Thursday and Friday

Tonight, 100 words on adversity.
Did you overcome it? Did it overcome you?
This can be used as an entry in your 100 Drabbles table.

He warns me, “If you do that, the way your health is, it will make you so sick.” I reply, “You don’t understand. I want to do this, I need to do this. To prove to myself that I can do it, and that I can cope with it making me ill afterwards. I’ve done the preparation, the weeks of planning. I know how it will go and what will happen. It’s my body and my health and I need to take the risk.” He sighs. “I’ll be waiting for you with a cup of tea when you get back.”

(Also for my 100 drabbles #83)

It's summertime, and that means holiday travel for some, and "stay-cations" for others. Make a list of instructions and helpful information for would-be tourists to your town, city, or kingdom. Some suggestions to include are:

5 things to be sure to pack

• An umbrella (although, considering the winds we’ve been having, you might be better to make it a rain mac)
•  If you’re planning on seeing some greenery, a stout pair of wellies (mud like you wouldn’t believe)
• Some Pounds Sterling. Shopkeepers over here can panic when confronted with money they don’t recognise.
•  A camera for photos, especially if you’re going to see London
• A map of where you are going (the signs are not always that good), especially a tube map if you’re going down to London. The tubes confuse me and I have a little experience already!

4 tourist traps or attractions

• Butterfly Farm (very beautiful)
• River punting in Cambridge (about one and a half hours away by car)
• Canals and waterways (doesn’t have to be on a boat, towpaths are very beautiful)
• London (about one and a half hours away by train, all the usual tourist attractions – Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, London Eye)

3 places to stay (or to avoid)

Depends what you’re after, really. So the following are places to stay or avoid, depending on what you want.

• One of the many B&Bs round here. They tend to be run by slightly older, motherly ladies. Great if you want a homely feel, not so great for a little more independence
• For staying in London, the Crowne Plaza. Very posh. Great for facilities, and for location (right in the City), not so great if cash is a little tight.
• Camp site. Great community feeling, right out in nature, not so good if you don’t like a bit of mud.

2 of the most famous or infamous local residents

• Ebony Rose is a famous busker round here. She sings and plays guitar and anyone would be very lucky to get to hear her, she has a beautiful voice
• ‘Wordy William’ or ‘Bob’ is a pretty infamous resident. He is friendly and does no harm, so don’t worry. The worst he’ll do is corner you for a ‘chat’ which will probably end up lasting about half an hour.

and 1 handy tip to help a traveller keep their money, their health, and their sanity

• If you get lost or are unsure about something, then ask! Us Brits are not really unfriendly, we’re just extremely private people. We are very willing to help if asked.

For those overachievers, you may also write a drabble incorporating the theme of travel advice. If you choose to do so, it can count toward your "author's choice" drabbles for the summer drabble tally.

100 drabbles #84 Travel advice

Rani looks at me seriously. “Now, you’ve got your tube map?” I nod. “And your all-day ticket?” Another nod. “Right. Make sure the very first tube you get on is on the right tube line. Take note of every station the train passes through, even if it’s not the one you want. Follow the train’s route on your map. If you get lost, take a deep breath and consult your map. You can always get a train backwards. Most importantly, Don’t Panic. Train tracks are not like roads. Even if you’re completely lost, you’re always still on the tube network."