Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
I have most definitely, without a doubt, become an expert at packing luggage.
It’s one of the many skills I have picked up along this expat path that I am walking. I have actually gone from loathing packing to actually enjoying the challenge of filling every nook and cranny of the meagre 23kg allowance that I’m given on the majority of our flights, compounded by the ‘one’ piece of check-in luggage rule!
Ditching our old heavy, antiquated pieces of luggage for the new lightweight, 4-wheel drive, all-singingand-dancing variety was the first step. I ignored the husband’s moans and groans at the size and colour of each case – yes, they all needed to be XL and bright yellow!
Funnily enough, he often comments how easily he spots our luggage on the carousel! A set of good quality handheld luggage scales is my other secret device, gone are the days of balancing on the bathroom scales whilst holding a suitcase, breaking my back and trying to deduct my weight in kilograms from the number flashing on the screen!
The husband couldn’t understand my need to reach the maximum weight in each suitcase. It may be the Scottish in me but with air fares rising and airlines squeezing their baggage allowances, I absolutely want to get my money’s worth!
As I prepare to return to Bahrain from a short trip back to the UK, a supermarket dash is required to fill the empty kgs in my suitcase. Shampoo is top of my list!
