Only 12 weeks to go

OMG Chas came in yesterday and told me there is only 12 weeks to go until we go away. I have been counting down my ticker - todays is 2 months 2 weeks and 5 days - seems like ages away - but 12 weeks is just around the corner. Deep breath needed - tick off whats to be done:

Luggage- done

TSA locks - done

Toilet bags - done

Passports - done

Pay - done

Foreign currency - done

Book accomadation -done

International roaming phone- done

Double adapters UK/US - done

International bank Card - tba

Pack clothes -tba

Pick up doccuments - tba

Disney Passes - tba

Book Jet Port parking - tba

International Roaming internet -tba

Wedding Clothes - done

Present - done

Scrapbook samples Aussie - done

new phone battery - tba

Ok I can breath again - not too much to be done - what's left needs to be left until a couple of weeks before we go

Practice Flight 29 June 2008

Chas asked for a scenic flight for his birthday so I arranged a flight over Echuca, Barmah Lakes and Torrumbarry. Flight day came slightly overcast but still. We met our pilot at the airfield and took off for a visual extravaganza. The plane was a small 4 seater high wing Cesna. I went armedwith my camera and was very pleased with the detail captured by my Olympus E510.

The smallest plane I had ever been in was an 18 seater to Dubbo from Sydney so I was very excited. I opted for the back seat and had a great range of view, Chas sat next to the Pilot and couldn't move around as much.

We flew over our property and got a couple of good shots, then headed to the Bramah lakes - I couldn't believe how dry the Murray is, there is a road through the centre of the wetlands.

We flew over Moama and out to Torrumbarry, Perricoota Station, Headworks Road and back over Moama and Echuca.

Highly recomend the trip with Aus-air

Saga of the passports

Well you would think it would be easy ------well you would!
First drama Chas and I don't use our first names, all my legal documentation is in my birth certificate name - not his - no - every legal document the man had was in his second name. Now you turn up at an airport in 2008 with your passport in one name and you photo ID - ie liscence in another - YOU AIN'T getting on that plane.
So began the saga of the name change.
Now if you were born interstate you can send a notorised copy of your birth certificate with your application to Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria - BUT if you were born in Victoria you have to send your original to BDM -where they have the original- well idiot me sent a copy - recieved a letter stating that I had 28 days to reply with the original or my application would be shredded - I got the letter day 30.
I got straight on the phone and rang BDM and this wonderful man called Bob told me not to panic he'd been on leave so was a week behind on the applications - just send it tomorrow. I could have kissed him.
Phase one name change complete - passport application filled out, he gets a rare opportunity to be in town during business hrs can I meet him up the street with the applications - lucky I had the file at work as I was calling in to visit a mate to get the applications witnessed. I raced over to my mates she signed the papers, arranged to leave work for 20 mins and bolted up the street.
Processed his - no worries next was mine.........................
Well having changed my name when we married I knew I had to take my marriage certificate. BUT the certificate that was adequate to change my licence, nursing registration, bank accounts etc was not good enough for the passport officr NO. Next application form BDM for a registration of marriage certificate. Several doccuments notorised by a very patient police officer and off it goes to BDM Vic...............................
3 days later I get a call - Hello idiot - it was Sue from BDM - (I had talked to her a couple of times sorting out his name change) - where did you get married ????? You are NOT registered in Vic --ohhhhh sh#*t - I live in a border town and we got married on the OTHER side of the river ................................................. so here we go again - new appliaction - visit the still very patient policeman - cause the paper work for NSW is different -----of course -----another fee and off it goes. (Sue by the way refunded my Vic fee)
Finally I get the certifucate - go to the post office - don't supose you do passports on a Saturday ----- well yes BUT neither of us can do them ----------so back again on Monday - send off application AT LAST

3 months and 1 day to go - UK US here we come

Since Canberra we have been heads down bums up and working hard. My friends Bridgette and James are getting married in October in Orlando so we are taking the opportunity to travel using the wedding as an excuse. Chas was reluctant at first but I convinced him to come with me.
His stipulations were to visit a tractor importer near Southhamton and to go to an antiques fair. Mine were stonehenge, Averbry and Alnwick Castle (Hogwarts) in the UK and NewYork in the States. So off we headed to Harvey World said we wanted to be away 3 weeks, the only date that was crucial was the wedding date and that I wanted to go to New York City. We left them to it and Kristi came up with a great itinery, after a little negotiation we finally set the dates, booked the flights and applied for passports - but that is a storey all on it's own. Off to the book shop for the lonely planet guides for the UK and a map, then the real planning began.