Whatever the weather...

So today I had the bright idea of checking exactly how cold it is in Paderborn. Because, you know, I thought I'd like to know what I'm in for. Now I'm not so sure. Today's maximum temperature is just four degrees c. FOUR!!! With a low of minus one. MINUS!!! I'm going to have to invest in some thermals. My coat is being dry-cleaned, and I'll pick it up in a week. That one is going to have to go with me on the plane.

I've managed to squish all my Winter clothes into a suitcase, along with some towels and a sleeping bag. Now I have to somehow fit all my summer stuff (thankfully much less fabric there!), underwear, toiletries and a few pairs of shoes into the other, smaller bag that I'm taking. Everything else, including the shiny new laptop, will have to go into my backpack. I'm a bit worried that the suitcase weighs a little more than it should, but I'll just have to pay excess baggage if that happens. I don't want to leave anything out, because I think I'm going to be needing those winter clothes...

There's still a list of things I need to buy: rechargeable batteries, power adaptors, and other miscellaneous items that all seem to cost more than I've anticipated. But that doesn't matter too much; I've accepted that there are necessary costs. I think finally getting my Annual leave payout from work has alleviated some of my fears, because it's brought the amount that I'd hoped to save up by just that bit more. I've got enough cash in my account to live for half of the year, and the rest will be transferred in when I need it, courtesy of the Bank of the Parents. Interest-free loans ahoy! Plus Jo has told me that the government has finally taken the 20% tax off of the OS-help loan, which means that I can have that as a backup option. It just ends up as part of your HECS debt, and is charged at the same interest as the rest of it. So it's nice to know that I won't be going hungry!

So really, what else can I organise? I can't pack the clothes that I'm still wearing, or the items that I'm still using. I don't need to call the bank to give them a heads up until just before I go. I can't cancel my phone until just before I go, either. I can't get Centrelink payments while I'm away because Flinders are being incredibly disageeable, so I have to cancel that. Oh well, probably better for my tax return if I do that. Small consolation for not getting free money, I know!

So... what else is left?