The British are coming.......nah, just Mat.

[matriarch]

Well, there have been enough hints - subtle and otherwise - so I guess its time to come clean and tell everyone.

Mat is off on holidays on Thursday, flying over to tame those damn rowdy colonists.

I've been planning this for months, in the hope of meeting up with as many gals as I could, and now the time has arrived.

I'm flying into New York and staying for a couple of days, meeting up with some old friends, and hoping to meet Abs and Honey.

Then its off to Cape Cod for a wonderful week of relaxation. Sun (hopefully), sand.......whale watching (something I've always wanted to do, the camera willbe on overload for those trips), walking on the sand dunes, sunset on the beach, art galleries, shops - meeting up with and spending time with Cloudy and, to my absolute delight will be there for Lucky and Vella's commitment ceremony which I hope will add a few more 'scalps' to my holiday tally.

After that its a quick whizz to Washington to meet up with Imp, and then back to NYC and home.

Its going to be a whirlwind of emotions, laughter, joy......I can hardly wait, and I'm so excited and nervous I feel positively sick !!!

 

[impressive]

I don't think anyone's ever been nervous about meeting me before.

 

[cloudy]

Now its the turn of the Colonies........Are y'all ready for me????
3 days .........and counting......then the invasion begins..

Are you ready for us??????

 

[oggbashan]

Enjoy yourself and don't forget to post the pictures - ass views to preserve anonymity of course.

Good luck. I'm sure the US litsters will enjoy you as much as we Brits do.

Just keep well away from kilted Scotsmen. They might get you deported under the Patriot Act.

Og

 

[Dar~]

you can't be coming, you're barely breathing.























I hope you have a good time, wish I could be there.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

im thinkin we'll have to re-inact the boston tea party...cuz...tea is best when its tossed into the ocean...
VODKA! the water of life!
*snicker*
you'll hate us or you'll love us but you won't ever be bored!

 

[impressive]

you'll hate us or you'll love us but you won't ever be bored!

 

[Guest]

la
ha
ha
haaaaaaaaooooovvvveeee
that AV.
yummy!

 

[impressive]

la
ha
ha
haaaaaaaaooooovvvveeee
that AV.
yummy!

I'm rather fond of it myself.

 

[The_Fool]

la
ha
ha
haaaaaaaaooooovvvveeee
that AV.
yummy!

You better quit looking at that tasty morsel....


Best of luck, Mat. Indulge yourself.....

 

[Guest]

You better quit looking at that tasty morsel....


Best of luck, Mat. Indulge yourself.....

i have my tasty morsel...and shell be coming/cumming in a week... hoping to get her to do a bit of screaming too.*wink*

 

[minsue]

you'll hate us or you'll love us but you won't ever be bored!

<insert evil chuckle here>

 

[English Lady]

Have fun Mat! I'm insanely jealous of ya, you know!

 

[matriarch]

Thank you lilred..........maybe next time?

Dar..........incorrigible woman. Don't change.

Vella-mia........I think meeting you is going to completely blow my brain, and I'll come back here speaking an unrecognisable version of syntax.

Min.........well, nothing I can say here. I'll wait until I'm close enough to your hear to whisper it.

Cloudy, beautiful........I don't think I'll ever be ready for you guys.......but I'm giving it a go.l

Imp.....its not you per se I'm nervous of meeting, its more like what's going to happen when y'all finally meet the weeble........my ego tells me there'll be a lot of bubbles bursting. But what the hell.

The nervousness at new and stressful situations is something I've been saddled with all my life. At least now I've got over the throwing up part when I'm really anxious....I think. Seriously, its difficult to explain, and even more difficult for people to understand who don't suffer the same way.

It's more about the stresses of the travelling, than anything else. The waiting at airports, finding my way around, obnoxious officials.....

but it'll be worth it. Totally, completely.

 

[LadyJeanne]

It's more about the stresses of the travelling, than anything else. The waiting at airports, finding my way around, obnoxious officials.....

As someone who spends half her life waiting at airports, finding my way around, and dealing with obnoxious officials, here are a few suggestions:

Bring your own snacks. Food at airports is atrociously expensive, though Heathrow has plenty of places to buy whatever you want. Bring snacks and water for the flight. If you're in coach, the flight attendants never come around often enough. When they do come around, ask for two sodas or whatnot, so you don't have to wait if you want more.

Bring earplugs for the flight. You'll be happy you have them when the baby seated behind you starts crying incessantly. Bring an eyemask. Bring a warm pair of socks, and take your shoes off during the flight. Your feet will swell. Get up and walk around as often as you can during the flight. You'll feel better and it's not good to sit in one spot all scrunched up in a plane seat. Bring toiletries so you can freshen up in the bathroom. Under no circumstances should you use the water in the bathroom to rinse your mouth. Ask the flight attendants for a cup of water, or bring your own. Bring those disposable hand santizer cloths - they'll be useful after your dinner and breakfast.

Dress in layers - it may be chilly on the plane. Bring a notebook so you can do some writing, and more reading material than you think you'll need. Bring gum or mints. One of those U shaped pillows they sell almost everywhere these days will do wonders to support your neck while you sleep. If you can't manage that, take a thick sweater or sweatshirt, twist it as though you're wringing it out, and wrap it around the back of your neck instead. Trust me - works way better than those little pillows they give you on the plane. Slip the pillow behind your lower back instead.

Getting through security with the least amount of hassle: Empty your pockets, take off your shoes, take off your jacket, remove your laptop from your bag. Keep your passport and boarding pass easily accessible as you'll be asked for it often. Put both back in the exact same place each and every time so you know where to look for them.

They'll give you a custums declaration form to fill out on the plane. Among other things, it will ask for the address where you will be staying while in the US. Not a big deal, but you'll want to have an address to put in there.

There's a lot of signage at airports, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding your way around. When you arrive in the states, you'll all be herded into customs, then you'll get your luggage, then they'll send you through the Dept. of Agriculture, then you'll be free! Cab drivers take credit cards, so you won't need to worry about changing money at the airport. ATM's give you a better exchange rate than the money exchange desks.

Don't forget your umbrella!

And have fun!

 

[matriarch]

An impressive idiots guide, thank you Lady J.

I remember the security checks both at Heathrow and JFK last time I came over. Drove me crazy. Over and over again.

Cash? Already changed and safely tucked away, ready money and travellers cheques.

Taxi? Booked through the hotel to come collect me from the airport, and I know how much it will cost.

Tissues, hand wipes, gum, mints, lip salve, diocalm, and essential medications already in the flight bag. Along with all my e-ticket print outs, passport, money and hotel reservations.

Camera, and spare batteries.

Water, sweets, snacks, will all be purchased and packed tomorrow evening.

MP3 player loaded and ready to go, fresh back of batteries. It lasts for 8 hours on one, but you never know.

3 books lined up.

Clothes, definitely layers, I have a low heat tolerance, so I need to be able to strip off when I need to, and put back on when it gets cool.

Velco fastening shoes, for easy removal both on the plane, and at the security check in.

I think that's all.

Last day at work tomorrow, and its going to be manic, I know that. Then I leave my car at eldest son's (I don't trust the kids around here), have supper with a friend who will then bring me home, last minute pack and check, empty the fridge, set out travel clothes, try and sleep (fat chance), and after my shower, put all my houseplants in the bath, for ease of watering my said friend.

And that's it.

Oh god..........LUGGAGE TAGS !!!! I forgot luggage tags.

There's always something.

Tonight I must finish ironing clothes, and decide what's going with me.

Well I am now officially...........in a tizzy of nervousness.

 

[impressive]

But just think of all the hugs & kisses you'll get upon arrival. (No, not at customs!)

 

[matriarch]

But just think of all the hugs & kisses you'll get upon arrival. (No, not at customs!)

Sexy........its the only thing that's keeping me going.....

I'm counting on it.

 

[cloudy]

I just wish I could do a reinactment of Paul Revere's ride, damn it.

 

[matriarch]

I just wish I could do a reinactment of Paul Revere's ride, damn it.

I'll be more than happy to simply see you walking down the aisle in the plane.

I'll probably sob on your shoulder in relief.

Maybe.

 

[cloudy]

I'll be more than happy to simply see you walking down the aisle in the plane.

I'll probably sob on your shoulder in relief.

Maybe.

*snort*

No, you won't. I'll probably do something completely stupid like catch my braid on the latch of somebody's luggage, and you'll be laughing your ass off.

 

[matriarch]

*snort*

No, you won't. I'll probably do something completely stupid like catch my braid on the latch of somebody's luggage, and you'll be laughing your ass off.

Oh, that did it.
Now you've got me giggling.......and rum and coke aren't nice through the nostrils.

 

[Guest]

I just wish I could do a reinactment of Paul Revere's ride, damn it.

Let's see, it was one if by land, two if by sea. How many if by air?

And I'd rather see you reenact Lady Godiva's ride.

 

[Dar~]

I'll second Ted's request for the whole Godiva Ride hting

Mat, you'll be fine I am sure. Be sure to email me and if not email, call. I will miss you