Memo to self: Don’t wing it.
So I was trying something new this time, thinking, “Hey, why be so rigid? Reservations, schmeservations.” I figured it’s a big town, London is, and they have nothing but hotels on every corner, etc., etc., stupid, stupid, stupid.
So on a day when my sister-in-law Sue and I should have been out seeing the Tower of London and the Tate Museum and all those other fabulous things on our list, we were in the hotel room for five hours–not kidding, FIVE HOURS–on the internet and phone, trying to find a place to live next week.
Sue has this nasty habit of not taking a search engine’s hotel rating for granted. So each time we found one that might have room for us–and believe me, those were few and far between–Sue did a separate search for hotel reviews and turned up comments like, “Everything was great until I saw the rat,” and other such Dickensian items.
So, finally beaten down by the whole experience, we found some palacial rooms that will cost more than any book advance I’ll ever get, and that’s where we’ll be setting up shop next week. I’m so grateful to have that handled I don’t care what it costs. This has been an expensive lesson in not trying to overcome my basic nature as a planner. PLANNING IS GOOD. Planning is REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
Tomorrow morning we’re off on an adventure like none other. I can’t wait to write to you all about it. We’ll be in the country for three days on a very special tour. It’s a total geek tour, that’s all I’m saying for now. But it will fill my geekish heart with glee, so who cares if any of you make fun?
Time to pack up, lights out, take another stab at a normal night’s sleep. So far not there yet, but I have hope. Last night I passed out at 8:30 PM like I had been drugged, then woke up at midnight all refreshed and ready to go. At least tonight I’m staying up until midnight, so maybe that will help.
I’ll write to you tomorrow night from the geek tour. Can’t wait!!
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