skyring

Well, it had to happen. There's only so much globetrotting I can cram into a minimal income like mine.

Kerri's having a hard time dealing with her sister's cancer and was less than thrilled at me taking off for Birmingham when she needed some emotional support. Fair enough. From now on I stay with her, and that includes when I travel.

I've mentioned it before that when I travel with Kerri everything costs about four times as much, because she won't put up with hostel accommodation, or the "one flight per day" routine I go for.

Anyway, this has put a bit of a brake on things, and to be fair, it's not just Kerri - I've spent a bit more on accommodation than I really should have. Staying at convention hotels when there are hostels nearby is a wasteful indulgence - but so wonderfully convenient.

So despite my best efforts, the trip to Chicago in October is off. I'll have to wander happily through Chicago's art galleries and architecture at a later date.

To fund my travel habit, I've been looking at jobs. Finding a job that will allow me to take months or weeks off isn't as easy as you might think.

I'm a bit suspicious at the claim I heard this morning that full time I could earn $83 200 a year, but I'm pretty sure that I can earn enough to pay for several long trips with Kerri each year.

I want to look through the Museum of the Middle Ages in Paris with Kerri, stroll through the Intramuros of St Malo, maybe take a carriage ride along Charleston's streets. And about a million other things.

With this job, I've got to undergo a police character check, a government health check, a training course, and about a week of "jockeying". Plus I have to buy a uniform.

More details later.

In other news, we had a very pleasant BookCrossing gathering last night. As usual, I took away more books than I arrived with, but it is very hard to be restrained when there are so many excellent choices. Unbalanced always has a shopping bag or two full.

Three new BookCrossers turned up, probably in response to hearing CoffeeBron on the radio a few weeks back. I think Calissa and I tag-teamed one chap into doing NaNoWriMo this year.

How I love spending time with people who are happy! There's something inherently cheerful about BookCrossing. Maybe it's Christmas time - giving and receiving presents. And, as usual, we left the OBCZ shelf stocked full of good books.

Merry BChristmas, Canberra!