Eurovision & planning

I have had fun the last few days. Eurovision! I enjoy Eurovision, have been watching it for many years. So I made my choice of which country I thought was best in the first semi-final, Montenegro, then threw that aside at the end of the second semi when I heard Italy's entry. Great voices, great song, three lovely men, so much to like. So I voted for Italy, first time I've been able to vote, yay! Sadly they didn't win but I think they got third which was great. The winner was Sweden. Again a great song, great voice & a lovely man, with the addition of novel animated graphics. A good choice, & it was fun watching the convoluted politics of the voting. Not unusually UK only got one vote. Golly, that happens so often. Puzzlingly I don't think Austria got any votes. For the host country that was strange. But I guess the oddities are part of the Eurovision charm. I enjoyed it all!

My overseas plans are progressing v slowly. Hiccups have been happening financially which have delayed my ability to make bookings therefore it's becoming difficult to book accomodations so late. The best options are gone, drat it. But I have to deal with that & continue anyway.

I'm making bookings chronologically so I'm all done for accomodation, plane, trains, etc up to & including four nights in Assisi after the pilgrimage. Next are the trains & accomodations for Cinque Terre. That area sounds really lovely & I'll be able to swim as it's coastal walking through the five towns.

Plans are afoot, albeit slowly. More to come.

Ciao!

Possibilities abound!

Work can take a running jump, it's just a job, no more jumping through hoops.

There, it's time to be proactive. So I'm now looking for a temporary place to live, suitable for about 18 months. Then I may be able to consider longer term, I hope. Thanks to my v handy daughter there's a possibility coming up in a couple of weeks, so I'm hoping.

I've also started planning my next overseas trip for July/August next year which is exciting. I want to do a pilgrimage through Umbria in Italy along The Way of St Francis finishing in Assisi. There are two choices; the official accredited pilgrimage of 13 days, about 20 or more kilometres each day, maybe alone for long stretches each day, staying in basic refuges along the way & carrying everything in a backpack, OR, join a shorter, possibly more convivial, organised tour of 8 days, covering 15-20 k's each day, staying in B&B's or hotels, & my luggage would be transported each day, only need to carry my daily needs. Either way, I will have to do a lot of training. This pilgrimage is over mountains & foothills! Quite a challenge. Then there's a continuation option of 6 days walking to Rome - I'm not sure about that. Again over mountains for a couple of days & then several days flat terrain. Choices - I'm thinking.

Anyway, after Italy I'm considering Greece & maybe Turkey. Also hoping to stop along the flight at Abu Dhabi & investigate Oman. I still want to go to Egypt but that'll depend on fighting & politics which also may affect visiting Turkey. I will be constrained by finance, of course, but it'll be fun sorting out the possibilities. Italy, Greece & Abu Dhabi are definite.

Never forget - life is interesting! If you land in a rut, lift yourself out of it.