No pain, no gain.

I realise I don’t really deserve sympathy here, but I’m at that stage of going away when I sit back and wonder, wouldn’t it be easier to stay at home?  I’m sure my friend Marg is thinking the same thing, because she too is packing to fly off and escape the joys of January in England.

Our fun started yesterday, when having changed beds and gathered up every bit of laundry I could find, our washing machine decided to spew water everywhere.  Thankfully, it stands on a tiled concrete floor and there was nowhere for the water to go – I just had to mop it up a few times.  Timing or what?

All day, I was starting to build small heaps of stuff to take with me.  Art kit, chargers, camera stuff.  That little gold bag was a £20 bargain found in JL on Saturday; my reward for braving the crowds I suppose.  Perfect.

So leaving my hero in charge of the ironing (his, not mine!) I attended to all those things which I usually attend to.  Watering houseplants, and of course, checking the contents of the fridge.

We’ve not been shopping for a week, so it’s slim pickings: a bag of mangetout, a small bag of salad, about two glasses of juice and more than a dozen eggs.  Guess we’re having omelettes for lunch then!  Everything else has a sell by date after we’re back and stuff like milk and cheese can be used by our housesitters.

So I went upstairs to begin the worst bit.  Packing.  Or rather, deciding what to take.  I did as I usually do and turned on the TV, for that rare treat (?) of watching daytime TV.  I timed that one well too, didn’t I?

Eeeuwww… it was about the standards of hygiene in hotels and someone was taking swabs and telling stories about what they’d found in various bedrooms.  Not good viewing for a time like this.  (I packed a disinfectant spray!)

Fortunately, it was soon time for Homes under the Hammer and Wanted Down Under and my hero and I were both shouting at the TV “Don’t go!!”   (but they did…they won’t last, though!)

I know that my list isn’t working when there’s something like “anything else” on there…what use is that?!  Hopeless!

Anyway, at last I have two suitcases packed.  One for our first jolly, one for the second part, after which I’ll sort out my things for the third.  With destinations ranging from metropolitan downtown to tropical rainforest and a busy schedule of activities to look forward to, I’d tried to think of every eventuality and planned what to take accordingly.  That was when Mary warned us that right now, LA is cold and wet.  Hmm.  Better take a couple of additional layers then.

How are we doing with the weight then?   Oooh, easily within the limits!  Are you impressed?  (I’m surprised!)

With a copy of our itinerary on top of each piece of luggage, I’m done.  Ready to go.

(a couple of hours later)

I have steered clear of those suitcases, because I know that every time I pass them by, I will be tempted to squeeze in one more thing.  They are now closed and locked and we’re headed for LHR overnight, ready to fly tomorrow morning.

See you in LA!