Unbelievably, we may be off!

Hello!

To say that this has been an interesting beginning to a trip is indeed an understatement.  While all the trip planning was done more than a year ago -- I do like planning ahead, and yes, Anne, I know you think we're crazy! -- I do hate leaving things to the last minute.  In this case, Robert's passport was due to expire with less than 6 months remaining before our return from our projected trip to Scotland and England.  So, it went into the mail about two days after our return from Egypt, at the very beginning of February.  It was also sent in Expedited service...for all the good that did!  And we waited ... and we waited ...

Well, turns out the Passport Office is backed up!  By quite a bit!  But they will not allow people into their offices (there is a processing center here in Tucson, which is guarded) and unless you have an appointment -- which you don't seem to be able to get -- you can't get in.  You have to call on the telephone.  But, they won't take any calls unless and until it is two weeks exactly before you are set to leave.  So ... two weeks exactly before our trip (May 8) Robert called, beginning at 5 am.  If you can get a message on the phone, as opposed to a busy signal, they tell you that you can stay on the line on hold, or they can call you back and you can leave a number.  What they don't tell you, however, is that if you leave a number -- surprise!  They don't call you back!  So, R managed to get in the queue, and, after 45 minutes, he actually got to a human being!  Turns out his passport, which had been sent to Philadelphia, was now in New Orleans.  And they would put an "Urgent Request" in.  And Good Bye!  So ... about three days later we got an email saying it was being processed!  At last!  Then, about two days after that, we got word that it would arrive in the mail a few days later -- on Monday, by 9 pm.  Well, guess what!  It didn't!  Surprise again!  It finally showed up the following day, Tuesday, about noon, less than 7 days before our scheduled departure.  Nothing like cutting it close, is there.

I had really given up any hope at all of going; R says he hadn't.  But I hadn't done any advance prep other then meds (because at a certain age, it takes longer to pack medications than it does clothes!) and we never take too many clothes anywhere.  Besides, as R points out, you can always buy clothes in first world countries!

So, folks, we're going to Scotland and England on our latest adventure!  At least thrice delayed, Orkneys, here we come!  Our objective this time are the neolithic cairns and stone circles that dot the islands of Northern Scotland and England; revisit Hadrian's wall briefly, and hit some new and old museums along the way as well as visit some wonderful English friends! We hope you will join us and look forward to hearing from you along the way!

Lots of love!

R & m

xxx