I have it all prepped. Finally.

But I could not find my Privium card.

But, fortunately, while hunting for the Privium card I found a pasmo card for Tokyo public transport AND a BIC Camera points card AND my British Airways frequent flyer card.
Who would have thought it.
By losing one card I found three!

Of course, when it came to print my boarding cards…. my printer would not print.
I checked the printer and the printer cartridge had expired in 2006.
So a rush over to the supermarket just before closing time and a quick grab of two replacement cartridges sorted that little problem.

So I finished up with the clothes bag packing and continued with the flight bag packing.

Then I suddenly had a thought.
Could the Privium card be in my moleskine with my Dutch drivers license?
And it was.

And that indirectly solved another issue that had been on my mind.

If I lost my passport, for some reason, then I would need to prove my British nationality to the British Consulate in Japan to get a temporary or replacement passport.
However, the document I usually use to prove my nationality is… my passport.
A bit of a catch 22.

The Foreign Office website suggested various other ways to prove your nationality, like having a British drivers license or British credit card. [Neither of which I have! (I have been an ex-pat for 11 years)]

Short of reciting Ivor Biggun’s entire back collection and doing a passable fake Yorkshire accent I couldn’t think of a way to prove I was actually British and not Johnny Foreigner.

As I pulled out my Privium card I noticed my Dutch drivers license says I was born in … St. Helens, GB. Bingo!

So I am all set. With two alarms set also.

All primed to go!

So now I have found a cool thing.

My diary from my 2005 trip.
It made me smile and remember things I had forgotten.
Must do that again this time. [Online preferably... but lo-fi too ^_^]

Just checked that my netbook will work with BOTH of my cameras.
This is something I had forgotten to do.
Luckily it recognises the USB connection and automounts fine.
[It has issues with the card slot... but who cares.
You should keep your cards in the camera. [Especially if it is 8GB like mine]]

I made sure that the first shot on each card [and the cardless memory in my compact] contains my personal details just in case I lose one of my cameras.
I know that is depending on “good Samaritan” syndrome, but I do it anyway just in case.

Looking at all the cables and chargers that I am taking I am sure there has to be a better way. [Although taking a UTP cable is something I always do since last years stint in Paris where the hotel's WiFi would not reach my floor.]

Tomorrow I am requisitioning the photocopier at work and also buying a guide book last minute. [Although with intarwubs available for free in the hotel, that is essentially just killing trees pointlessly. Well, ok, I always like to have a lo-fi fall-back position.]

Need to find the address and contact details of BOTH the British and Dutch consulates. It would be pointless for the Brits to give me a temp passport to the UK when I permanently reside in NL.
So If I have both I am sure I could work something out.
[I am also making sure I have a photocopy of my passport]

Although I am not looking forward to the 16 hour journey, I AM looking forward to walking up to the Limousine Bus desk and asking for a ticket to Shibuya. It is at that point, even before I get to the first hotel, that I know I have ARRIVED.