The gaping, awkward silence between a joke and the horrible realisation that it wasn't funny.

My patented packing method

Posted: July 14th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: abbi, travel | 5 Comments »

I’ve never been very good at packing.  I have a lot of issues with it.  I overpack.  I leave it until the last minute.  I scrunch everything up in little balls in my case.

A few years ago, I got a nice shiny new suitcase and thought that from now on, I would be oh-so-good with packing.  I would put everything in neatly.  I’d use the pockets in the lid to put sensible things in.  I’d use the separators to put everything in its place.

Turns out that this was all a bit too much for me.  I am still using my patented packing method.  This involves the following steps:

  1. Ignore the packing for days and days, until it’s about 2 hours before I need to leave the house.
  2. In a blind panic, throw everything that I own that is clean in to the case
  3. Wonder where that top that I really, really need to take with me is?
  4. Find said top in the washing
  5. Try and close the case and realise it’s not going to happen
  6. Take everything back out of the case and lay it all out on my bed and wonder what I actually do need to take with me.
  7. End up putting everything back in the case again.  Because I really do need to take that bright orange t-shirt that I have never worn before and which is too small for me.
  8. Wonder why I can’t close the case again.  I TOOK OUT A HAIR BAND, FOR GOD’S SAKE!
  9. Take everything out, whine to whoever is nearest about the fact that I have too much stuff.
  10. Get said person to help me thin things out.
  11. Argue with said person when they tell me I don’t need to take 5 pairs of heels with me for a 3 day holiday.
  12. Realise that they are right so take stuff out.  Grudgingly.

Despite this, I still end up taking too much with me.  ”Packing light” is a foreign concept to me.  What will usually occur is I will end up taking about double what I need.  Especially with underwear – I pretty much always take 2 sets per day that I’m away.

This also has a disappointing side effect – it means I have less space for shopping while I’m away!  Oh yes, did I not mention that I usually end up buying more clothes…