This year will be different. At least that is what I will now publicly claim with one day to go before heading off on another extended European road trip which will last for the entire summer of 2018. This time though, I am going to capture costs and post lessons learned along with amusing tales. Selfishly, I want to force myself to write something - anything - that doesn't have to do with work in FinTech or ramblings to friends back in Australia via e-mail. This sort of forced attrition may prod me enough to finish the final edit of my book, Innocence Waning, which has been gathering dust for some time in the much-maligned final-draft form. I finished the first draft whilst in France last year, so hopefully, my forthcoming jaunt to the continent will inspire me once more.
With the preamble over, let's get down the road, so to speak.
A few months ago I proclaimed that I wanted to go to continental Europe once again. I gave notice on my flat in London and yesterday sent twelve boxes of stuff into storage. One thing that many see as insignificant and petty, motivated me to upheave my comfortable life. That thing is air conditioning or the lack of it. Having spent my formative years in Australia and enjoyed relatively hot summers that fall around Christmas and the domestic cricket season, I have always been left bemused when words like "heatwave" and "hot" were associated with the sceptred isle that is England. I certainly don't find 28c/82f uncomfortable. Lukewarm at best. The problem in England though is that dwellings are so well insulated, it gets unbearably hot inside, including my humble apartment, without any form of climate control. "Open the windows!" I can hear a chorus of people shouting from around the world. This doesn't solve anything besides letting in flies, pollution and road noise. My neighbours have a habit of smoking a pack of cigarettes on their balcony at 4:00 AM and often I wake up coughing and crying from the smoke that wafts in courtesy of my open bedroom window. The smell of marijuana is also another noisome reminder of how much I miss living in a climate controlled apartment.
Some time ago, I did some planning and calculated that I could stay in hotels with air conditioning on average of what I am paying for rent, utilities and council tax. Most hotels have a gym and even a pool which will be great for the hot summer days especially in France and Spain. I intend to offset the additional dining out with more frequent trips to the gym. I do not claim to have a healthy lifestyle in England though. Most nights involve a trip to a boozer and the consumption of many pints of cask ale, just to delay the inevitable return to my hotbox. I honestly think that living abroad will be healthier and cheaper in the end if the amount of debt that I racked up last summer is any indication.
Last year, I rented a Vauxhall Mokka from Europcar. As I kept extending the reservation, they became angry with me because the contract wasn't a long-term one, which meant they could not limit the mileage. Instead of donating my hard-earned money to the coffers of Europcar, not long ago, I purchased a Mercedes A180. It already has an EU branded (GB) license plate so this time around I will not have to buy a "GB" sticker and affix it to the rear of the car vehicle like last year, which looks tacky. It is awkward enough driving on the right side of the road in Europe with a right-hand drive vehicle.
Best I get the car packed and zip to Manchester to pick up my travelling companion.
Best I get the car packed and zip to Manchester to pick up my travelling companion.
