Ideas for how to pass 12 days with no internet/TV/radio etc.

[lettinggo]

I'll be spending 12 days on my own in Russia in a couple of months time. I'll be completely alone (gulp) and in a tiny village with a tiny cafe, a tiny supermarket and a church. I'll be visiting my soon to be daughter every day for a few hours but apart from that, there won't be much to do once I've taken a few photos of the place.

Has anyone any ideas of how to kill the time? I'll bring a couple of books but I thought someone might have an idea of something I could be doing? I'm fairly crafty - I love to sew and quilt. I've never knitted or crocheted. I was thinking maybe cross-stitch? Or has anyone any other suggestions? I'm worried that I'll be lonely. My DH will be gone home to bring our son out so we can all travel home together.

Could you use the time to compile a scrapbook for your DD and/or write a sort of diary about how you got to this point for her?

Also BBC Radio is excellent for being able to download programmes, if you got an MP3 player you could start downloading all sorts of programmes now (I'd probably go for some Melvyn Bragg 'In Our Time', and then save them for when you are away... it would be like having a radio without worrying about reception.

Thanks, piprabbit. I've started the diary already and will do some work on it when I'm there too.

I love the idea of downloading stuff from the radio onto an MP3. I love the radio so that's a great idea. I'll get working on it now.

Teach yourself to crochet :)

Teach yourself Russian? Talk to people in the tiny supermarket etc?

Cross stitch an "adoption date" sampler, incorporating a Russian theme (dolls, the Kremlin, Russion alphabet?), and with your DD's name, place of birth and the date she became yours on it (obviously leave the date til last so it's correct). Then you can frame it at home as a beautiful reminder of the time you spent waiting for her and it is also an heirloom . Also is easy to transport, requires minimaland lightweight materials. Get a plastic frame that comes apart like this here these are by far the best frames and they collapse into tubes for on the move.

Congratulations by the way

If I were you Id treat it as a bit of a mini break for yourself and perhaps try and live a little bit Russian ....(i dont mean drink vodka lol) take lots of pictures and collect things to make into a memory box for her,keep a journal and just 'soak up' her heritage.

Congrats with the new addition x.

Thanks for the ideas. I love the idea of doing a cross stitch with her birth and adoption dates and her place of birth, I'll definitely give that a go!

I definitely need to learn a few words of Russian before I go. I was embarassed to be able to speak only 3 words- yes, no and thanks.

I'd love to give crochet a go too, my neighbour started to teach me once but I've forgotten. Maybe when I'm home with her I'll try again.

Thanks for taking the time to make suggestions.

if you're going down the mp3 route how about getting hold of some russian lessons?

the adoption sampler is a lovely idea

congratulations and I hope it goes well

if you can get hold of a mini recording device, like a flip (which fits in your pocket) I'd be filming the area she came from and little bits of commentary about how you're feeling, the first time you see her etc. - it doesn't have to be very professional at all - the more natural the better, then at a later date you can edit it all together, maybe put music to it - I'm sure in years to come she'll be riveted to watch this back

when mine were young i got into the habit of recording just mundane stuff as well as the high days and holidays - they are now engrossed by watching themselves in a high chair etc.