Oh how I wish I had more time to tell you about how I pack a bag, I have traveled so much in my life that I have a weird science when packing, (though everyone has a different method) and this time I have 75 beanie babies, a stunning Little Black Dress, lasagna pans, Gluten free rice lasagna, meatloaf tins, knives, a beautiful vintage crochet dress that I bought in a second hand shop in Soho, London, a sun hat, a set of blocks, my favourite pinny, a set of cut out play people, Darth Vader, my new mono pod (thank you darling), gloves, calendars, books, farmy baby animal books, more books, paintings, recipes, prints. Cameras, chargers (for everything), kindle, laptop, up to date passport (yes I have panic checked the date a number of times), three tops (short sleeved, long sleeved, baggy shirt), three bottoms (jeans, black tights, long skirt) and two pairs of boots (one black, one worn out brown). One warmie. My coat. Flats, sundress, knickers, pink bras. And a nightie that I am not going to describe for you. I love nighties, I am not a pajama girl.
I love to travel, but I think you know that already.
I roll my clothes to protect them from creases and actually use tissue when rolling the good dresses. 
I label my chargers with my name so none of my children nick them. And I carry them and all the leads in an expandable mesh bag. I also have an old hospital laundry bag to carry my washing. And my dirty knickers – clean knickers, washing bag from Kim.
The other useful tip: I have a largish sunglasses case (sunglasses long time lost) it is big enough to house anything I need while I am marooned in an airplane seat. Lip balm, handkerchief, ear plugs, pen, lotions, passport number, glasses, contacts, peppermints. No-one wants to be the girl who is popping up and down and up and down opening the overhead lockers looking for stuff – observed, in silence, by the Whole Plane. I have everything I need in this little case. It also beats rummaging about in your handbag IN THE DARK. When I sit down I pop it into the front pouch along with my ballet flats, and my book. I stow my bags and my boots above and I am good – leaving myself plenty of leg room. I have long legs. I only every travel in boots. I have this feeling I may need sturdy footwear in case I have to walk home. And I would you know.. walk home. But I take on flats to change into for the long eleven hour flight.
I start out with three books. One for part one of the travel- it is smaller and called a leaver, I leave this book in the airport ladies with a sticky note saying’ swap ya’. I cannot tell you how often I have come back that way two weeks later to find a new book in its place with the same sticky note on it. Swapped and swapped and swapped. The second book is to get me all the way home. This is a keeper and will be given to one of the readers in my family. The third book is for just on case and resides in the suitcase, I can grab it between flights. I HATE to have no book!
I always wear tight socks and take 1/2 an aspirin before take off. I travel in my blackest skinny yoga pants and layers. Sometimes planes are hot, sometimes cold. I have a hand bag (this doubles as a camera bag of course) and my old leather messengers satchel for the lap top, paper, notebooks and books. I no longer carry a cabin bag. The aisles of planes seem to be shrinking!
I carry a large scarf, more of a shawl really for over my head at bed time. Around my shoulders for warmth. Or rolled up as a pillow. 
I leave for New Zealand tomorrow, Jake has started taking over the chores, my hair has had a good cut and I am packing. Can you tell? Bet you have tips for me!
Love, love
your friend
celi
PS The KuneKune breeder has told me to add a little olive oil to Tima’s dinner. It is the winter dry. Her hair will grow back, she said. So all the pigs will now get olive oil once a day. Godot’s black leg is now beige, definitely dirt. Queenie is still fat. Boo had a trial stay at the Matriarch’s and spent the afternoon squished in the Bay Window watching for me to come back from the hairdressers. Ton was grateful for the peace. They visit Nanny every Sunday so it is not a strange place for them.
Yesterday in the Lounge of Comments Paula told us this:
Kitty litter: I started using layer crumbles for kitty litter about two years ago. It clumps perfectly, has no chemicals, and cost around $10 for 50 lb bag here. Get the cheapest crumbles you can find and they work great!
How is that for an excellent tip! I love the Lounge of Comments, it is the seat of all our wonderful learning..right down to kitty litter.
The Kitchen's Garden 
80 responses to “How I travel”
You are so adorable and inspiring in a get-off-your-butt way!
Us seasoned travelers have it down to a fine art don’t we LOL The only thing I can add that I do is make sure I have a toothbrush and toothpaste in my carry-on (I know they give you one on BA, but prefer my own), and phone numbers of friends/relatives handy so if no one is there to meet me I can call pronto! Carry two purses, one with American dollars, the other with sterling, for that cup of coffee while I am waiting for the person who was supposed to pick me up!
Have a safe flight my friend.
Oh yes the purses, i do that too! between us all we should get the perfect list !. c
Have a great trip.
Celi, wishing you nice trip back home to visit your Kids ~ enjoy the wedding and be sure to share a few pictures with us! Bet Boo, Ton, Sheila, Tima, Tane,
Marmi and her Kitties and ALL of those other animals are already getting sad and wanting to jump in your suitcase ~ wanna go with Mamma~
I love how you pack!! Some gals think they should take everything but the kitchen sink!! But after we travel the world we only pack what we NEED!
(yes I’m glad the passport is ok!). Last week I had a client who went to O’Hare with her husband and 2 adult sons to fly to Mexico and enjoy the warm sun and blue water ~ however, when she checked in ~ the airline said “we need your passport” not the passport card!!! Soooo ~ she told her husband and sons to go ahead and get on the plane and get on their way! She went immediately to the passport agency in Chicago and at 1pm she walked out with her passport; had to stay at the hotel and got on the plane the next morning and arrived at her Cancun resort at 11am and joined her family on the beach!!
And when I booked their package last Sept I asked if everybody had passports ~ “yes we do”!!
Have a safe flight and great time!
Thanks for the news on Godot’s leg. Bon voyage, love. xx
I had no idea what layer crumbles were, so I looked it up and discovered that chicken layer crumbles being used as cat litter is quite a big thing. Amazing 🙂
I don’t carry actual books, I just load four or five new ones onto my Kindle. Saves a heap of space, and the case has its own light. A spare ‘stupid’ (as opposed to smart) phone to stick a local SIM card into. I wear flipflops onto the plane (jandals to you, Missy), fluffy socks once I’m sitting. Wet wipes to at least feel clean after 21 hours in the air, also handy when the hostie spills orange juice on you at the beginning of the flight. And of course, a sewing kit so my hands can make use of all that enforced (and non-sleeping) idleness.
Oh yes the stupid phone, i have one too called The Burner! .. morning kate.. c
Morning, my lovely, safe and peaceful travels, lots of time to read, write and think….
Wow!!!! Great photo! You captured the colors and mood perfectly! What a beautiful bird!
There’s something I do that deletes all my words instead of posting them… so here are some different words to those I originally typed. Love this post and your packing for all sorts of reasons, but don’t have time to retype it all… I’m excited for you. Safe and uneventful travelling. Is Tima hoping you’ll absent mindedly pick her up and pack her too!? Poor Boo will miss you however much TLC he gets.
Boo is the one I worry about.. he is such a Mummys boy! c
My post also deleted.
Bon voyage and safe travels. Hope to see you from NZ!
Have a lovely trip Miss C!
Safe travels! I know you will enjoy being with your family.
Well, I learned something too, layer crumbles sound very intriguing. I read they have no dust issues which is always an issue with regular cat litter. Definitely going to try it. Starter layer crumbles are finer so might clump better and it’s cheaper which is great! 75 beany babies? That’s a lot of beans! 🙂 Time to close it up before a kitten finds its way inside. My cats always sit in my luggage when I pull it out and stare at me, looking petulant. I’m amazed about the ‘swap ya’ books concept. I really like that. Safe and delay free trip!
A lasagna pan… Wishing you safe travels and a joyous trip.
I use corn husk bits kitty litter. It’s horribly dusty but clumps well. I’m going to look for layer crumbles. The farm store is a trek, but cheaper would be a real boon. I am a stay at home armchair traveller so really looking forward to going to NZ with you again, Celi. I loved your last trip (but do feel for the poor bereft animals). I could not leave my old dog at this time in his life. But I’m up up & away with you, you brilliant amazing packer. Bon Voyage!