But I have a good excuse

Yes, this post is several days late, but hey! I do have a reasonable excuse. I've flown to America!

Now, I don't want to give away all of the United States stuff (or I'll have nothing for next week), so I'm going to try and remember some things that I got up to last week. And I'm sure there was some good stuff, but I guess we'll just have to read on and find out.

Well, mostly this week, I have been getting ready to travel to America. Now, many of you might think that unsuprising, but how do you pack to live in another country for three months? With great difficulty, that's how! Although, I actually use a different method - leave it all to the last possible minute, and then hope for the best. Yes that's right boys and girls, my bags were packed at 1.14pm on Monday, ready to leave for the airport at 1.15pm. Woo, I rock.

But indispersed amongst the packing, and do paperwork to go, and everything else that is involved with leaving your life for three months, I did find time to do other stuff. Most ammusingly was Wednesday. For a variety of reasons, Mum and I had to move some stuff around. Such was this stuff, that Ernie, as amazing as he is, would not be big enough, and thus a van was required. So, unfortunately, I had to do a life long dream and ambition and - DRIVE A FORD TRANSIT!!!!!

Now, they (whoever 'they' are) say that you should never drive your dream car, because it will be a disappointment. If only I had listened... I would never have known the wonder that is a Transit Van! I guess the phrase just doesn't apply to vans. It was awesome (how many van drivers can say that about their van? Only Trasit drivers I'll bet)! A van that drives just like a big lumbering car. Brilliant.

After a whole day of bombing about in my short wheel based Transit (named Tony), I wasn't uncomfortable at all. I had enjoyed the day so much in fact, that when Michael and I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, guess what we took? That's right, a Short Wheel Based Transit. They even fit through McDonald's drive-thru's. When I had to return the van, I began to even contemplate trading in Ernie for a Transit. Y'all now how much I love my car, but that van was brilliant!

I know that I've spent alot of this post talking about vehicles, and that this post hasn't been very long, but I need to finish on news about Ernie. On Friday, I went out for lunch at McDonalds (I know, two in one week, but hey ho). On the way, we hit a pothole in the road, and we suddenly heard this metal clank, and grinding. I pulled over, and checked the exhaust. Nothing unusual. So I carried on, along the A27 at 60. But the steering tracking was WAY off. Then we hit a bump, and something definitely felt wrong. When I braked, the car pulled violently right. Oh dear.

So, for the first time since time began, Ernie had to be recovered. On a flatbed. Made worse still, by the idiot driving the flatbed. First off, the RAC sent a man in a Transit, who found the problem - a broken tie bar (part of the suspension). But he couldn't tow me. So an hour later, the flatbed turned up. The man jumped in my car, drove reclessly up the ramp, and didn't even close the door! Then, to add insult to injury, he only strapped one side of the car down.

Well, I've heard from the Garage (although with my iminent departure to the US, I didn't think I'd fond out), and amazingly they were able to get the parts from Ford. God bless W Jones. They are even going to take care of Ernie for a few weeks until the service and MOT. Bloody marvellous.

Well that's it. I'm off to eat lots of fatty fast food, drive a big 'ol pickup truck (more about that next week), and generally embrace the American culture. Yeehaw!

If you think that travelling to America is exciting, why not leave a message saying what you do to make the flight more enjoyable.

If you think that travelling to America is boring, why not leave a message saying that you find flying as dull as me.

Quote of the Week: 'Is that swing low sweet chariot?' I need to explain this. Sunday was Founder's Day for the Nautical Training Corps (I'd forgotten why I left before it last year) held at Portsmouth. After the service order was given out, one of the cadets asked me, 'It says here to sing the National Anthem. Which one?' To be fair that could have been the quote of the week, but after I said 'Our National Anthem' he then replied with the above. The British education system sure works well!