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”
I am looking forward to vicariously spending some time in the sun…safe and happy travels!
how can you get so much in your case without becoming overweight…as far as I can see you take everything but the kitchen sink….Ha! ha! I really do hope that you have a safe uneventful journey and that you will have fun in NZ…..The Farmy will miss you..and so will we xxxxxx adios for now
am happy to hear about Godolts leg……
Maybe the Matriarch would allow a basketful of kittens too to keep Boo happy.
I borrowed All The Light We Cannot See at your suggestion. Husband snatched it first,and so now I’m under the gun to read 530 pages by Jan 20th.
Love your ability to pack a variety of things. Got a little dizzy actually and now have to go back and reread … So I can possibly absorb.
I hope you have a wonderful trip. I’m looking forward to this one as you said it will be a very different scene, a large farm, I think you said.
yes an old farmhouse and gardens and fields of wild flowers.. big trees.. beautiful, very different for us this time.. c
Oh…what a thrill…the journey…I vicariously go with you and send you blessings for safe travels, Cecilia! You’ve got it right down to a science…this is a valuable post…if I ever travel I’ll be referencing this! ♥
Oh…what a thrill…the journey…I vicariously go with you and send you blessings for safe travels, Cecilia! You’ve got it right down to a science…this is a valuable post…if I ever travel I’ll be referencing this! ♥
Oh, I have a tip! I have a tip! PASHMINA from heaven. I have an old, dove grey, and very large pashmina, which, among other things, has served as a blanket for 8yr old Chloe when I accidentally plonked us on an overnight train to Berlin instead of Prague and ended up in a cheap youth hostel at 1am, safely cradled an entire glass orchestra from Murano thru three countries and two months before I got it home, was a “nightie” for one week when I forgot to pack any bed clothes, and has protected my computer in my on-board bag for about 15 years now. I wouldn’t ever be without it.
Happy trails Celi and so good about Godot’s leg. One less thing to worry about. 😀
Thanks Gods (to quote Boo) I am back on line in seemingly warp speed – Yay 🙂 When I pack I put everything out and then decrease by two thirds and still have too much. I will be following you in NZ but will also be going back to catch all the photo’s I couldn’t download for 3 weeks. Bon Voyage and safe landings. Laura
So many great tips on packing! I have not done much international travel and try to pack lightly for domestic trips though am seldom successful! I have been flying Southwest a lot lately and they dont charge for my 1 checked bag. I wonder about food for those long flights? Most domestic flights barely serve free beverages anymore let alone any type of healthy food. I take some sort of snack, nuts, fruit, etc. And once through security, buy an expensive bottle of water so I am not dependent upon the beverage cart to get to me. I love the idea of flats or socks, as I too travel in boots and then take them off once on the plane. Excited for you! Cant wait to join you remotely!
is Beanie Babies ‘code’ for my kitten?? We need photos of you in both dresses please.
The glasses case idea is brilliant and one I will steal. I always carry a wee bottle of water in a spray bottle (don’t forget the rules). Airplane air is so dry and a spritz of water on my face makes me feel almost human during a long flight.
I’ve done the ‘swappa’ book thing several times – such a great idea.
Safe travels and have a wonderful time. The farmhouse sounds brilliant and the weather should be perfect – hot, but perfect. XO
Smart packing. Olive oil is probably the answer to everything. Poor Boo. The other animals and kittens will cheer him.
Wishing you swift and safely there.
Oh, that header pix – people wonder where Op Art came from? (giggles to go!)
I can feel the excitement in your voice…..safe travels C and I really am curious about 75 beanie babies…. ?????? Are they all the same ? Wedding favors ? Suitcases are an interesting study. There is a book ” What She Left Behind ” by Ellen Simon that was recommended to me about a woman discovering her own past as she has been enlisted by her foster parents, employees at a museum, to catalogue items in a long – shuttered state asylum. There are suitcases and piles of abandoned belongings that she goes through and of course she discovers things about her mother who is in jail for killing her father.
Can’t wait to go to NZ and feel the warmth and the champagne bubbles !!!
The beanie babies are in the toy suitcase, there will be lots of children there so i am taking a bag of things to play with, blocks and beanie babies.. what will they do with those I wonder!?.. c
I thought you all might find this interesting. It’s something I’d never wondered about, myself.
Who DOESN’T travel overseas with a gluten-free lasagna and an army of Beanie Babies? I cannot stop laughing because I can picture it right now!
I hope you don’t have to walk home. New Zealand is a long way off. I do the same, though. Just in case. I trust my own two feet better than anything.
I keep my mp3 player in my glasses case because it keeps it from getting banged around and keeps charger and headphones together. Like you, I repurpose what I can. And now I’m going to the feed store for a giant bag of layer crumbles. BRILLIANT!
I went to set my iPad clock to New Zealand time (I have several cities set up for various blogger friends so I know what their time is) but did not know which major city you are closest to? I’m so excited… maybe the warmer weather at your destination will help me forget my frozen limbs of late! Have a wonderful time Celi!
Auckland or Wellington, NZ is long and skinny and small, so the time is the same wherever.
what she said.. c