Six Weeks to Departure.

An evening with The Stud;

"You are absolutely mental." he said, shaking his head. "You're going to live in Ghana for six months, with a christian reverend, and you can't drink, and you are actually paying to do this. Seriously, what are you thinking?"

"It's going to help me grow, as a person..." I protested.

"Bullshit. Now I'm going to Japan. To be in a band." He coughed and raised his voice slightly, to make sure everyone could hear him. "that's Japan. Playing with my BAND."

Ice skating with The Raconteur; a gift of priscilla, queen of the desert and a blow-by-blow account of why Star Wars Episode I is a totally implausible film.

An emotionally fraught hour on Christmas Eve sobbing in The Actors house. His kitchen is being ripped out, and we sit on the floor of the sitting room with boxes piled high around us. He brings me a small glass of rum, tea and ginger biscuits and tells me it takes time. It has been snowing, but the rain washes it away, leaving small, sad piles of ice sitting around going now what? Tomorrow it will be Christmas Day, and then the new year and I will be gone.

My passport returns to me in the post, a brand new stamp across its page; Republic Of Ghana- Ghana Immigration Service VISAS, endorsed for six months from said date. I keep waking in the middle of the night thinking What The Hell Have I Let Myself In For?? Six weeks is far too close, no time at all. What will I do without my labradoodle?

Christmas Day- a freh start. Rip down all the photos on my bedroom wall and pin up an enormous map in their place. Soon I will start sticking pins in all the places I want to go. Presents of Ultra-lightweight towels, a mosquito net, sheets of soap and washing powder. A silver harmonica- considerably more portable than a grand piano. I plan a road trip from Oda to Busua, via the Kakum National Park, through Cape Coast, Sekondi and Takoradi. More whirling around on ice. Yes, I muse, I am queen of my destiny and full of poise. At least until several small children come ploughing into the back of my legs and send me flying.