afuna: Cat under a blanket. Text: "Cats are just little people with Fur and Fangs" (Default)
afuna ([personal profile] afuna) wrote2011-06-17 11:15 pm

I kinda need a space to babble so here I am

There's certain questions I want to ask, but there's a huge thread going on in Ravelry right now that makes me feel a bit scared that if I do ask, people will look down on me for not being smart enough or else think I'm being too lazy to dig things up on my own /o\

The problem isn't that I can't figure out what to do, it's that I can see two different ways to do this thing, can think of a reason for having each be better than the other, and a third reason besides that basically means it doesn't matter which one I pick. And if I explain my thought process, maybe I'll come across as overthinking, or if I don't explain maybe I'll come across as under...thinking.

Guh social stuff /o\

So I'm promising myself that I'm going to stay away from the forums (except free pattern testers <3) and switch back to using Ravelry to keep track of my projects and stash. (<33 projects and stash pages)


--


I just finished a pair of fingerless gloves just in case I need them for the trip :D I am excited because it's cooooooold over there (though I get the impression that it's getting warm, or at least not chilly. But I'd prefer to overpack rather than underpack, assuming I don't break my suitcase trying to stuff everything in...)


I'm just, look okay , I'm completely ridiculous when it comes to cold weather. I LOVE IT and also I end up shivering uncontrollably because I overestimate my capacity to handle the cold. I feel that 25 degrees is nice: slightly chilly but nice, and anything below 23 degrees is for bundling up or hiding under a blanket. So, yeah scarves and vests and sweaters and... stuff. I will look ridiculous /o\ BUT AT LEAST I WILL BE WARM. (I hope)


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I've been packed and ready to go for almost a week now. That's kinda amazing because I usually put off packing until the night before any trip :D

But then again I don't usually take trips that are over two weeks long on my own money and with everything planned by me....


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SO NERVOUS IT ISN'T EVEN FUNNY. Except for how I'm spending a lot of time grinning in anticipation. Four days! Or three plus travel time plus change.


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I have withdrawn dollars and have converted some to pounds and my credit card company rushed me a card in the nick of time (who was careless and accidentally lost her credit card the week before she was leaving the country? THAT'S RIGHT). I've done some research (not all, there's still time for that later), and have a tentative plan for what to do with whom where and when ...assuming I didn't forget to get back to some people O_O I wouldn't be surprised if I did. Didn't? Planning is not my strong suit /o\ Neither is not losing things /o\ /o\


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I intend to relax and enjoy this trip, treat it like a low-key meet-friends kinda thing rather than a stressful must-see-all-the-sights whirlwind tour. So um. ummmm (if applicable): HI


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GEEEEEH.

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YAAAY

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Geeeeeeh ;_;

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YAYYAY

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I'm promising myself to only buy a couple balls of yarn from each country I'm in rather than trying to single-handedly bring the entire yarn inventory of the UK back home. :-D Since I only have limited luggage space and I'm on a budget, this should be an easy promise to keep.


(until I actually walk into the store. Then all bets are off)


--

Geez, I'm all ready to go, why can't the weekend be over yet? But also I'm nervous, and I'm kinda glad that there's still three more days to get ready.

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I'm slightly anxious about customs. A friend of mine was telling me about how she was pulled aside while entering another country ( not England ) for a very pointed interview, because she was travelling alone while single, female, and holding a Philippine passport. (oh hi there)

I mean I'm almost certain that I'll have no issues -- there are so many other people going through customs every day, there's very little chance they'll have time for me, you know? Plus totally different country altogether, and also going to a different country is a privilege not a right so if necessary they do have the authority to turn anyone away blah blah blah it's not like anyone is guaranteed to be able to enter any other country: I'm not unique in that. It's just. I'm anxious.

What if I look suspicious? or say the wrong thing? or give the wrong impression? and get kicked out before I so much as even set foot outside the airport? What if I'm shifty-eyed or too I dunno. SUSPICIOUS. Whatever. eh. It's not going to happen (most likely!). I'm still anxious.

And there are the other things, but I like to pretend that they don't exist as considerations because if I think about them my head will explode I'll be so nervous I'll start looking more worthy of suspicion.

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INSTEAD I will think about the other side! and getting past paperwork and bureaucracy! and being somewhere cold! and meeting friends! people! other friends! and concentrate on not losing my passport or my visa or my money or my credit cards or my clothes!

Just, stuff.

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Suitcase is really heavy now, but a lot of that is stuff that I'll be giving folks when I get to the other side. I should be able to free up space and weight for the trip home :D

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I love flying. I mean literally just everything about it, even the long lines at the airport and the ridiculously tight seats in the economy section. (It helps that I have really short legs). Just something about the whole process that I love *_* I go really hyper the day before a flight, and just before the flight too. Though thankfully not so much on the actual plane (other than grinning like an idiot and peering out the window even though I've seen similar things many other times before *G*). If I were as hyper on the plane as I am in the airport, they'd have probably kicked me out an emergency exit a long time ago >_>

--

I have one knitting project in my carry-on (an unstarted Noro scarf), half of another in my luggage (half-finished Clapotis), an iPad, a phone, Jim Hines' Goblin series (which I haven't started yet or even read any reviews about, but going off of his fairy tale princess series I think I'll like it).

I'm considering whether to bring along C. Valente's Palimpsest novel. On the one hand I do have plenty of ebooks so I shouldn't need to bring so many physical books. On the other, I have that ten-hour layover in Bangkok, and I don't remember if they have wall sockets for passengers to plug in there.

One weekend + one day + one travel day left...
surpassingly: (kitteh: complete my heart)

[personal profile] surpassingly 2011-06-17 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
fffffffffffff HI :3

Breathe, breathe ♥ /hugshugs You will be fine, I am sure! And, cold places! Travel! Wonderful friends! <333333333333!!!

(I am sorry I didn't get to do another meetup with you, the past few weeks at work have been just awful ;_; But, when you come back!)
kareila: (Default)

[personal profile] kareila 2011-06-17 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
What about [community profile] knitting? I doubt very much anyone would jump on you there, seeing as how you're universally adored on DW. ;)

Have a fun trip! RELAX!
ninetydegrees: Art: self-portrait (Default)

[personal profile] ninetydegrees 2011-06-17 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
What if I look suspicious? or say the wrong thing? or give the wrong impression? and get kicked out before I so much as even set foot outside the airport? What if I'm shifty-eyed or too I dunno. SUSPICIOUS. Whatever. eh. It's not going to happen (most likely!). I'm still anxious.

My dad always, always gets searched no matter which country he's in, what he wears, etc. and I can promise you he doesn't look suspicious or shifty-eyed but very much a tourist who doesn't speak the language (and he's always with my mom). We assume it's the color of his skin and the fact that he may look like someone from Arabic descent at first glance.
ninetydegrees: Art: self-portrait (Default)

[personal profile] ninetydegrees 2011-06-19 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
It's ok. We joke about it but, see, it's not something you do or not do so don't worry about that.
ninetydegrees: Art: self-portrait (Default)

[personal profile] ninetydegrees 2011-06-19 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah whatever happens... you can't do a thing about it. You have other things to worry about like have you forgotten to take your toothbrush? ;) and once you're there you'll forget all about it because London and the UK in general are just awesome, not to mention all the lovely people you're gonna meet/see.
snakeling: Statue of the Minoan Snake Goddess (Default)

[personal profile] snakeling 2011-06-17 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
In my experience, for every person who look down on you for asking a (seemingly) stupid/obvious question, there are at least ten who are relieved because they didn't know the answer either :P

Have a fun trip!
cxcvi: Red cubes, sitting on a reflective surface, with a white background (Default)

[personal profile] cxcvi 2011-06-17 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
I feel that 25 degrees is nice: slightly chilly but nice, and anything below 23 degrees is for bundling up or hiding under a blanket.

C or F?
carrie: person glowing in aqua light stretching, eyes closed. (gw rejuvenation)

[personal profile] carrie 2011-06-18 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
wheeeeeee! I wish you safe and hassle-free travel!
nova: (Default)

[personal profile] nova 2011-06-18 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
I've been questioned from UK border control for being female and travelling alone. As long as you don't lie about anything, you should be fine.

Have fun!! <3
ironed_orchid: watercolour and pen style sketch of a brown tabby cat curl up with her head looking up at the viewer and her front paw stretched out on the left (Default)

[personal profile] ironed_orchid 2011-06-18 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
I love your reaction to temperatures. I am living in a stupid town where it gets below 0, and it is winter and I hate it. Next year I am going back to Perth in Western Australia where 10 is considered REALLY COLD.

OTOH, in the low 20s, if it's breezy it can feel cold, but if it's still it can feel pleasantly warm.

Good luck with getting through all those airports. I would take a paper book - but maybe something cheap and second hand that you could swap or give away would be better?

Also, if you find yarn you really love and can't resist, you could possibly post it to your home address.
kake: The word "kake" written in white fixed-font on a black background. (Default)

[personal profile] kake 2011-06-18 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you still planning to visit London? I would like to hang out with you if you are, and if you have time!
kake: The word "kake" written in white fixed-font on a black background. (Default)

[personal profile] kake 2011-06-19 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
I should be at the tea party on Saturday :)