Odds and Sods

[chrishansenhome]

I checked the mailbox today and noted a letter from the last pension provider from whom I was expecting a lump-sum. I was expecting around £3,000 as a lump sum to me, and around £9,000 to my pension company. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and found that they were depositing £12,000 in my bank account as a tax-free lump sum, and £46 to my pension company.

I immediately called the pension company and, after following it up, they called back and said that, indeed, the £12,000 was a tax-free lump-sum due to me. However, if I want only 1/4 of that, then I should send them back a cheque for £9,000. What a bunch of twits. So this will push back my beginning to receive my pension for quite a while—probably about two weeks or so. I will be calling the contact at the pension company to enquire tomorrow morning. And I now have to look out for a deposit of £12,000 into my bank account.

I got the pension call as I was exiting Kensington High Street Tube station to walk to Trailfinders. They have a good reputation for long-haul complicated holidays, and mine will be both. I landed with a good-looking guy named Ross, who patiently worked his way through my wants and came up with a good approximation of what I wanted. He had lived in Auckland, NZ, Sydney, and Melbourne, and knew Wellington, so I ended up with two train journeys: Auckland to Wellington, and Melbourne to Adelaide. The rest of the long-haul flights are Premium Economy with a couple of exceptions. The accommodations are three-star. The eye-watering total so far, without living expenses and sundries, is £5,639 (US$9,169). I was thinking of £4,000 (around US$6,000).

Now I can easily pay this with my pension payout. And I am certain that I won't be spending lavishly (although a £8 pint of beer in Australia is the norm—not that I drink beer, but it's indicative. Usual price here is around £3). There's more.

I shall have to enquire about travel insurance. I can get normal travel insurance, but it won't cover pre-existing conditions (none of them do) and all my conditions are pre-existing. I shall have to call Diabetes UK and see whether they have any ideas about possibilities for insurance.

Now, I may be able to stay with friends in Adelaide, and that will save around £400. But otherwise I'll be in the soup.

Here's the first pass at the itinerary:

Arriving Singapore Saturday 9 March 17:05.
Leave Singapore Saturday 16 March 21:30, arrive Auckland (via Brisbane) Sunday 17 March 14:35
Leave Auckland Thurs 21 March, arrive Wellington the same day
Leave Wellington Sunday 24 March 15:25, arrive Sydney same day 17:05
Leave Sydney Sunday 31 March 12:00, arrive Melbourne same day 13:35
Leave Melbourne Tuesday 9 April 08:05 on The Overland train, arrive in Adelaide same day 18:00
Leave Adelaide Saturday 13 April 15:00, arrive Singapore same day 21:00
Leave Singapore 25 April 22:55, arrive London Friday 26th April 05:00

So, a week in Singapore, 4 days in Auckland, 3 days in Wellington, a week in Sydney, 9 days in Melbourne, 4 days in Adelaide, and 12 more days in Singapore.

Any LJ friends who are in any of those places are welcome to get in touch, as I'd love to meet friends from all over. And if anyone has any suggestions on interesting things to do while I'm in any of those places, please feel free!

After giving it some thought, I expect to have spent, when all is over, around £10,000 (around US$16,000). But this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and I'll have more left over when I'm done. I doubt I'll be in that area again, so I need to make the best of it. I hope I'll enjoy it, stay healthy during it, and return home with a lot of experiences.

More when I know more.