My
job involves travel and so does my hobby, so over the years I have
transformed some annoying aspects into manageable ones. I'd like to
share the following which may make your life easier on the road, for
business or pleasure
 |
| My Job |
Draw
up a packing checklist. Airline pilots use checklists even though
they know which knobs and switches to throw – but checklists ensure
safety in case of distraction at a critical moment. The same with
packing; you may leave home knowing you have clothes, but your heart
sinks when you arrive and discover you have left behind a small but
crucial item such as your camera charger which may not be easily or
cheaply available at your destination.
Instead
of schlepping around photocopies of your passport and important
documents (which when kept in your luggage will be pinched along with
it) upload electronic versions to a cloud service that can be
accessed from any computer. I use Dropbox or save a draft message
with attachments in my web mail.
On
the aeroplane get a better night's sleep with earplugs and an eye
mask. An eye mask blocks out those lights which just sneak in under
your eyelids and keep you awake. My preferred earplugs are silicone
(bought at the pharmacy) which are effective and gentle: they don't
scrape the skin off inside of your ear canal like the sponge ones,
nor transfer those horrid grinding noises to your head from rubbing
the pillow during turbulence.
When
you arrive at your hotel, hang your crinkled clothes on a hanger in
the shower (out of the spray, naturally). The steam removes most
wrinkles. It beats ironing and works spectacularly well on wool
items.
 |
| My Hobby |
Laundry
– a bugbear of a long trip. In the old days, airline crew joked
that if your flight was delayed a day, turn your undies inside out
and wear again. Assuming you are more discerning and don't feel like
paying megabucks to have your delicates laundered, you will need to
wash. Roll up wet clothes tightly in a towel to remove maximum
moisture before you arrange them on clothes hangers around the room.
This will also obviate disapproving looks from nosey parker guest
house owners who inspect your room for dripping washing when you're
out.
On
that note avoid packing pure cotton socks; they are a traveller's
drying nightmare unless your upmarket hotel bathroom has a heated
towel rail, or you are journeying through the desert and can arrange
them under bungy cords to your camel/vintage motorcycle pannier.
Despite
all the yummy-seeming restaurants in foreign parts, sometimes you
just want a comforting snack in your room of something perishable and
want to avoid expensively dislodging items in the forbidding
automatic minibar. In cool weather you're in luck: pop your tub of
yoghurt onto the windowsill at night where it will stay preserved
enough so as not to lay you low the next day.
Broken
luggage straps, or ripped bags? Sew them up with dental floss –
unbreakable. This is presupposing 'sewing kit with large-enough-eyed
needle' was an entry on your packing checklist.
Voila!
It's fixed! And you can relax until you arrive at the best
destination there is….. home.
