RHYS BOWEN: Guess what I'm doing today? I'm packing for ten days in England. I'm trying to take the absolute minimum as I'll be navigating train stations as well as airports. The trouble is what is the mininum? I remember two years ago I checked the weather forecast for June and it said sunny and warm. So i brought one light cardigan. And in the Cotswolds it was cold and drizzle. So cold that I had to search out Charity Shops to find a sweater. and could only find one with beads on it.
This time it's going to be October. So far the weather in London looks okay. Around 60 plus, but with maybe some rain. Unfortunately I'm going to be further north. This could mean we escape the rain off the Channel, or we get colder and wetter rain. I am taking a puffy jacket and a rain shell, so all should be well. I'm trying to layer...blouse, long sleeve T shirt. jacket, cardigan plus one sweater. But I know from experience that whatever I take it won't be right. There will probably be a sudden heat wave and I'll have to find a charity shop to grab some Tshirts. I've found it's no use going to a real store as they only stock winter clothing in October. Last time I was in New York for the Edgars my phone said the temperature was going to be around 60. It wasn't. I went to the nearest clothes shops and, being April, they had flimsy summer clothes and bikinis.
Oh, and I have a very important business meeting so I have to look extremely professional. Gray blazer, either turtleneck or cream blouse, navy slacks. Maybe scarf.
What can I get away with for the minimum of cosmetics? a tiny jar of face cream. Foundation, mascara, lipstick...Shampoo and conditioner as my scalp doesn't like the hotel ones. Mousse and hair spray. It all takes up space. I tell myself that I can buy travel sized things when I'm there and discard them again. That is if I'm staying anywhere close to a pharmacy.
I'm trying to make it all fit into a carry on sized suitcase, plus an under seat wheely bag. I don't want to face getting a full sized suitcase onto a train and then finding space for it on a rack. I've got compression bags and they work well, but I'll need a hair dryer as I'm staying with a couple of people before I'm in a hotel. I'll need a pair of shoes as I'm wearing sneakers to travel in. It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle.
Actually I think I'm quite a good packer. So what are some of Rhys's packing tips?
#1 is packing cubes. I can roll about eight tops plus underwear into quite a small cube. I really like compression cubes. I'm using one cube for puffy jacket, rain shell, sleep shirt and underwear. They are light and going in my carry on, just in case my big case is lost. I should add choose items that don't crease. Not everywhere will have irons. Oh, and if it does crease hang it up in the shower when you've just had one.
2. Stuff shoes with small items--tube of face cream etc. Bring smallest toothpaste, toiletries. I use a square of solid shampoo. Easy to pack and won't spill. Bring extra zip lock bags. You'll always need them.
3. This is one of Hank's tips: always shove a scarf or pashmina into the carry on in case it's freezing cold on the plane. Ditto a bag of nuts/snack bar in case everything is delayed.
3. This seems logical but items you'll wear first on top.
4. Also logical: choose a color palette so you can mix and match. I have navy and being slacks, tops etc.
5. And lastly, apart from medications, everything can be replaced if you're in a first world country. So don't worry about lost cosmetics, hair brushes, laddered tights etc.
I'm wondering what Hank takes on her complicated book tour. And what tips can anyone give me to make this process easier?
I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip, Rhys . . . .
ReplyDeletePacking may not always be easy, but you seem to have everything well in hand . . . .
Thank you! Fingers crossed
DeleteIn a train station in Macclesfield right, now, waiting for our train to Oxford with far too much, and too heavy, luggage. Our daughter asked us to bring some things they can't find in Greece, but we won't be in Greece for three days yet, so we are schlepping extra stuff. And my husband insists on bringing jeans, which are heavy.
ReplyDeleteIt's chilly here, but will be warmer in Greece. Maybe? We had to bring layers, and both dressy and active footwear. It's crazy. Plus, stairs everywhere.
Good luck, Rhys!!
Nothing like traveling on a train to make you regret your packing choices! After spending 6 weeks in France earlier this summer, I was on the train from Carcassonne to Toulouse with two roller bags (both carry-on sized, so they can go on the storage racks above the train seats). Except the train was so crowded there was no way to maneuver down the aisle. So I stood for an hour with both bags, a backpack, and a big market bag precariously balanced on one of the roller bags. All while shuffling out of the way of everyone trying to board or leave. I much prefer to stick with carryon only.
DeleteI agree with Rhys that charity shops are a great solution. Although when I walked into one in Nice and smelled the cigarette smoke lingering on items, I realized that I would need to give items a good soak and airing before I could wear them.
I’m glad to hear it’s chilly because I’ve packed turtlenecks! Sorry we miss each other by one day too!
DeleteThose all sound like great tips, Rhys. I can't think of anything to add, and I'm not particularly good at packing light, anyway! Shoes are always a problem.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip!
Thank uou
DeleteI haven't been commenting lately and won't for a while because we've started an intense course on Portuguese that also has lots of homework. But I read this blog avidly and love to read comments, which is about all I can manage for now.
ReplyDeleteGreat packing tips, thanks.
Obrigado!
DeleteHave a great trip, Rhys. Your packing tips are excellent. Here are a couple more. Woolx dresses and tee shirts, long and short sleeve. Extremely comfortable marino wool for both hot and cold weather, layering, no wrinkles. Silk underwear, especially camisoles and tee shirts for warmth under anything or under a suit jacket.
ReplyDeleteWash in the sink and dry overnight.
I love wool. It doesn’t love me any more I’m afraid. It makes my skin break out. But I have a silk turtleneck
DeleteI have been a carry-on only luggage traveller for over a decade. I use the same tips as you, RHYS.
ReplyDeleteOn this month's 13-day trip to Japan, I only brought clothes for 4 days (3 for hot/humid Japan, 1 for chilly Vancouver). Wash & wear active wear & merino wool. Tru-Earth laundry sheets. The suitcase was only 1/2 full.
Half full on the way there means room for shopping to me!
DeleteThe luggage came back 2/3 full. I bought a nice handmade kitchen knife, some hard to find Japanese condiments & 3 English translated paperback books by Japanese authors.
DeleteHave a wonderful time Rhys! I pack very light. I take a carry on suitcase only. If I need something or forgot something I can always buy it. So far, it hasn't been necessary. I take 2 pairs of pants, and enough tops for the number of days we'll be traveling, a jacket (lightweight or heavy depending on the expected weather), undies, PJ's, I wear my tennis shoes and pack a nice pair of shoes. For our type of travel I can wear the same thing more than once as we generally aren't visiting people we know.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips Rhys! If it's a short 2-3 day trip I usually only have a carry-on, longer I need the larger luggage.
ReplyDeleteHi Rhys, Since your topic yesterday was about words and definitions I wanted to share what a radio show (A Way with Words) spoke about... "we’re still having a blast with that 1875 dictionary of the Sussex dialect we mentioned in last week’s episode. This compilation by Rev.W. D. Parish, offers a charming window on archaic words and phrases from the southeast corner of England, with such gems as:
ReplyDeletebutter-my-wig — A strong asseveration. As in, 'No, I won’t. Butter my wig if I will!'
print-moonlight — Very clear moonlight. Moonlight bright enough to read by.
peter-grievous — Fretful; whining. As in 'What a peter-grievous child you are! Whatever is the matter?' From French petit-grief, or little grief. "
Have a great trip!
I love those expressions! My favorite was always ‘come dungspread’. We’ll get it done come dungspread!
DeleteThe only thing I can really add is that I roll everything up before putting it in. Except that blazer will have to lay flat on top.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteGreat tips Rhys! I hope you have a wonderful trip. My last trip to the UK, I packed for rainy and cold, based on my memory of the two springs I spent there. It was sunny and in the 80s or higher every day. Luckily, the season was right, so I went to Primark and bought some summer clothes. I also had to get a pair of sandals because the cute shoes I had just gotten at Nordstrom were SO uncomfortable. I think I left them behind somewhere.
ReplyDeleteAlways happens to me in England. I’m thinking I should add a T shirt
DeleteHi Rhys! Hope you have a lovely trip.
ReplyDeleteOne year, my hub and I traveled throughout southern England on mopeds in mid August. We didn't expect there to be pouring, nearly torrential rain one day and the next day sunny. We hadn't even brought a rain coat with us (coming from Southern Calif, we hardly even knew what rain was). We did collect an impressive amount of rain gear in England though! Our best buy were the Wellies or heavy duty rain boots.
I hope it won’t be bad enough for welliee. I’ll stay by the hotel fire. And I do have a good light rain shell
DeleteI thought I was a decent packer, but some of you are putting me to shame!
ReplyDeleteI have been working very hard lately at figuring out what to pack for our upcoming 11-day pilgrimage to Rome. It will be different from my usual travel experiences for a few key reasons: we are part of a tour, so will be seen by the same people every day; we're visiting religious sites almost daily, so I will want to dress just a little nicer than I might otherwise out of respect; we have a much more packed itinerary than I usually plan, so there will be little opportunity to actually do a load of laundry; we are going in November, so the temperature on any given day is likely to range from 49 overnight to 65+ at the heat of the day.
My current thinking is all about layers. I am tentatively planning (counting travel wear) a dress, two pair of pants, two long comfy skirts, four short sleeve tops, two long sleeve light weight tops, two shrugs, one cardigan, one pullover sweater, plus tennis shoes and ankle boots and a hooded rain jacket. All are in a black/white/teal color palate. (Except my pale yellow rain jacket. It is what it is.) It is still a work in progress so I am open to suggestions to reduce the list.
I’d bring fewer short sleeved. And maybe more than one cardigan. Or a pashmina to throw on in churches
DeleteThanks for that, Rhys. As I said, definitely still a work in progress. It would almost certainly help me if fall weather would show up here, as nothing beats actually living in a temperature to help remember how to dress for it!
DeleteGood luck, Rhys! UK charity shops are fabulous. I needed a sweater (jumper) while staying in York and found an Oxfam store. I bought two wool sweaters that looked like they once were part of a twinset. One was royal blue and one was black, definitely 80s style. But they kept me warm and now I wear one when I'm writing as an inspiration and good luck charm. The moths have enjoyed them as well unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteThat’s the problem with wool. I keep my cashmere in zippered bags!
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