This e-mail signals two things.
1. My Australian visa just ran out
2. It's a year since I said 'sod all that' and booked my flights
The day before the idea of travel came to me, I was single, suffering an instance of occasional hurt about a break-up, frustrated by having no plan and nothing to work towards. I know this because last night, after that e-mail came through, I switched off my laptop, turned on my bedside light and got stuck into some old diaries.
I was flicking through until I got to one entry which I stopped and re-read several times. Written on 4th August 2009, a week before vocalising the plans to anyone other than myself, I unknowningly predicted the future.
My head is filled with the idea of travelling around the world. Anything to get me doing something different. I don't want to look back and regret not doing it while I was single. I don't want to travel with friends. The only person I would want to travel with is a boyfriend, but in the absense of that, I want to go on my own.
In the two weeks after I wrote that, something clicked. When you commit yourself to a big, potentially life-changing plan, your mentality instantly changes. The things you're worried about suddenly don't matter any more, you move on.
The old friends who hadn't spoken a word to you since finding your blog get a white flag, or an invitation to your birthday drinks. They ignore it or refuse, and that's ok. The ex who tinkered on the edge of your thoughts for months finally loses the remaining hold he once had over you. You get over him; bigger things are ahead. You become happy in your heels, confident with yourself again. You work hard in the week and go out every weekend. You're single, happy, unbothered about texts or dates that don't happen, and find no significance in anything other than your alloted day of departure.
Then you and your happy heels bound into a pub on Clapham Common on a Bank Holiday Weekend and meet a Boy who is no way going to be anything other than a fling. How can he? You're leaving!
"I've just booked a round the world trip!" you sing, high on the day's music and raving.
"I've always wanted to go to Australia" he replies, all nonchalant n that.
"You should come and meeeet meeee!" says the girl, drunk on cider and lust, to the Boy she met five minutes earlier.
Funny how things work out, isn't it?
Which leads me onto the other effect of travelling. A vastly depleated bank account.
Happy one year, Boy. I'll buy you a pint.
7 comments:
Is it a year already? Woo hoo! I smell something good in the wind and it's not just my freshly laundered underwear ...
Sweet. I think it's my turn to hit the party scene. Cheers to the year. More to come. Clink!
Bloody hell, that post was a year ago. Time flies when you're having fun.
"When you commit yourself to a big, potentially life-changing plan, your mentality instantly changes."
Ditto - my outlook has changed since I've booked my adventure too.
Congrats on the 1 year!
Happy one year to you!
You should do a "then/now" comparison.
London lass - Oh dear, has the Chuppies farted again?
Nimpipi - Clink indeed. Get those heels on and get out into the party, madame.
cynical - I know, the fact it's been a year already kind of shocked me too. Love the outlook change though, it's very liberating.
nutty cow - Not a bad idea. I'll leave my hair and clothes out of it. They've defintely got worse.
Awesome, just awesome.
You are my romantic and jet setting HERO! I hope to one day follow in your random, fabulous footsteps :)
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