Since Monday I have been more or less concentrating on Packing to get through the Ryanair hurdles. Since I will be coming back around the 5th of September I need to have enough for every eventuality of weather. It's so much easier with a Volvo estate to hand -- 'Simples', as the Meerkat would say ...
Packing makes me feel incoherent. I am always changing my mind and I always take more than I wear/use. But inevitably I leave out something I later wish I had brought. The Man thinks I should be able to cram everything into the one bag of carry on with a limit of 10 kilos. This is not possible -- for me. So I opted for the heaviest checked bag Ryanair allows -- 20 kilos at a cost of 35 pounds. For another 45 pounds I could have had a second bag with a 15 kilo limit. I'm making do with just the one...
By the time I figured out the t-shirts (one can never have too many) and trousers, one skirt, underwear, cosmetics, creams, shoes -- probably too many, if a mere 6 pairs can be considered too many for 8 whole weeks, electricals, mail, pills, books and other essentials -- my total limit of 30 kilos total is just about upon me. For each kilo I go over Ryanair will charge me another 20 pounds... And of course there is in the back of my head the worry that their scales won't agree with my scales and even if I'm under they won't think so -- oh, help!
In addition, since Monday I found myself incredibly uncomfortable and itching, itching, iching. Welts began to appear on my torso and upper arms and then my wrists. Quick reference to the Internet and I was pretty certain I needed an antihistamine -- which was indeed the case and the condition is more or less under control and as long as I take the little pills, the welts and itchning disappears. Which puts new meaning into the idea of being 'itchin' to go!
G'day Broad. I always pack too much just going away for the weekend, but you can bet that there will always be something that I had wished I had taken, but didn't. Good luck with it all. Glad you have the itches under control. Any idea what caused them? Take care. Liz...
ReplyDeleteNo idea at all what caused them -- I suspect it's just 'something' in the air! It seems to be abating and I don't need to take the anti-histamines as often... Just another of life's mysteries ;-)
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ReplyDeleteGood thing you got rid of the itch. You are fitting a lot into your bag. I'd try eliminating 5 pair of shoes and you will definitely not have to worry about going over the limit. Have fun on your trip!
ReplyDeleteI might be able to do without one pair ... ;-) I think ...
DeleteSo sorry to hear of your itchy things, Broad. There is - in my limited experience - no way to prepare for Ryanair's appalling behaviour to it's customers, other than cancelling the flight. They are the worst airline in the world, but try to have a good flight anyway.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tom. Every time I have to fly with them I feel as though I have failed somehow :-( -- to avoid temptation. I'll say one thing for them -- they treat everyone, no matter who they are, in the same appalling way!
DeleteOh, dear! What'd to pack. And then "itching to go." This is going to be an "experience" for you. Hope it goes well, and that you get to France safely.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm just about ready for it, Bear! Nice profile picture!
DeleteSome clever engineer needs to invent a suitcase with a vacuum exhaust nozzle hidden in it. Last of all, that suitcase is full of leftover air that should be exhausted so we clear the weight limit.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea. Of course being human we'd just think of more 'stuff' we just can't leave behind!
DeleteI usually hang clothes on my door as I think of something to take with me on a trip. That way I can see what goes with what and can two tops go with one bottom etc?...of course sometimes it's a combination of cream, tan, taupe, white tops and tan, brown, white bottoms...if I don't think to add color I look like a mushroom walking around the streets of NY or wherever. Happy packing and less itching :)
ReplyDeleteThe trouble is that I can never make up my mind the 'which' of things -- so I give in and try to take it all. You are very brave walking around NY in white bottoms or even taupe -- I'd be a mess within an hour of hitting the streets!
DeletePacking is certainly an art. Mrs. C. is an Army brat and really knows how to pack. I just stay out of the way.
ReplyDeleteWe have a rule: he packs his stuff and I pack mine. Saves us squabbling!
DeleteThe golden rule is 'half the amount of clothes you think you'll need, and twice the amount of money'. It always works.
ReplyDeleteWise advice, Cro. To make that work for me, I would have to pack first and then get rid of half of it ...
DeleteOoop sorry about the rash and itch but glad that you have things under control. The weather here is so up and down at the moment you do need a bit of everything. One day I am saying it is too hot, the next I am wearing a track suit and the next it is raining. Have a good trip. Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you, Di -- you understand my situation perfectly!
DeleteDon't you find sometimes your body does take things literally. Maybe you're not really itching to go but ...!
ReplyDeleteDid you manage to decline travel insurance when you booked your Ryanair ticket? You have to do it by clicking on a "decline" option in the "country of origin" list (sneaky) but when I did it the other day, it came up with a pop up which said "Are you sure you want to decline travel insurance?" and when I clicked "yes" it took me to a page with no "Next" button so I couldn't complete the booking.
Luckily I was only checking and so I didn't need to book the ticket. But I wonder if this is just another sneaky dodge on their part.
Yes, it took me quite a while to figure out how to not buy the insurance -- their method is very sneaky indeed. I bet there are a lot of people who get caught out.
DeleteNavigating the Ryanair web site is worse than navigating round Paris, however, despite all the attempts to get money from you, I still feel delighted to arrive here in Carcassonne ( 20 minutes from home in France) after boarding in Liverpool ( an hour from home in England), not exhausted after that great long drive. Convenience may not be fun, or pretty, but sometimes its just what you need. Hope the itching has gone, and that all goes smoothly with the Ryanair bus ! J.
ReplyDeleteThe itching has now been gone for two days without tablets! Yea! I do agree about the convenience -- I can take a train direct from Southport and can even use my bus pass. But still and all one must have one's wits about one when navigating that website! I wonder if they will ever decide to fly into Brive ;-)
DeleteWhen this was our holiday house I left clothes, shoes and whatever here each time we came over - and despite everything the wiseacres told me lost nothing to mould.
ReplyDeleteI'll be using Ryanair when in Europe this year....which means thinking seriously about which country to fly into as that's where I'll be dumping the suitcase until the return!
Do you think all the stress..passports and whatnot... might not have helped with the itching and welts?
Have a great time in France.
I do have a lot of clothes already down there and after all these years, I must confess I should have enough -- but a lot of them are clothes that I don't really want any more or I'd have brought them back. Time for a serious re-thing -- me-thinks...
DeleteOh yes, you'll have a great time!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I'm finally or very nearly on my way!
DeleteDear Broad, I broke out laughing--aloud!--at your last comment. I've often "itched to go" somewhere, but never broken out in welts. You have power, Woman, that your mind can so influence your body!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I always pack way too many clothes because you just never know. I'm always sure that a day will come on vacation when I'll be in a mood to wear this t-shirt or that one. So everything gets packed.
Enjoy. Peace.
That goodness the welts have gone and whatever it was is no longer.
DeleteYes, you understand exactly my predicament in deciding what to take -- and what to leave behind.
Hope your itching is in the past now and that you're well on your way! It is a challenge to pack for that long, but how wonderful that you will have that amount of time there. I hope you have a terrific time!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Kathy. Only a few hours and I'm off -- but first to bed, perchance to sleep?
DeleteHave a wonderful visit and I look forward to reading about all about it.
ReplyDeleteRyan air - hope you've booked priority boarding. take your own food! :0)
I have in fact booked a seat with extra leg room! And I figure I can go for two hours without having to eat anything. I expect you will be off soon yourself. Happy holidays!
DeleteI'm trying to stock up on shirts that are light as vapors and, as always, cramming several into a Ziploc bag and smashing all the air out of it. I don't think I even own six pairs of shoes so I dodge a bullet there. Whatever it was I was wearing when I last went to France got me pegged as an American from clear across the street. I couldn't GET anyone to speak French to me. Have a wonderful trip.
ReplyDeleteIt's a funny thing how easy it is to 'spot the American'! A certain 'je ne sais quoi!' I expect ;-)
DeleteI too take too much, Broad, but never shoes. Not sure I even own 6 pairs of shoes. :-) I've no experience of Ryanair (thank goodness). What I've read about them is quite enough and I don't envy you your packing. Sorry to hear abot the itchs and glad they are disappearing. Bon voyage.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of shoes -- but most especially sandals -- I can't resist them! As for Ryanair -- keep to the rules and expect them to try to get money out of you in tricky ways -- like the travel insurance option. And get to the airport early -- they really do close down the line well before the gate closes.
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