Friday, May 30, 2008

Must. Pack. Light

My pal Mandy text me yesterday excitedly reporting that she'd invested in the shampoo and conditioner we'll be taking on holiday in two weeks and three days' time.

Why is this so exciting I hear you ask? Well, it's not really, it's just a little ritual we have each year. We share toiletries in a bid to keep luggage light and where Mandy is reponsible for hair products and toothpaste I will pack shower gel, hair straighteners and after sun.

It's ironic really that we methodically plan to reduce the number of beauty productcs we pack, in a bid to keep luggaage within the allowed limit - 20kgs or sometimes even a measly 15kgs. Because, as hard as we might try not to, we always pack seven pairs of shoes when we'll only wear two, out of six party outfits we'll only wear three and only two of our four handbags will make it out of the suitcase.

Every year we promise to pack light. Every year we fail. Every year we nervously queue at the airport check-in and have a competition to see whose bag weighs in the heaviest. And who will cop for charges for the excess.

Not this year though, I am determined. What do I really need to pack? Day time is for bikini and flip flops, a couple of nights out require a couple of party outfits, a trip to the beach restaurant requires another outfit and the rest of the time, I'm sad to say, will be spent in my pyjamas or "slobs" as we call them.

My problem is I'm a bit lazy. Rather than take the time to co-ordinate outfits and pack shoes etc that match, I throw eveything into my suitcase "just in case". I also invest in new bottles of sun cream every hols too, leaving me with a small shop's worth of half-used products. This year, in attempt to be a bit more money-savvy, I'm not buying new stuff when the old stuff will do. I don't need new flips flops, I don't need new vest tops and I don't need a new beach bag. So there.

So, here's to my forthcoming hollibops and not straining my back when I lug my suitcase from the boot of the car!