And off I go...

After a short but what seemed like a lifetime stay with my parents got on a train at Tottenham Hale, destination Weymouth. I was nervous being driven there. Nervous because I knew what this meant now. I was leaving everyone I knew and loved behind me and it was a different experience to what had gone before. I've left people I've cared for behind in the past and even though that has bothered me I've always moved swiftly onto the next situation and group of people to distract me from anything real I might be feeling. I've always had somewhere to move on to because something before had definitely ended. But at Tottenham Hale I had the very real impression of nothing definite in front of me - just a vague idea of what I wanted to do. And I was making a conscious decision, myself, to leave those around that were important to me.



Armed with my backpack and bags (minus a laptop) I descended to the tube platform. There I had to endure some unnecessary histrionics from my mother and hope that she gets over her daughter not 'coming home' for a while. The trains were unusually busy for a Sunday and this annoyed me. It was like traveling with a very heavy, unmovable baby on my back and I wasn't appreciating (as my fellow passengers) the corners of tube train I unstably backed into. A check of the time on my phone got my adrenaline going at the uncertainty as to whether I'd catch my next train at Waterloo. But I got in with plenty of time which is what usually happens when you worry that you won't. Then when you don't worry - you miss your train, life's a mystery.

The platform at Waterloo did that annoying thing of announcing that the very long train on it, only half of it was going to Weymouth. This immediately set my traveling paranoia into action - what if I got on the wrong half, what if I didn't know? Where would I end up? Ahhhhhhhhhh. But after calming myself down and taking all the directions I could from tanoy systems, ground staff and snatched conversations from other travellers I settled onto the right coach.

A quick text to my best mate was sent. I think she called me sometime into the journey but we were untimely cut off a few times by tunnels. I ate slept a while, ate something to keep my mind off thinking of what my friends were up to at that precise moment. What bar they would be heading to tonight - or any important up coming weekly events I was missing out on.

I arrived in Weymouth nicely on time after a promise of delay from the train driver. I was very kindly picked up by the lady who owned the B and B I was staying at that night. I had to stay over as my ferry was at ridiculous O'clock in the morning. Small talk proceeded on the short drive to the B and B. My room was lovely which is surprising because it really is hit and miss whether you get nice ones or not. The owners hadn't had it long and had just given it a face lift which explained the presentation. Before I settled in for the night I went on the hunt for supper. I was recommended an Italian down the road but I hadn't the means for anything mildly luxurious that evening. I was hoping for a sandwich from a Newsagents but it was 6pm on Sunday. First lesson of travelling - try not to do it on Sundays, if necessary take own provisions for all meals and drinks.

I headed out to explore town but ended up going to the Italian. It was open and only had one other sitting so I thought I could get away with eating by myself and not ordering very much. Some people have a problem with going to restaurants by themselves but I can hack it. I appreciate my own company at times - time to reflect and daydream. I just mustn't make a habit of it because it can get awfully lonely.

After a lovely quick dinner I returned and watched T.V. I can always tell the quality of the place I'm staying by the quality of their T.V. It's been a personal scale of standards since I was a little girl. This place had a smart T.V. with good picture and control but no channel 5. I would of course prefer digital but that is still luxury standards at the moment. 'Five' a decade ago would have been forgiven for being absent but it is a standard channel today. Something decent was on Channel 4 anyway and during watching I made last contact with my friend on Guernsey before meeting tomorrow morning.

Getting on the ferry proved problematic. Armed with my backpack ready for around the world adventure and my hat that looked like it had come from the Wardrobe department of Indiana Jones I attempted to board with my return ticket (it's all to do with pricing). The lady at the desk asked me 'and are you planning to return today?' I hated answering this question but no amount of skirting around the issue could quell her inquisition. So yeah I'm coming back today, of course. On ferry, on seat and we're off. No sea sickness for me - I love the sea I could be on it forever. But I used to say that about being in the car and now I get car sick. So who knows.

A look at my phone with the sign No Network Coverage on it's screen indicated I was now moving into uncharted territory. I was excited now. A couple of hours later, an engine failure delay and I received a text from my contract network stating the new charges for my phone usage - abroad. Abroad???????? Abroad - are you joking?! I'm only going to the Channel Islands. Is it just me or they meant to be a part of like English speaking land? No. I've later learnt that even though they are part of British Islands they are not in fact part of the British Isles. Right, yeah, great distinction.

Well consequently I am out of mobile action but this was partly my goal I think. To discover that somewhere, somehow there is life beyond the gadgetry shackles of 21st Century life. Though if that was the case I wouldn't be blogging now would I. Oh well.

Arriving into port it was clear and sunny. And I noted beauty for the first time in months. The harbour was inviting, it was promising. This was the start of The New Adventures of moi.