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Tuesday, January 24th, 2023 10:01 am
B1 is planning to go to the UK to watch the Ashes this year, and hasn't booked anywhere to stay yet (sigh). She hasn't even booked her air ticket.

I'm not sure she quite comprehends that it won't be as easy as just 'finding somewhere to stay'. If she's going to watch the Ashes matches, then all the good places are going to get booked up really fast, and what's left that's safe will be expensive.

She's never been overseas before where someone wasn't waiting to pick her up from the airport. And I don't know if she's levelled with herself that she might have to scramble for safe accomodation, or that people who say they're safe might not be. Plus, B1 doesn't deal with abrupt changes in plans well. She settles in a groove and is resistant to anything outside that groove and...

I know that she's capable and can be resourceful, but I feel Peak Big Sister right now. It doesn't help that I have all the horror news and Twitter stories in my head surrounding women (young or otherwise) who travelled alone and weren't prepared when situations struck, or had no-one to turn to. And, like I said, B2 is not great with curve balls, and I feel like she's inclined to be too trusting because most of the people we've known in our lives have been trustworthy.

It doesn't help that on Sunday, at CNY dinner, stepdad made the comment that "she needs to get onto that" which is almost guaranteed to get B1's back up and make her resistant to actually doing it. Also, she's likely to use "I need to finish my report (with the needy client)" as an excuse, or tell herself that her 'reward' for finishing will be to book her tickets.

Which, NO. OH HELL NO. Not when the client called her four times yesterday between 4pm and 8pm, and has sent her a half-dozen emails over the weekend, each of them wanting B1 to contact her ASAP.

She needs to start the booking/accomodation process ASAP, irrespective of her client. Particularly in locations where she's going to be seeing the Ashes matches, and will need somewhere to stay.

--

I spotted a tumblr post yesterday that described doing things ahead of time as "being kind to your future self". eg. making lunch for tomorrow, prepping dinner ahead of time, putting things away after a shop, going to sleep early. All this is "being kind to your future self" because sometimes it's difficult for us to conceive the future cost of our procrastination today.

(And boy, is that a metaphor for climate action or WHAT?)

Anyway, B1 is not typically kind to her future self.

--

BTW, if you have any stories of siblings or friends who went and came back safely, I would love to hear them. I know the horror stories are a teeny tiny percent, but they're most of what's out there and they're freaking me the fuck out. I need the assurance that things can turn out okay, too.
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