Panic over the Denmark hotel!

It was all panic stations tonight as I printed off directions using MapQuest from Skive to my lovely hotel on the edge of a fjord but the final instruction was to catch a ferry and to check the time of the sailings! I'll be getting there at about midnight so I very much doubt that this little ferry will be running at that time!

I tried looking at and then ringing Travelocity but they didn't know of any other hotels anywhere near Skive with vacancies. Eventually I looked at RAC maps and they have an option to avoid ferry crossings so I've found a way of getting to the hotel which will only add about 15 minutes on to my journey. Phew....!

Car worries

I'm getting some concerns about my car on this tour. It (and I) are going to have to travel some loooong distances and I hope that both of us make it okay. I have an oldish car so I hope it lasts!

We managed to bring my town to a halt on Thursday night as the clutch cable on the car snapped and I had to drive it to the garage in second gear all the way! Although it was 10.00pm at night, a large queue formed behind me and then it stalled at a junction where there are roadworks anyway. A few cars overtook me (blaring their horns!) and then two cars stopped to help. Then the police arrived with all flashing lights as they didn't know what the hold-up was!! Thankfully one of the guys was a mechanic so he drove it to the garage while I got a lift in his girlfriend's car - due to the embarrassment, I may have to move house now!!

Today I looked at the cost of European breakdown insurance and it's very expensive. For my car just for my first trip away (3rd to 7th June) they quoted £72 which is well over $100.

Kasim's solo gig

Kasim has finally announced the details of his solo gig in Manchester! I've had a few fans contact me concerned about what time he'll go on stage. I hope it's not too late as I have to be at my desk in London at 9.00am the next day!

Change of plans!

I've changed my plans slightly about my third trip to the continent!
Kasim is playing:

Wednesday - Munich

Friday - Karlsruhe

Saturday - Mainz

Tuesday - Hamburg

Originally I was going out for the whole time but I realised that if I come home on early Sunday morning after the Mainz concert then it will save me 3 nights hotel (plus give me Brownie points at work!). I can then go out on a long day trip on the Tuesday to Hamburg and back (Calais to Hamburg is about a 7 hour drive).

I've booked both sailings and the first was £80 and the second the day trip rate of £38.

I'll just be very tired at work 2 days that week instead of 1!!

Warwick Castle tickets sold!

My 2 Warwick Castle tickets went for a total of £142 yesterday after 14 bids! (Yesterday morning they were still on my opening price of £101.) I've written to the person and asked if he wants the third ticket too (at face value), if he doesn't then I'll offer it to the person who came second. Even if I don't sell it, I've still covered my costs of buying the 3 with selling these 2 so I'm happy.

Hotel in Denmark

I've reserved a pretty little hotel in Denmark for my stay after the Skive festival. It's about an hours drive north from Skive but there was nothing available nearby and it only cost £50. I've only reserved it so I can cancel it if I decide to head back to Germany that night but it's right on the side of a fjord and looks really pretty - http://travel.travelocity.com/hotel/HotelDetailReview.do?Service=TCYUK&propertyId=49116 is the link (look at the photos page).

Currency conversions

Just a word about currency conversions. Euros are about the same as dollars so 10 Euros = about $10. English pounds (£) are about two thirds to a half (more like a half at the moment) so £10 = $15 to $20 (closer to $20 at the moment).

My first sailings are booked!

I've booked my first couple of sailings! Really there's virtually no competition against P&O. There are a couple of other boat companies who do the Dover to Calais run but P&O have far more sailings than the others. Thankfully their prices aren't out of line with the others and I usually opt for "lite" sailings (those in the early hours which are cheaper).

I'm on the 04.45 sailing on Friday 3rd June. The sailing takes 90 minutes and France is an hour in front of UK so it's due to dock at 7.15am and it's supposed to be a 6 hour drive to Hannover. I think the gates open there at 4.00pm so that gives me an additional 2 hours (plus Meat Loaf won't be on until last anyway). I'm also booked to come home on the 4.10am sailing on 7th June as I'll drive home straight after the Bonn concert (as I have work in London at 9.00am). If I can catch an earlier sailing then I might even get to see my bed! Those sailings cost me £80.

I'm also doing a daytrip on 11th June. I'm on the 7.05am sailing (docking at 9.35am) and it's supposed to be a 4 hour drive to the festival in Holland. I'm meeting some friends there so they'll save me a place near the front, plus I doubt that Kansas fans (for example) will stay around for another 3 hours or so to see Meat Loaf. I'm then returning home after the festival so that'll be a looooong day! That sailing is only £38 return.