The Ball & Chain and kids are going back to Chicago tomorrow (Thursday) while I go to London, attend the BritMums Live conference, and jolly about with old friends for a few days. Owing to a sudden family emergency with one friend, I found myself having to find alternative accommodation for Thursday night. I went on to several of those last minute booking web sites, found a few suitable options (for under a gazillion quid per night), read reviews about them, decided I might be murdered in my bed, and started again. By which time all the prices had gone up. Finally managed to book something that I swear had tripled in price by the time I'd finished faffing around. (I think those web sites know that you're mildly interested, and just keep increasing the price hoping you won't notice.)
I'm getting the train down to London, but haven't yet booked my ticket. That's because I have to get the family to the airport at 7.30am (I know, what a saint eh?), fill the car with diesel, and hand it back to Avis, all before boarding a train. (Because of developing friend's family emergency, I also didn't know what time I was supposed to hit London. I don't want to be trying to kill time with my gargantuan suitcase in tow.) If I buy a rail ticket on-line, it might be cheaper but I will be tied to a specific train time and if something goes wrong (as it is bound to do), I will have to fork out for a new ticket. There are NO exceptions apparently; so that would include taking the wrong turn on Newcastle's ridiculous one way system, and spending 45 minutes getting back to the Avis drop-off.
I am meeting a large-ish group of friends on Monday night, and although they all live in London, it seems it's up to me to pick a restaurant. I have sent several e-mails pointing out the fact that I haven't lived in London since 1990 and would someone at least come up with a suggestion. Despite all of them being lawyers, they suddenly have no opinions - "I'll do whatever..", was the unified response. I may just book a Pizza Hut then!
Anyway, enough of this faffing - I have suitcases to pack, passports to find and teenagers to drag out of bed.