Mollie was 10 days overdue when I was pregnant with her. It was then that I learned what a pregnant pause really means, its the time when you should be getting on with a much anticipated event, but you can't

Its a little bit like that with this trip. I have thought so much about it, worked really hard to get Rosita mechanically sound (the mechanics are as sick of me as I am of them) wrestled with insurance, international drivers licences..etc etc...that I am ready to go now!

But in truth Rosita is not fully ready yet, she needs a little curtain, blue gingham of course, since we are still doing wizard of oz theme. And I have to figure out some mosquito blinds so that we can sleep with the windows open. Its huge news for the local mosquito populations when I hit town, its like all of their christmas feasts come at once.

We did another sleepover in the van last weekend at an SCA event, she is tiny but surprisingly comfortable to sleep in, mind you I reckon we will be exceedingly happy to see a fullsize bed when the trip ends. But I am looking forward to reducing down our possessions and our home for six weeks. Since we have so much space and 'stuff' here, it will be illuminating to see what we can do without. Quite a lot I suspect. Art supplies and books, that will keep us entertained.

I am also really looking forward to meeting two fellow craftsters ( www.craftster.org ) on the way, one in Zurich and one in Croatia, plus if we manage to get to romania..a third..Don't you love the way the internet shrinks the world?
 
Well our trip will all happen as soon as Rosita starts co-operating. She had a DOE test, (same as an NCT, except for a van,) last week, but she failed. To backtrack on her story a little. Rosita, while masquerading as as the smallest camper van in the world, is not actually a camper van. No, according to the tax office she is a commerical vehicle. This is because they have decided that although she functions as a camper,  because she is not 160cm inside at the lowest point, she is not a camper. Therefore she is taxed and insured as a commercial vehicle.

 Finding that out opened up a whole world of hassle, but now she is finally taxed, insured and as we speak, had her back brake well caressed by the mechanic, hopefully she will have been pleased enough with his attentions and will pass the test tomorrow.