European Adventure (Making It Official)

Once it's on the blog, it's a done deal. Most of you already know but... I'm going to Europe the end of next year with Big Michelle and Little Mishelle. It's going to be absolute madness.

I'm so excited that I think I'm going to explode sometimes and then sometimes I'm very nonchalant and who-gives-a-shit. But I've spent the most of this afternoon doing in depth planning for Florence and Cinque Terra and I can feel my stomach falling out of my urethra. It's that exciting (that's a long fucking drop!).

The thing I'm most excited for is hiking through the Lake District. The Lake District is a place, I'm not ashamed to admit, I first heard about in Pride & Prejudice (yes, the Keira Knightley one. And I know a lot of you hate it but that movie is my jam). In the book, it is a place Lizzie wants to go but is denied. In the movie, she visits the Peak District with her aunt and uncle (an equally beautiful place).

Regardless, it was the Lake District that Peaked my interest (har har). After reading about it and thinking about it, it seems unimaginably perfect.

"What are men to rocks and mountains?" asks Mary Bennett, the forlorn and dowdy younger sister.

I agree wholeheartedly. Whether the Peak District, Lake District, Hampstead Heath, Tibetan flatlands or Walyunga Park (the place I finally figured out is where my family and I used to go hiking when I was younger: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walyunga_National_Park), I can't think of anything more romantic or inspiring than unrestrained nature.

In the 2005 movie, there's a scene where Lizzie is on holiday with her aunt and uncle in the Peak District and she's standing on top of the cliff with her eyes closed. The sun is fluttering on her closed eyes but the image is such that you are Lizzie and your eyes are closed and you're facing this massive expanse. Everything's opened out in front of you but closed at the same time; there's no way you can scale that cliff or scramble through that rocky outcrop.

I'm keeping the comfort levels of my travel companions close to heart so have planned for some easier hikes whilst we're in the Lake District. But once I'm older, I'm going to go back with some of my own proper hiking boots (we plan on hiring. Yes, gross but necessary), waterproof equipment (highly attractive) and an equally enthusiastic hiking companion and conquer Skiddaw and all the other ridiculous fells over there. Then maybe we'll take the short journey to Scotland and say hello to Craig Ferguson's grandma.

This is what it looks like:

Planning for this European Adventure has got me reflecting more and more on what I want in life. I think it will be quite the experience. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my Perthian summer holiday quite a lot.

I went to the beach today and had Cold Rock ice cream for the first time. I'm sorry, Meg, but I was sorely disappointed. I paid $7.10 for tasteless cookies & cream and one (READ: ONE) Oreo. ONE OREO FOR AN EXTRA 90c. I can buy a whole packet of Oreos for $1 on special. I really have no words. I'm glad I Life Experienced Cold Rock ice cream but I don't think I'll be going back.

J