I hate packing for holidays. I really haven’t a clue what the take with me. My husband tells me it’s because I have too much choice. He could be right but I’m not letting him know that!
Were going to Madeira for a week. Part of the time will be taken up with some ‘serious’ walking so those clothes are easiest to pack. The rest of the week will be wandering around Funchal, sightseeing and tasting different ports and sherries. That’s the challenge!
All my sandals are in the loft. My summer ‘holiday clothes’ (these are years old so I’m not being pretentious!) are in plastic containers, also in the loft. We are staying at a fancy hotel (Reid’s, now I am being pretentious but we got a good deal!), so need to look respectable, especially in the evenings.
So, I have four different types of clothes I need to pack, hiking, casual, semi-casual and smart! A challenge for anyone, but for me, it’s like climbing Ben Nevis! I’ve done that too so am speaking from experience! I always thought that, once I was a ‘Lady of Leisure’ I’d have time to pack properly and would eventually become an expert! I could write about it in my blog and help anyone who might have inherited the same debilitating gene as I obviously have! Alas, this isn’t going to happen!
I looked at the weather forecast for Madeira for next week. What a disappointment! It’s the same as ours! That should make packing easier. No need for summer clothes or sandals but not cold enough for boots and fur jackets.
So, I go back to the drawing board. I pack a few pairs of smart jeans, trousers and shirts. I throw in a few jackets and that will be the smart, smart casual and casual. My hiking clothes are already in the suitcase. Life is too short to waste doing a tedious chore and one that I seldom get right anyway!
I’m as ready as I’ll ever be! I surreptitiously place my toiletries bag next to my husband’s suitcase as it’s heavy and this is what I do! His suitcase is always lighter than mine. Something he also finds hard to understand because his clothes and shoes are heavier. I just have a lot more ‘choice’ rammed into mine! Not rocket science!
I’m ready for the taxi in the morning. The alarm clock is set, the newspapers cancelled, my mother has enough money for her hairdos and excursions and our neighbours have been asked to put out our wheelie bin.
Roll on Madeira!👠
Jenny Burrell 