I have been packing my bag for India for some time – months in fact. You may think that is a little over-organised, but let me explain. 

I do like my clothes (a little too much one’s husband would say!). To manage my, ahem, large collection, each spring and autumn I put the winter or summer clothes into clothes boxes and put them away until the next year. Not only is this excellent wardrobe management, it means each spring or autumn I get to be reacquainted with a new wardrobe – it’s like seeing old, much loved friends again after a break. 

Rather than having to dig out the packed away summer clothes in the middle of winter for our trip to India – I planned ahead. When I packed them up in the autumn I decided to select which summer pieces I’d be taking to India and put them to one side (in my travel bag). I’ve gradually been packing the other things I’ll be taking and last week packed my hand luggage. I do not like to leave things to the last minute!

Meanwhile, the other traveller on this trip has been less proactive with their packing. When I left home one Wednesday morning to go to London for two days of work meetings, his bags contained one pair of shorts and a travel towel. This very relaxed form of travel planning does increase my anxiety levels. I have visions of the other traveller still packing when we should have departed!

Rather than focus on the content of his own bag, the other traveller has been somewhat pre-occupied with the content of my bag. Regularly commenting that I should have ‘more air’ in my bag and less stuff. My reply is simple – you carry what you want and I’ll carry what I want – simple.

With our departure date now just one sleep away, I hope that by the time I get home tonight (I’m writing this on the train) there will be a lot less air in the other travellers bag.