Preparations for a long journey

((Written on 30th August 2015))

Dear Diary,

Sorry that I haven't written anything on your pages in the last two weeks. I have been too busy and excited due to this big long journey which is getting nearer day by day... Oh, haven't I told about it yet? The thing is, some of us hobbits are preparing a historical trip to a hobbit village outside the Shire, in some land called Everwait... or was it Ende-what. Well, according to the olde history books and Gammer's tales, we hobbits have come from some faraway land to the Shire a long long time ago. I have always been a bit lazy when it comes to history lessons, so I don't actually have a clue how these other hobbitses settled in Everwait; mayhaps they just got lost on the way to the Shire or somet. Well, I will probably get an answer to this during the historical journey. However, this won't be an easy one-day picnic trip. The more experienced travellers told me that the journey will take several weeks and that there may be some hardships ahead, whatever they are. So I think it wouldn't be wise to tell about this to me ma... She is already quite fussed about this Bingo Boffin and his adventurous intentions. She would probably turn into a fierce autumn storm if she heard that I am going to travel somewhere out of reach of her pie deliveries. But with the harvest time beginning, it'll be easy to come up with an alibi. I will probably tell her I am helping some farmers in Staddle or somet.

And don't you worry about me, dear diary. Many experienced, broad-waisted travellers and shrew-stompers are going to take part in this journey as well, so I should be safe with them by my side. Besides, my sneaking skills are also quite helpful – even the sharp-eyed Lobelia hasn't spotted me when I have borrowed some taters from her gardens! However, I have been practicing my bashing skills somewhat, just in case I need them on the road. I acquired a practical club from Miss Rubysue, a talented woodworker who has had quite much bashing experience during her travels. The club is quite different from those pestles they are selling at the Michel Delving Vendor Hall. Those are only sufficient for bashing insects and stuff, but with Miss Rubysue's club is good also against bigger opponents, such as the Rushock Bog slugs! I visited the bog just recently and exterminated a good lot of its slugs, toads and gnats.That's not much, but it's good for starters, I guess. Besides, the bog is probably the grimmest and slimiest place in the whole Shire, so it was good mental preparation for the journey as well. I don't understand how the folks of Needlehole can bear all that wetness and the gloomy atmosphere that surrounds the bog. They have also put an ugly statue on the bog, heaven knows why.

The journey also provides a good chance to find out more about my pa. According to his journal, he has departed for the Golden Forest to help this lady he saw in his dream. The Tooks have a comprehensive collection of books and maps in the Great Smials, so I have been visiting their library quite a many times recently. I had to bribe the librarian with lots of crispy bacons and blueberry muffins to gain access to the the place, but it was worth the sacrifice! Once I got inside, I made copies of the maps and writings that seemed important for my purposes. It seems that this Golden Forest is called Lothlórien, an ancient and fair dwelling of ellufs beyond the Misty Mountains. Many grand songs and poems have been written about it. Although it is hard to imagine a place lovelier than the Shire, that elluf forest could come close! I made a map of the place and put it up on my wall.

Well, I think that is all for now. Now I have to go and see if Lobelia's carrots are ripe enough... See you!