Oh Shit I Think I Left the Iron On!

So it was my last day of work before I go on holiday today. I hate the last day of work before I go away for so many reasons. I spend the first couple of days worrying about whether I forgot to something really important. Did I do enough to ensure everything runs smoothly while I am away? Did I do all the things my boss asked me to do before I went on leave?? Did I send that vital email that should have gone today?? These and many other questions are floating around in what is otherwise known as my brain.

I get that deep dark nagging sensation that I have forgotten something and there will be something akin to armaggedon when I return...yay! I think this all stems from my previous job. Whenever I returned from holiday, the first thing that would greet me is a member of staff unloading all of her problems......for two whole hours!!! You can see where I am coming from now can't you?? I guess it wasn't her fault, that is just how she dealt with pressure (I deal with it by visiting right-wing websites, she does by going into minute detail about her problems with athletes foot), I mean we all deal with it in different ways right??? Some of us clam up and won't communicate, others just talk non-stop until their jaw aches (or until their brains turn to pinkish goo), others indulge in rascist rants about...well, everyone!!

Still, two more days and I am on that plane flying to a new country, seeing new things, enjoying new experiences, taking many, many photos (many of which I will repeatedly bore friends and family with) and drinking historic levels of beer (well, maybe not the last one, don't think the wife would appreciate that...aahh for the single life). I will spend these last two days finalising my MD selection to take with me (not converted to iPods, sorry!!). So far, I have narrowed it down to: Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters In Your Honour, Massive Attack Collected, Gomez How We Operate and maybe one other....oh the tension is unbearable!! How will I make that vital last choice??? Who knows, maybe if I sleep on it, I can come to some decision.

I am actually really excited about this trip. I get excited every time I go away. I have seen quite a lot of Europe up until now, but I have never seen Northern Europe. I had a plan five years ago to visit every country in Europe by the age of 30 (this was due to my first trip abroad on the Inter-Rail). So far I have managed: France (easy, but still counts!!), Spain, Portugal, Germany (three times!!), Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Hungary. Not bad, but could do better. By next week I will be able to add Denmark and Sweden so I think that is quite respectable. Although perhaps I should mention I hit 30 on Thursday, so I will have to squeeze Sweden in quite early!! I suppose as I have no children, I should really venture further afield, but I have always been fascinated by Europe. For good or bad, it has shaped the modern world. The history here is visible on every street, on every corner and in every building. You can taste it in the air and feel it in your soul. Why go to America, Australia etc when everything you could want to see is here?

Let's just hope that when I return to work the baying mob aren't waiting for me with pitchforks, torches and, in neath's case, a swarm of deadly bees. I have very low expectations about this. How do you extract a pitch fork from your anus???