In the red

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So, as it turns out, I am an imbecile of the highest order. I will hear no complaints, this is an indisputable fact. While my trip is not exactly in danger, there are certainly some complications.

Handling finances abroad can be a tricky procedure, particularly so if something gets stolen. The idea then, is to spread the risk. To have several backup options if something goes wrong. My cunning plan was to have three accounts (with nationwide who offer no commission on overseas withdrawals) that were connected online, in the case of theft I could just cancel the appropriate card and transfer the money to another account online.


As it turns out, this will be impossible, my credit rating is apparently decimated and won’t be fixed for a couple of months. The bank can’t even offer me a debit card, which I would need to make withdrawals abroad. The reason for this, I am sorry to say, is because I am lazy. When I was a student, I had an agreed overdraft on my account of 60 pounds and took 80 out. Did I, as soon as I had the replacement money, rush to cancel out the overdraft? No, what I instead did was leave it there for all of about 8 months. This was, to put it mildly a rather unfortunate oversight on my part. In my defence I do plead ignorance ( with financial things my knowledge is slim to none) and at least I now know a lot more about what effects credit ratings (It transpires it’s the number of payments you miss rather than the amount your in debt that lowers the rating). Instead my Dad has kindly agreed to open a credit card account which I can hold a card for and use in the case of emergencies i.e. losing my bank card. Not an ideal situation but better than nothing.


I have an unwelcome suspicion that all these preparations are going to be a lot more complicated than I first thought. I went to the doctors the yesterday to sort out my injections and I’m going to have to fork out something in the region of 300 pounds which isn’t great. Although the G.P was mildly hilarious and gave a lot of useful advice, most importantly on malaria medication debate which seems to achieve levels of complexity normally associated with E.U legislation.


My location may suggest I am in Cardiff. This is in fact a lie, I am in Wokingham. However I was in Cardiff a few days ago to visit my Grandma and My Aunt. My Mum and I both drove up early Monday and had a pleasant enough day lounging around the house. My Grandma’s had two knee operations, so it’s difficult for her to leave the house for long. Still I like her house. Its one of the few constant places in my life and thus visiting Cardiff is always nostalgic and often comforting. As you can expect, many cups of tea were drunk. I will hopefully spend a few more days up there before I leave.


My ambition to swim regularly hasn’t, as expected, floundered on the harsh reality of unfitness, or acute muscular fatigue. I’m actually rather proud of myself. I’ve been swimming on at least four different occasions since my last entry. Unfortunately, being in the water seems to somehow mask the effects of muscular tiredness, subsequently I have a tendency to over do it. Coupled with the chlorine’s disconcerting and, rather extreme in my case, reddening of the eyes, I am often to be found staggering back home with all the poise of a freshly showered zombie. I have been given some very odd looks on the train.


I also bought myself a new acoustic guitar. My old one was quite literally falling to pieces and was rapidly becoming unplayable. The reasoning is that it’s best to do it now when I have the money rather than when I come back and don’t. It wasn’t very expensive anyway..

I’m visiting my friend Steve up in Leeds tomorrow so hopefully there will be more of interest to report next time.

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Photos

A pub in Cardiff
I'm sorry I love this, its a three way pun. It's great

My Mum
Reading the Paper

My Grandma
At Home

My Aunt
In the Pub

At the door
of the house in Cardiff

House In Cardiff
As you can see it wasn't a great day weather wise.

The Living Room
Or at least part of it

My New Guitar
Look It's Blue!

Comments

[Your mother]

I had no idea tht this photo of me was destined for world wide perusal or I would have censored it