Starting with an utterly random thought - Sometimes I want a child just so I can give it one of the names I adore. And by a child, I mean daughter, because my girl names are way cooler than my boy names. I can almost imagine my two totally hipster twin girls - Harper and Marlowe in their matching berets now.
(This isn't me being amusing by the way - these are my favourite girl names, and I would totally dress my kids in French Nautical Fashion. Again, it's best I just have a cat.)
Anyhoo, I'm back blogging. Work and family stuff (unfortunately stemming from the loss of a member) have really dominated my thoughts of late, and as I can't blog about work, and didn't want to blog about the family stuff, there's not been much to blog about. As I'm one of those bloggers, that can't pop in and write a paragraph, I'm one that has to write a thesis, it's been quiet times. (The fact that I'm utterly obsessed with playing a game on my Iphone to the point I even dream about it, is obviously irrelevant... *cough*) However the blogging inspiration is back, because surprise, surprise I'm holiday planning.
I know. You're shocked. Feel free to pause to process your emotions before moving on.
I've wanted to go to Paris since I discovered berets and striped t-shirts at three years old, yet for a reason I've also grown up fascinated by Kings and Queens of England, including a rather odd, strong sense of connection to Catherine Howard, and so London has always had an appeal. London also has a very strong adoration and fascination for England, which is borne by one sixth his family heritage, one sixth the history, one sixth the music and one half cricket. Actually cricket (in particular Lords Cricket Ground) is probably deserving of a greater percentage than that.
I'm not really sure why I or we haven't got there, the US has perhaps been so easy and relaxing that we just keep going back. I think perhaps London (for Aaron) and Paris (for me) has so much at stake that we're panicked about not being absolute OHMIGOD GREATEST THING EVER!!!! about it.
Well, encouraged by a New Zealand cricket tour of the UK, we've finally decided that it's time, and in May next year, we will be London and Paris bound. I'm half super excited half terrified. For some reason it's become huge in our heads, we're worried about not liking it as much as we did, I've got irrationally scared and we're just so used to the easiness and comfort that you get in the US, the prices of things and concerns about size of hotels etc.
Something else we're also struggling with that we've decided the best way to ensure we get a good hotel in a good location or feel comfortable about the trip is to splurge, meaning we're flying business class on Singapore Airlines, and we're looking at hotels in neighbourhoods like Mayfair and Covent Garden which are costing a lot. On one hand I'm looking forward to "luxury", on the other I'm scared of paying a lot of money for no actual advantage. Unfortunately we're haunted by the spectre of our San Francisco disaster where we chose a very well rated and expensive hotel, and we had the lousiest stay, which has actually made us hate San Francisco. (Except for the Golden Gate Bridge, which is amazing.)
The hotel is the biggest stress, as we're there for 11 nights so we really want to find somewhere where we can have some sense of space from each other (not because we're not okay with each other, but 24/7 for that length of time can send you a little cuckoo.) We've looked at apartments, but have moved to hotels, as Aaron's parents will be joining us for some of the trip so we're trying to find a location more in line with where they want to stay. My poor, but incredibly resilient, travel agent has been given several different requests depending on our mood. At the moment a hotel in Leicester Square has my heart, but I reserve the right to change my mind 1343435235812 times between now and when we leave!
(BTW - I do accept the problem of "oh damn I have to stay in London" is the epitome of a "white whine"/"first world problem".)
I've barely touched Paris accommodation yet, I'm thinking that's a 2013 problem. Especially as I love my travel agent, and I think after she sorts out London for us, she'll deserve a break from our neuroses.
There's still so much to plan in terms of sightseeing, so if any readers have a must see in London or Paris they'd like to suggest, we'd love to hear them.
I'm sure I'll be back with an update soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment