I remembered everything.... but the camera.

So it all began with an idea... 'Josh,' I thought to myself 'it's your fifth anniversary, you didn't really celebrate your anniversary or Meg's birthday last year, do something fun.' Finding my own internal sales pitch rather compelling, I got clearance to spend more money than usual (I'm still a student after all!) and decided to get cracking.

Europe is an amazing place at times, primarily because of how close exciting and historic centres are to one another and how easy and cheap it is to get around. So, knowing my wife rather well I decided to plan a surprise trip to somewhere fun and exciting and after spending way more time that I should (I was either thorough or stalling my dissertation depending upon how you look at it) I decided to surprise Megan with a surprise long weekend in Prague!
Read the rest and hear about the camera...

Now I was rather excited about this idea and thought it would be quite fun. I'd pick her up from work, blindfold her, wisk her to the airport and see how far I could get her before she realised where she was. However, there were a couple of things that made me nervous... well really only one thing, packing. The idea of packing for someone was a little scary and that idea that I, as a boy, am packing for Meg, as a girl, even moreso; primarily because her array of traveling equipment dwarfs mine... and I don't know what any of her stuff does. But doing my level best, I packed as much of it as can fit in one of those airport sized ziplocks and took off to meet her and, consequently, begin my glorious and faultless plan.

In general, I have to say it all worked quite fabulously. I showed up at her office a little before quitin' time and told her I was 'taking her out.' We loaded on Newcastle's metro to go to the airport and it was all good. Although it turns out there are apparently announcements on the Metro announcing, 'this train terminates at the airport' every 5.62 seconds... dang. From there I lead her to the airport, past the smiles, waves, and thumbs up from by-standers and made it to security before I took the blindfold off. We walked through security and standing in front of the departures window I asked, 'Ok Meg, pick three places you want to go?'

She responded, 'Uhhmmm.... Düsseldorf, Exeter and Prague.'

'How about Prague then?'

'Really?'

'Yup.'

'We are going to Prague?!?'

'Yup.'

She then beamed that smile that clearly states to those around that I did something incredibly good while we sat down and waited for the plane, and the great weekend to come.

However... turns out I forgot the camera. I remembered everything else she needed, mostly because I threw anything that looked relevant into the bag, but forgot the camera for our glorious little weekend in Prague. We saw the sights, ate some great food (thanks again Elliot), and had a good time in the rather un-English weather (warm and sunny!) of the Chezk Republic. And while I'd love to tell you more about those bits, the great squares, bridges and one weird clock... it just isn't nearly as much fun without pictures. So you are just going to have to wait until we develop our pictures from the disposable camera we bought upon arrival. We'll elaborate when there are pretty things to look at (I've decided blogs are kind of like children books, the ones with pictures are alot more fun).

But in general, just know that if you want to surprise your wife on your fifth anniversary with a surprise trip to Prague, I'd recommend it... it tends to go over rather well.