The planning took 2-3 years with preparations in earnest since December 2008. These included researching low cost voluntary work ideas; submission for unpaid leave at an appropriate business time; vaccinations covering different risks and infection strains in several countries; flights and hotels booked for various stages; agreement with a long suffering neighbour if they’d mind looking after my 2 cats and house for more than the usual week (no problem!); cancelling phone and other contracts (Dad had several entertaining months corresponding with TV licensing on my behalf until a computer finally registered ‘no one at home’) and insurance. The latter took some time as many of the likely activities, locations and my age were excluded on reading the small print – very sobering to realise I was in the age bracket of ‘high risk’ and puzzlement about radio tracking bears!
A wonderful gentleman in black leather biking gear who bought my Penelope Pistop pearlescent pink convertible insisted I had the opportunity to buy it back although I was equally adamant I had sold it! This promise was kept one week after my return. His attitude was in sharp contrast to the fly by night dodgy ‘demands’ I sell ‘that night’ for cash.
I took one medium rucksack and a day pack which most of the time was hand luggage and could be hung around my front leaving both arms free. I hid valuables in zipped clothing pockets – as waist/shoulder wallets can be quickly cut and whipped away – with money and cards split to include in my boots. This proved a successful combination and the increasingly scruffy and fragrant ambience of the already well used bags was probably a helpful theft deterrent.
Lastly, the 2 cats thrived in the good care of my wonderful neighbour.They and family from 300 miles away, accepted I was probably not going to respond quickly to household maintenance and looked after the place with well worn fortitude! A pot of monies was handed over to cover pet and household costs. These arrangements proved successful.
How was the year to turn out?….
5 Comments
sarahjupp · March 16, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Hey Sarah,
Comments will now appear without authorisation so your friends can reply easily to your posts.
Anth.
stuart otway · March 18, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Hi Sarah,
I hear you’re there already! Glad you sorted everything out & got away ok. Have a wonderful time.
Stuart.
Phil Abe · March 25, 2009 at 10:47 am
Hi Sarah,
got handed your pay info slip..which made me think of you all those thousands of miles away…free from the constraints of money, worldly possessions and chocolate, which we in the western world have to live with. I’ll hang on to the pay slip (unopened) or send it to your dad, or to you, if you supply addresses. I trust everything is going to plan and you are currently communing with nature in deepest darkest Costa Rica. Claire continues to respond well to treatment and is awake but cannot speak..sounds ideal to me!! Went for a curry last night in Leyburn with the team. So nice, even now I’m dribbling at the thought of it.
Thinking of you, – Philip
Louise · March 29, 2009 at 5:27 pm
How is it going? I was at a diabetes symposium last week. one of the speaker showed us a short film about the diabetes care in Africa (very lacking), especially the villages. It made me think of you in the middle of nowhere. I do hope you are enjoying every minute, I still envy you. No great news to leave. I saw Vanessa last week We had a curry in the back of the church in Askrig. yummy
Lou xxx
Dad · May 8, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hi Sarah
You are certainly packing it in to your life. Great stuff. A pity none of this fauna came out for me, they were obviously waiting until you came along.
Keep it up