I can hardly contain my excitement.  My plane reservations to the UK are confirmed; my housing arrangements secured; in my hand are tickets to a Christmas Concert at Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Alhambra Theater in Bradford, Yorkshire. I’m going to be in the city of my birth for Christmas, something I haven’t done since I was one year old.  And now the countdown begins . . .

1.  Make and confirm plane reservations and airport shuttles. √

2.  Make and confirm reservations for Bed & Breakfast and Self-Catering cottage. √

3. Make reservations for concerts and shows. √

4. Pack suitcases and secure passport. √

5. Purchase Brit Rail Pass. √

But there is still much to do.  I was born in England and have visited many times, but only once  in the winter.   I will be walking to and from bus stops and train stations, and having searched my shoe closet and determined it lacking anything suitable, I decided that tomorrow’s task is to purchase a new pair of sturdy shoes and begin to break them in.  Only nine days until I board the plane — It looks like I will be doing a lot of walking this week!

I need to waterproof my warm coat and tuck a pair of gloves and a hat into its pockets.  Buy a warm scarf.

I’d love to spend some time at the Bradford Archives and the Bradford Industrial Museum to research nineteenth century documents that relate to my novel,  but I still need to contact those organizations to make arrangements.

Chargers for my iPhone and laptop — aarg!

I’m sure there is more that I can’t remember tonight.

Check back later to see how I’m doing!  I’m running out of time.  Will I make it?