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[baranduin]

OK, just so this doesn't become a vague dream, I'm going to start posting annoying things to try to make our New Zealand trip an actuality

Comments

[shirebound]

Oooh, those will be fun to read! I didn't have an LJ then, or even know they existed. Was the weather warm in February?

[baranduin]

It was their autumn and perfect. Not hot, not cold, really excellent.

[shirebound]

How much time *is* involved, for real? Between the flight days, tour, and any relaxing times... is it *more* than two weeks? I think it would help to know what's really involved. Is the tour for a fixed amount of time? Was your 2003 trip enough time, or rushed?

[baranduin]

Good question. If we design our own tour with Vic, I think for the most part it's up to us as to length and where we go.

One of the things I was thinking of posting was a list of places we went to, with my comments on whether I think it's worth it to return or not. Though I want to say up front that I believe where we go is up to those of you who have not been before. But there are a couple of places I don't think it was worthwhile to go even once -- the place where Helm's Deep and Minas Tirith structures were built is just outside Wellington in a quarry. There was literally nothing to see. Same with a visit to Rivendell. It was a pretty forest but that's it, you couldn't really *feel* anything, unlike other places like the "get off the road" place which you totally feel.

Our tour was two weeks. It might have been a day or two longer though that could be because I went on to Melbourne to see angstslashhope so my time was a little extended

[surgicalsteel]

Can I say I'm not sure yet? All depends on the whole freaking job thing, y'know - although I bizarrely got an e-mail from a company looking for docs to go work locum tenens in New Zealand. :)

*shakes fist at certain admin people*

[baranduin]

Well, I don't think anybody's sure yet. At this point it's just initial talking. I'm going to contact Vic at Red Carpet to see what kind of lead time he needs with respect to setting up tours and how it works with sending in money and all (can't remember from last time). That will give us firmer ground to stand on in terms of knowing when commitments need to be made.

[surgicalsteel]

That's fair. But until I figure out if I've got another permanent job or if I'm locum and all of that sort of thing, I'm totally clueless.

[baranduin]

Yes, understood. I think just about everyone feels the same way you do though with different circumstances.

[baranduin]

It's hard to believe I'm in my sixth year of having an LJ. I figured I'd be doing it for a couple of years, maybe three at the most.

[claudia603]

When I first started, I thought I'd last a few weeks...lol!

[claudia603]

Wheeeeee!

I have no preference for year, I will go with the flow. 2009 keeps it tight and focused. 2010 might make it easier to save more for it...

Hey, do you think we're going to moot this summer somewhere...Seattle...Houston...elsewherel? If so, it would be really great if I could sort of combine it with a trip to the US for Az's wedding in mid June...

M's already having kittens over all the trips I'm babbling about taking, lol! :D

[baranduin]

I hope we're mooting this coming year! I've been assuming we are though not sure where, I know there's been a lot of talk to try to make it in Maryland to see mews1945. And I'm like you, as far as I know, I can go with the flow. 2010 seems an awful long time in the future but since I know for a lot of people getting that much time off and finances are big issues to surmount that my thought is maybe an extra year would help those people out.

[shirebound]

A year without a moot (or several)????? Inconceivable.

[baranduin]

I know.

Do you know more yet about going back east and maybe us having a moot with Mews around that time? If I remember right, it's your dad's 80th birthday?

[claudia603]

OMG YOU MENTIONED KING'S HALFLING!!!!! :D (Just rereading all those posts made me grin like a grinning thing!)

[baranduin]

It was making me grin too. Interspersed in those posts are a couple of me ranting about BUNNY!.

[claudia603]

LOL! I noticed those! Me too, I believe, was groaning. I believe that's when she was all over hte frodo_slash board driving us all nuts!

[baranduin]

Yes, and that was about when I beta-read a story for her and gave her honest feedback and she then whined all over the list about it.