Extracts.

Had a pretty busy weekend so no regular blog. As I’m sure the entire world is falling into disarray because of this, I provide a compromise.

On my last day at Whitley Bay High School, I was presented with a gift. I was presented with a few in fact because everybody there is an utter legend, but one gift in particular is currently pertinent. It’s a diary. The English department gave me a 365 day journal, challenging me to keep track of the adventure. I’ve been successful at keeping it updated with an entry for each day and it’s becoming a very important chronicle to me, a touchstone reminding me how far I’ve come and how far I may yet go.

This post is the UK-based run up to departure in January. Maybe it can be some help to anyone planning a similar trip, a gauge of the emotional impact of the event.

I’m not going to lie, I stopped to have a quick cry a couple of times writing this up. I’m welling up now just doing the intro!

January 1st – Newbiggin-by-the-sea:

New year, new life.

The flat is empty and cleaned, the keys placed on what used to be an overcrowded surface in my bedroom these last 5 years. Closing the door on 7 Eskdale Mansions for the last time was emotionally draining. No time to dwell on that though or observe any kind of ceremony – an impatient father is waiting to drive me home before dark, he thinks he might have a brake light out.

That was yesterday. Today I have barely left bed. I drank what I thought to be a respectable amount of Dad’s home-brew wine to see in midnight. The hangover has been physically intolerable. The upside is a stunted emotional response to most things which is a welcome break from the oppressive moods of the last few weeks.

Judging by the inconsolable weeping I demonstrated while watching repeats of Doctor Who regeneration episodes, I have made a full recovery by this evening.

Time for the next chapter now, this one is starting to draw out its close.

January 2nd – Newbiggin:

Day 2 of The Next Thing.

Posted the visa application documents today. Still waiting to hear from the apostille people so had to send what I could for now. 63 FREAKING POUNDS! About an hour later, a text came through telling me I’ll have the apostilled documents tomorrow. Great. 60 quid more tomorrow then.

Struggling to find a routine here at The Parents’. Not sleeping very well. Need to get back into running I think

Tomorrow I must finish editing a batch of videos for Whitley. One last job! Just need to avoid that old Playstation getting in the way. Looking forward to a life without access to it!

January 11th – Newbiggin:

Finally motivated myself enough to go for a run. Try again in two days… legs huuuuurt!

Discovered that I had a parcel delivered. To Jesmond. Bugger.

Definitely want to invest in a new laptop. Blogging this experience, I feel, is a must. Having the facility to offer video editing might also provide further employment opportunities. Extend the trip perhaps.

January 13th – Newbiggin:

Family party! Chris’ 50th. Usually maintain my normal level of awkwardness at these things but relaxed more and had a good time. ‘Relaxed more’ may be read as ‘drank more’. Either way, a good time was had. It was pretty strange at the end though when people were taking special care to say good-bye to me, it took a moment or two for me to grasp why!

Legs still sore. Back to running in a few days.

Had to go back to Jesmond to get that package and shift a rogue mattress. Wasn’t too strange really, seeing it empty.

More bits and pieces have arrived from Amazon- a wallet, a money belt and a camera bag. Started researching packing tips. I’ll do a test run soon.

January 17th – Newbiggin:

Day of stress!

Visa confirmation number arrived overnight. Next step was both unexpected and expensive. I now had to apply for the visa from the South Korean consulate in London. More forms and another £160!

To make things more difficult the consulate phone lines are only open 2 hours a day from 2pm so I had to rush everything to make last post after getting the necessary deets. Done, though, and now I have to wait for it to return, earliest possible date of that happening is next Friday – my ideal departure date!

I also completed the test pack – success! I think I may be able to create a little more space and possibly even eliminate 1 or 2 items. We’ll see.

January 19th – Newbiggin:

Phone call from Seoul. Plane tickets are booked!

Time to review final preparations and hold back the terrible thought that the consulate don’t return my passport in Time.

Laura bought me a nice cover for my new laptop as a leaving gift. I think that concludes it for new stuff going with me.

January 20th – Newbiggin:

Stayed up drinking with The Parents last night. Feeling it today. At one point, when I was (seemingly) out of earshot, I heard the words “but it’s our last grown-ups night with him.” That could well be true for a while. Of all the good-byes I’ve said recently, I hadn’t really considered that there’ll be a good-bye to my family.

Speaking of good-byes, I’m out with Rob and Sean tonight for the last time.

January 21st – Newbiggin:

That was, what I believe is called, a large one.

Did some dancing. Got asked if I was gay by an old crush. Got home at 3am stained with the failed attempts of eating a vegetable satay while I walked. Standard.

That’s the last good-bye for Sean. We embraced in an adequately manly fashion. I’m not sure how frequent our long distance communications will be once I’m gone since I think we are both a little more… involved in the immediate? I’m not really worried that will matter to us though, we’re strong enough friends I think. Going to see Rob again on Friday.

Monday 22nd – Newbiggin

More family times. The Parents take 3 of the nieces in on a Monday. Last day of it for me today. Spent some time with them. Ava is picking up the drums scarily fast! Izzy I’m sure is some sort of infant comedy genius, coordinating crawling with raspberry blowing to maximum comic effect. We’re having a family meal on Thursday so I’ll see them all again, but only for part of an evening. I’ve never spent as much time in their company as I have recently and only now am I realising that I would have changed that if I were staying.

Had to leave quite early in the afternoon to get a bus. Almost 2 hours to get from here to Monkseaton. This is why I moved to town.

Caught up with the Rejects one last time. Unsurprisingly, WBHS hasn’t exploded without me! It sounds like Cal is going to get on really well there. Leaving Laurène, Gareth, Dawn + Aissa for definitely actually undoubtedly the last time was a bit heart wrenching. Walking away from such excellent people is something I hope will not become a regret but rather a pause in long line of fond memories.

Friday 26th – Newbiggin

I have a visa!! It’s all go for departure on Sunday now.

Final preparations. Re-packing. Money exchange so that I have cash when I get there.

Caught up with Rob one last time and fixed one last UK computer! I made him get out of the car for a hug, but we’re solid anyway me and him, we’ve been friends of varying distance for a long ass time. Not so much an emotional ‘good-bye’ as a heartfelt ‘see you later’.

Mum sprang a surprise present on me – an extra 70K Won to take (something like £50?) Cashflow in the first months has now become one of the biggest concerns so that’s proper lush!

Stayed up late with Dad. We’ve spent a lot of time together in the last month of me being home and I think we both felt that tonight was the last time that would happen uninterrupted for a while now. It got a little awkward because I think we both wanted to say something about that. It was nice just to have a night of sharing music again though. Even if he did insist on putting on that AC/DC concert that comes up every time!

Last full day in the UK tomorrow.

Sunday 27th – Newbiggin

Lots of family good-byes. Laura, Ben and Izzy. James, Tan and the girls. We spent the evening babysitting Ava and Neve. Playing games with those two is hard work! Not sure how James and Tan do it with four of them! I hate to admit it, but I was just starting to feel like a part of the family life. I’ve always lived at some kind of distance to the family, physical or otherwise and that was finally eroding.

Spent the day prior to that finalising packing, travel prep and cleaning out my room.

Actually feeling nervous now, anxious, but without a definite focal point for that stress. I think it’s more misplaced melancholy that anxiety. For all my big talk of having to get away and see what’s out there, I’m sad to leave!

It’s all go tomorrow. This is it, my last pensive night before the grand adventure. Tomorrow’s entry will be from Dubai.

Yikes.