The madness begins

Europe has changed.

So everyone says.

I wonder whether what I want to see when I get back is more my youth than the Europe of my youth. Probably won't get either, so a diversion is called for..

In New Zealand I have a good friend, Jan. He is annoying, loud, opinionated and always critical. He has an MSc from the Czech Republic (possibly the University of Weetbix) and absolutely no common sense whatsoever. He drives me to distraction and yet.. he is a man of integrity and I trust him with my life - and often do, when we go hunting. Together we have the insane ability to have what we euphemistically call 'adventures' whenever we do anything together. He attracts all the bad luck that is around and deals with it. He also attracts just enough good luck to balance it out. When hunting he brings the kitchen sink (ever known anyone else to take a WW2 rifle AND its bayonet?)

Sadly he decided to take up a job offer in Australia and from there found himself in Prague where he is currently stuck.. I decided, what with my Moldovan Significant Other and all, to jump on a plane to Romania as soon as I got to Heathrow. Quite why Romania and not Moldova I'm not sure, but I am sure it was a good idea at the time. I found a few good web sites all of which trampled my idea of 10 days in Europe on 100 Euros and resigned myself to an interesting but probably ultimately boring trip. Having hitched all over the world and Europe I suspected that the novelty would soon wear off.

Imagine my delight when I received an email from Jan:

I will be in Bucharest at 2.08.2007 if I got the tickets on train. I will have money next week. Take a chewing gums (a lot) other way you can lost life and some stockings - ladies (universal money).Bye Jan

Apart from him seemingly mistaking modern Romania for Britain in 1942, it was good to hear that he would be there. Sad then that I'm flying Royal Brunei Airlines who have a fearsome reputation for being late.. let the fun begin!