http://www.dartstables.com/the-ride-of-the-rings

So it turns out that, once in New Zealand, I can get on a real Horse and trek through quite a few special places associated with The lord of the Rings. The Forest filmed as Lothlorien, past the Misty Mountains and Amon Hen…so I need to take my sword (I’m sure customs and security won’t mind) and my pointy ears. well, i need to buy a new set of pointy ears. What if I bought a dress too? Psuedo Elf Maiden. How terribly pathetic. But I really would, and I would really really love every minute of it. I don’t think Scott would let me be so extreme - but it’s a nice thought. For an extra hundred dollars I could take the horse into the river too. But I can’t afford it - and would probably a little too scared to do it anyway.

Apparently, for only $2200 New Zealand dollars, I can go on a ten day ‘Lord of the Rings’ tour around both Islands. You know that if i could afford it, I would definitely go.

The trip looks as follows (so far)

1st December 2009 - Manchester to London to New York

5th December - New York to Los Angeles

5th December - Los Angeles to Hawaii

9th December - Hawaii to Sydney to Auckland

Five weeks in New Zealand, one week spent travelling the South Island doing the above Horse Trek, visiting Milford Sound, Sea Kayaking, Nelson (where the jeweller who made the One Ring resides) and other various places…the other four weeks spent with Scott’s family for a summer christmas in the North Island (and a visit to Hobbiton).

15th January 2010 - Auckland to Tokyo

19th January 2010 Tokyo to London to Manchester

The biggest trip of my entire life and I will be travelling around the entire planet. Flip flops and obligatory tourist outfits at the ready!

You know, this sounds suspiciously like I’m travelling only with the intent of reliving Lord of the Rings in my own head. well, that might be partially true, but I think we are all allowed our own obsessions in this life and this is mine so I am allowed to be excited. I make no secret of the fact that I secretly believe I’ll happen upon Peter Jackson whilst I’m over there. I have no plans as to what I would do if this actually happened. I’d probably become hysterical, or run away. Neither being a very good or respectable option. But now I just sound like a fangirl, which I am, but to save face I shall move on from this topic and talk about how excited I am at seeing the world and how terrified I am of all the aeroplanes I’ll be in. Throw statistics at me to make me feels safe.

I’m listening to Nick Drake. I’m reading The Blindness by Jose Saramago. I’ve just watched Twelve Monkeys. tomorrow i’ll be watching and discussing Firefly in Televisual Narrative Part 2. The next book I read is called Buddhas of Suburbia. I’m still reading Miranda July on and off, as her stories are short and can each be read between getting to the bus stop and arriving at work early (as usual). I bought the United States of Leland. Scott looks like Ryan Gosling. On Thursday I will be dancing with Cocktails. And after remembering my short life at primary school, I will be writing a few things about happy times.