Week 10

Hi all! I'm afraid it's going to be a short post this week.  It's been mega busy and I still have tons to do before I embark on my road trip this Saturday!!!

So the week has been productive - I've spent most of my time on the laptop scanning for university courses  and writing to the relevant lecturers asking to meet them on my road trip.  I have been looking at doing an Animal Behaviour/Psychology degree and have a short list of universities I aim to visit on my road trip.  Fortunately they are all on the South/West coast of England (so hoping it will be a few degrees warmer than Scotland which has become baltic over the last week or so).  I have also e-mailed a couple of animal centres for their advice and/or the opportunity to meet one of their animal carers/keepers.

Monday through to Thursday was mainly research (isn't it amazing how time flies when you are on the Internet?) then I had a break over the weekend and travelled to Norwich for Anna and Adam's wedding. I travelled by train - thinking it would be faster and more economical than Dougal - of which I am starting to doubt after a long and tedious journey home yesterday.  This wedding was very special to me because it gave me another opportunity to meet up with the "Ape Girls"!  Affectionately named, since we all worked together at Sepilok Rehabilitation Centre with our gorgeous orang-utans. I worked with an international group of 12 girls from UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, US and Australia.  And I'm pleased to tell you that most of us are in close contact and try to see each other every year.  Fortunately there has been an event (like a wedding) to bring us all together each year.  I think our friendship is totally unique.  We were all strangers when we met each other in December 2006 but spent 8 weeks together doing something we all love.  I think it fast-tracked our friendship and made us bond stronger than ever because we shared an amazing experience together.  Though we don't speak for months at a time, when we do get together, the bond is as strong as ever.  I love you guys and can't wait to see some of you in November!  And congratulations to Anna and Adam who had a superb wedding - the location, the bus, the dress, the champagne (oh so much champagne), the food - it was all unforgettable.  And of course the Ape Girls for company.

The journey home took 10 hours with 4 train changes and a stop off at my mum's to pick up Skye.  Now I'm frantically trying to get things ready for my road trip.

The one thing I wanted to share with you is my emotions at this time.  I can honestly say that the last 10 weeks have been remarkably chilled. I have had feedback from people who think I look totally relaxed and I feel it...but last week I had a reality check when the enormity of this change really hit me.  As I looked at course details, I had a wave of fear which has still not left me.  For someone who plans every details of her life, I'm struggling with the unknown - where will I be this time next year, what will I do for money, etc???  I am putting my trust in fate and trying my hardest to go with the flow and hope that things will "work out" but it is a huge task for someone who is used to being in total control of every aspect of my life.

Anyway I plan to do lots of meditation, reiki and exercise this week to focus my mind.  In between all of that I will be scanning the Internet for campsites ensuring I have a rough idea of where I'm going next.  Dougal is going for a service tomorrow to ensure he is in tip-top shape for this journey.

Bye for now.