they’ll probably deny the purchase and put me in credit never never land….that worked with all but one—who will not take the notice before 7 days of departure—what a pain now I have to call again—PLEASE….BUT since I have to call everybody again at least that became a moot issue.

“The discoloured tiled roofs of the environing buildings stand so awry. that they can hardly be proof against any stress of weather.  Charles Dickens.

Then there’s the converters—I have one but if I need to use computer and charge phone or other items at the same time, maybe I should pick up a second one…and my friend’s list has added look for converter…this probably will be added to at least my mine if not her list to buy this week.

Dealing with electricity differences can be daunting, but it actually isn’t too hard. There are only two main types of electric systems used around the world, with varying physical connections:

• 100-127 volt, at 60 hertz frequency (in general: North and Central Americas, Western Japan)
• 220-240 volt, at 50 hertz frequency (in general: the rest of the world, with some exceptions)   http://wikitravel.org/en/Electrical_systems
• 
• “The filthy and miserable appearance of this part of London can hardly be imagined by those (and there are many such) who have not witnessed this.”  Charles Dickens
• 

All the pictures are from Mt. Dora which is a nice little town that we’ve dealt with before.

Next weekend we plan to shop for

Herbals—I take certain blends like the one for my leg circulation—and though Britain has wonderful herbals available–some of their providers have been selling herbals and preparations for a couple hundred years which pretty much trumps everything here, I  might not be able to get the exact same–so I’ll purchase that there.

Supplies for my cats including  disposable kitty litter boxes which I’ll put litter in and set out so once every week or so my roomie can just set one of the boxes inside the last one which will block off the smell and allow the girls to have clean litter and I can put them stacked like that in a big garbage bag for when I get back.

Also an additional battery for my camera  since plugging it into the computer (as in what I did today) uses a whole lot more battery than taking individual pictures it will give me a chance to have one charged and one not….which again makes me think I need an extra converter.

“…the symptoms were the same, with the addition of a strong desire to stick the royal arms over the shop-door, and a great rage for mahogany, varnish and expensive floor-cloth.”  Charles Dickens

“Such strange churchyards hide in the city of London; churchyards sometimes so entirely detached from churches, always so pressed upon by houses; so small, so rank, so silent, so forgotten, except by the few people who ever look down into them from their smoky windows.”  Charles Dickens