I've tried my hand at various things in my thirty-three years but I've never really found anything that it felt like I was naturally good at (correction: that's a lie, I excel at several things including eating chocolate, wearing pyjamas for worryingly large proportions of my time, and ignoring unpleasant things in the hope they'll go away - one of the reasons it took me so long to escape my marriage). However, notwithstanding all these fine achievements, I do wonder if I have found my calling with this whole fangirl nonsense. Let me explain...
It is still six weeks to go but I am feeling quite on top of things for once. I have paid for concert tickets. I have booked flights and accommodation and a rail pass. I have bought travel insurance. I have ordered a new suitcase (the last one did excellent service for about 15 years but finally gave up the ghost when I completely overloaded it last time I went to Japan). I have even emailed the accommodation hosts to find out about their hobs - most people's main concerns when travelling are safety, cost, etc. but this time I am travelling with Eva whose main concern is what type of moka pot to bring for her morning coffee (one of the most wonderfully Italian things I've ever heard). All in all, I feel super organised!
Of course there are a few things that still need addressing. I have received an email from the website that sold me a world adapter plug before the last trip saying that it has been withdrawn from sale as it has failed to meet certain safety regulations. The tone of the email is calm and chatty, the content along the lines of 'but don't worry, it will probably be fine'. I don't feel entirely reassured.
Also, at the risk of sounding spoiled beyond all belief, I have realised that I actually have another holiday coming up before this one... I am going to Crete with family (I shudder to think what my carbon footprint looks like this year). Honestly people, I do not normally live this kind of jetset lifestyle! 99% of the time I am on the sofa at home, wearing pyjamas with holes in them, eating cereal out of a mug.