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”
What an interesting lot of stuff you are packing. I am not a distance traveler, thus can be of no help to you.
But…I wanted to thank you for recommending “All the Light We Cannot See.” I am nearly finished and only began reading this book days ago. I’d rate it as among the best books I’ve ever read. I cannot put it down.
Me too! Loved it, thank you. XO
I do the scarf/wrap thing too. I actually take 3 of them all twisted together. One as a pillow, one for arms and one for legs.
Also – remember to roll those ankles and feet around. And I have some wrist exercises where your arm is straight and you push gently on your fingers where the wrist is stretched |____ like that where you fingers are up. Then you bend your wrist the other way where your fingers are down. I get mighty stiff on a plane.
Lastly – I never travel without some ziplock bags of various sizes. Seems there is always some little items that needs to go in a bag. I also find packing underwear and nightgowns in gallon bags allows me to press all the air possible out and compact them for travel.
Safe travels and poor Boo just does not understand why you are going. I mean why would anyone want to leave all the sticks and kitties – your farm is like heaven on earth to him! 😉
Have a wonderful time!
I am looking forward to reading about your adventures!
Beanie Babies??? I’ve started putting things into space bags so I can smoosh things flatter. Bon Voyage 🙂
I wonder if Godot got into some oily dirt to try and dust himself. I would of thought that his beautiful, pristine, white feathers would have have been stained too. Maybe he changed his mind because of the feel of the dirt. Sheila is looking quite svelte. I read about Queenie and was sorry to hear that she is not living up to her end of the bargain. She looks like the old time Herefords that remember from my childhood, short and stout. I know I struggle with feeding too much, especially when we were raising heifers. You just have to look at me and my fuzzy chubby little rabbit to see that now. Too bad you can’t put Queenie out to graze cornstalks. I am in awe of your packing abilities. I am a lousy packer, just can’t see how to fit it together efficiently. However my husband is excellent at packing so I gather and he assembles it into the baggage neatly. Best wishes for a trouble free flight.
Have a wonderful trip! Look forward to pictures of summer in New Zealand!
Safe travels.
Love,love,love your packing list. I too take a small shoulder bag of essentials that can go crosswise over my shoulder so I have hands free. My other luggage is a carry-on bag made of patchwork, overhead locker size, and a set of fold-up wheels. Cheapo airlines charge an arm and a leg for hold baggage, so I manage to get everything in the one soft bag. I use my kindle for travel reading – there are so many good books on it I could travel three times round the world and not run out.
Jock was reading over my shoulder, and he gave me a story for you:-
Joe Bloggs arrives at London Heathrow, en route for New York. He checks in three pieces of baggage, and says to the counter clerk “I would like this one to go to Toronto, the blue one should go to Hong Kong, and the other one to go to Helsinki.”
“I’m sorry, sir, we can’t do that.”
“Well, you managed it last time.”
I hope your voyage is calm and uneventful and that you can adjust quickly to the warm NZ weather.
Hilarious.. tell Jock thank you for the Laugh!..c
I absolutely love this one about the lost luggage!!!
Have a safe trip. Wow you really know how to travel! I have only ever flown max eight hours, didn’t mind the trip out as we were all excited, but hated the trip back When we do do another long trip I will look at your post again as your ideas are so good, mind you even for a short hop the glass case is a good idea, saves all that scrabbling around in a big bag! Have fun in NZ x
Love your packing routine – and I always, always have a book with me., everywhere I go (especially the doctors’ offices – one doc and I have a yearly book discussion). I like that you call your one book a “leaver” . I will borrow that term and try very hard not to make it my own. Safe travel.
We fly to New York in 10 days and I just had a panicky passport check! All good, I am pleased to report. Happy trails, and I look forward to your adventures back home.
All I have to say is that it is a good thing you left stuff over there from your first trip. Your bags are filled with more fun items than need items!! At least you will have the room to bring all of your personal stuff back when you head home. Have a safe trip. If you need anything while you are gone just let me know. Maybe it will be sunny and 40 when you get back!! ha…ha…………
you might get that this weekend! hope so, makes life so much more pleasant for the animals carers.. c
…and jewelry! (i know you are bringing fabulous jewelry!) Do you wear it all or pack some too? I’m wondering if your bag goes over the airline weight limit? Great packing! Have a wonderful trip! We will enjoy it too!
I have two bags and way under the limit so far.. international is 50 pounds.. I put my silver into my bag until I am through the scanner, I lost an armful once by taking them off and putting them through.. never saw them again.. so not they are packed in my handbag.. sops is looking forward to hers.. and connie loves her bangle.. c
Yeah, but where do you pack the Guinea Fowl?
in my pocket!.. c
My goodness, what a lovely rundown of your routine! I have yet to be a world traveler (raising my kids first). I will have to write down some of your tips.
I will be buying layer crumbles for my litter box! What a wonderful, wonderful tip!!
Too bad the kittens aren’t a bit smaller so Boo would have something useful to do while you are gone.