Global Poverty Monitor

Unfortunately I had to go to the gate straight away, so there was no time for a coffee to celebrate the great luggage news. We went straight upstairs and I was faced with that door that only I can go through. I said goodbye to Mum and Dad first, which was really hard. They have been so great about all of this, actually I don’t really understand how they’ve done it. It must be scary for them to think of me traveling to a dangerous place alone, plus having to fend for myself for three weeks. Their confidence in me has given me more confidence in myself about the whole trip. I said goodbye to Glen, Kylie & Blake, then it was time for Robin. I think I switched off a bit because it would have been too hard otherwise. I don’t doubt Robin’s feelings one bit, and I certainly don’t doubt my own, but I’m scared that things will be different when I get back and that it will be out of both of our control. Maybe its just because I’ve never had anything as good as what I have with Robin, so I don’t really know what to expect. I have his jumper in my hand luggage, which he topped up for me on our last night together, and I think I’m going to need it over the next few weeks. I’m also really lucky that I have a phone and that I’ll have access to the internet, email and SMS (fingers crossed!) on my laptop using my new Vodafone wireless network card.

Its great knowing that after I went through the gate I had surprises for Mum & Dad and for Robin, and that it was for each to tell the other about it. I think Robin will really like the photo in the box that Dad took at the Greyhounds. Also I really hope that the 21 packages for 21 days will help him for the next three weeks – I thought it was an awesome idea and it was great fun getting it all ready. Its funny that thing where when you do something nice for someone you automatically feel good about them, even if they have no idea what’s going on. It was great thinking about what to get for the 21 days and which things to put on which days. We’ve had the best last week together – it started on that Thursday when I went to Robin’s after dancing to watch the soccer. On Friday morning I drove home and picked up Mum, and we did the World Vision raffle all day. I was so tired because I’d only had about 2 hours sleep, but it was a great day anyway. Robin came over in the evening and we all had fish and chips together and watched Fast Forward. In the morning Robin and I went to the World Vision raffle, but thanks for Dorothy and Lola we only ended up staying for 45 minutes, as opposed to the 8 hours that Mum had to do! We came back home and got some stuff ready to be packed, then went to the forum and to the Dome for lunch, then came home and slept for the whole afternoon. Robin left on Sunday morning, then we met up again in the evening for the comedy festival. It was excellent, so funny and we had a great night. On Monday I came up to play in the indoor beach volleyball team. I was so nervous, but it went really well and I was just relieved not to have made an idiot of myself! Slept in on Tuesday, then went straight to dancing then home. On Wednesday I came up and we picked up Mark and went to Carnegies in the city. It was the first time we’ve been to a club together, and it was awesome. Then we went to the casino but couldn’t get in, but I couldn’t have cared less. He could take me to the middle of the desert and I know we’d still have a great time as long as we’re together (yeah I know, cheese cheese…). I left on Thursday, had my optometrist appointment then my ballet exam, then came home straight after and had Chinese with Mum & Dad after they finished the shopping. Then Friday was the Greyhounds, Saturday packing, and then today. Its just been so good, which of course makes it even harder for me to leave him for three weeks, but also so good knowing what I have to come home to.

This plane isn’t even nearly full, and I’m on the aisle in the middle row, with a woman on the other aisle. So there are two spare seats between us, which gives me room to move. My neighbour on the window side looks just like Farmer Hogget. I had a nice little vodka just after we took off, which helped quite a bit! My flight leaves tomorrow at 8am, so I’m not sure if I’ll get to have breakfast at the hotel before I leave. Probably not, and it’s a real pity because it’s a smorgasbord and it could be the last good food I get until I get to Kenya! Oh and the one male flight attendant is gay (surprise surprise) and just walked past me with his hand on his stomach, mouth wide open, making a noise like a seagull. Not that that has anything to do with anything…

I’ve been on holiday to South Africa and Kenya - why not go on holiday to Oklahoma City, OK?