Comments on: Packing for a journey http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/ a blog by Meg Pickard Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:12:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: REG CROWDER http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42795 REG CROWDER Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:09:26 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42795 Yeah, Gawd, I've always had this feeling that everybody is better at getting ready to travel than me. And that includes you, Meg. I had foolishly (well, okay, it was cheap) bought a ticket to take a VERY EARLY MORNING flight from Charles de Gaulle International Airport (known personally to airlines as CDG). I found myself in an Ibis hotel at 10 o'clock at night staring at a map but not comprehending. It looked a lot like the one at this URL: http://www.paris-cdg.com/maps.html I was trying to figure out how long it would take me to turn in my rental car and check at Air France. I couldn't quite work out the scale of the map. I called Air France in Paris but they had handed off customer service to Air France in New York for the night. Nobody at Air France in New York knew anything about Charles de Gaulle Airport. (That's my ONLY complaint about Air France, by the way. I love everything else about them, INCLUDING the in-air meals, which I find remarkable.) So, I drove down to the terminal to look around. I found my flight number on an electronic sign. Between that and wandering around the empty terminal in the middle of the night (no security at all), I figured out what awaited me the next morning. (No big deal, basically.) But while I was there, I happened upon another obviously-worried Air France Traveler. She was a young lady in her 20's. She had piled her luggage on the luggage conveyor belt at the closed check-in desk. And then she PILED HERSELF ON THE LUGGAGE CONVEYOR BELT. She was sound asleep on the luggage conveyor belt. Dangerous? Maybe not. She had this enormous handbag. The handles were looped around her neck. Even in sleep, her arms were wrapped around the great sack that was this handbag. But something was sticking out of the handbag. And it seemed to be moving. She had a small dog in the handbag, which was partially snapped closed, leaving just enough room for a little dog's head. The little dog watched me like a hawk as I drew closer to take a look. Sigh. I stood in awe and admiration. There was NO POSSIBILITY of her missing her flight. And she saved the cost of an airport hotel in the bargain. You remember the James Bond theme from quite a few years ago, "Nobody Does it Better." Hell, everybody does it better. REG CROWDER Freelance Financial and Investment Writer London, England and Brittany, France http://knol.google.com/k/reg-crowder/international-investing/6dyptd3yjxyq/2 Yeah, Gawd, I’ve always had this feeling that everybody is better at getting ready to travel than me. And that includes you, Meg.

I had foolishly (well, okay, it was cheap) bought a ticket to take a VERY EARLY MORNING flight from Charles de Gaulle International Airport (known personally to airlines as CDG). I found myself in an Ibis hotel at 10 o’clock at night staring at a map but not comprehending. It looked a lot like the one at this URL:

http://www.paris-cdg.com/maps.html

I was trying to figure out how long it would take me to turn in my rental car and check at Air France. I couldn’t quite work out the scale of the map.

I called Air France in Paris but they had handed off customer service to Air France in New York for the night. Nobody at Air France in New York knew anything about Charles de Gaulle Airport. (That’s my ONLY complaint about Air France, by the way. I love everything else about them, INCLUDING the in-air meals, which I find remarkable.)

So, I drove down to the terminal to look around. I found my flight number on an electronic sign. Between that and wandering around the empty terminal in the middle of the night (no security at all), I figured out what awaited me the next morning. (No big deal, basically.)

But while I was there, I happened upon another obviously-worried Air France Traveler. She was a young lady in her 20’s. She had piled her luggage on the luggage conveyor belt at the closed check-in desk.

And then she PILED HERSELF ON THE LUGGAGE CONVEYOR BELT. She was sound asleep on the luggage conveyor belt.

Dangerous? Maybe not.

She had this enormous handbag. The handles were looped around her neck. Even in sleep, her arms were wrapped around the great sack that was this handbag.

But something was sticking out of the handbag. And it seemed to be moving.

She had a small dog in the handbag, which was partially snapped closed, leaving just enough room for a little dog’s head. The little dog watched me like a hawk as I drew closer to take a look.

Sigh.

I stood in awe and admiration. There was NO POSSIBILITY of her missing her flight. And she saved the cost of an airport hotel in the bargain.

You remember the James Bond theme from quite a few years ago, “Nobody Does it Better.” Hell, everybody does it better.

REG CROWDER
Freelance Financial and Investment Writer
London, England and Brittany, France
http://knol.google.com/k/reg-crowder/international-investing/6dyptd3yjxyq/2

]]> By: David http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42754 David Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:54:10 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42754 That's one of the funniest posts I've read in a long time! Keep it up. That’s one of the funniest posts I’ve read in a long time! Keep it up.

]]> By: Meg http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42636 Meg Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:50:09 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42636 Thanks! You'll be happy to hear I made it to my final destination without packing any tools or dirty laundry, but it does seem I was somewhat overoptimistic about the weather: have swimsuit, sunglasses and sandals - actually need socks, jumper and scarf. Thanks! You’ll be happy to hear I made it to my final destination without packing any tools or dirty laundry, but it does seem I was somewhat overoptimistic about the weather: have swimsuit, sunglasses and sandals - actually need socks, jumper and scarf.

]]> By: Parenthesis http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42631 Parenthesis Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:17:04 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42631 Dear dear Meg, I have read your blog for ages now, a lurker rather than a commenter, but this one made me laugh out loud and snort tea through my nose [which I was drinking at the time] and I just had to say so, loved the post, love your blog ... :) Dear dear Meg, I have read your blog for ages now, a lurker rather than a commenter, but this one made me laugh out loud and snort tea through my nose [which I was drinking at the time] and I just had to say so, loved the post, love your blog … :)

]]> By: Helen-LG http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42623 Helen-LG Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:32:32 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42623 Thanks, laughed out loud at this in the office and will now need to sit looking very studious for a while to ensure no one thinks I'm slacking.. I'm off for a few weeks too very soon and am now rather worried about my own packing. I was very organised - I started a list at the weekend. Unfortunately I think it went something like: -toiletries -clothes -spare socks & tights (I always seem to run out no matter how many pairs I take!) I've got a day, I'm sure it'll all be fine.. Good luck Meg & have a lovely trip! Thanks, laughed out loud at this in the office and will now need to sit looking very studious for a while to ensure no one thinks I’m slacking.. I’m off for a few weeks too very soon and am now rather worried about my own packing. I was very organised - I started a list at the weekend. Unfortunately I think it went something like:

-toiletries
-clothes
-spare socks & tights (I always seem to run out no matter how many pairs I take!)

I’ve got a day, I’m sure it’ll all be fine.. Good luck Meg & have a lovely trip!

]]> By: choz http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42618 choz Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:35:03 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42618 Eh, "Pétoche" (http://www.koztoujours.fr), c'est drôlement chouette de sympa de garder le MESSAGE que je dois faire passer à cette GROSSE TACHE qui vit, là-haut, sous les combles, LE MANIAQUE DE L'ÉLECTRICITÉ, qui aboie quand on lui parle et se tient toujours au garde à vous prêt à obéir, le MESSAGE étant : " ELLE... A DIT : "CALTEZ, VOLAILLES !" . Merci pour ce fabuleux espace démocratique du chien (premier couplet) Eh, “Pétoche” (http://www.koztoujours.fr), c’est drôlement chouette de sympa de garder le MESSAGE que je dois faire passer à cette GROSSE TACHE qui vit, là-haut, sous les combles, LE MANIAQUE DE L’ÉLECTRICITÉ, qui aboie quand on lui parle et se tient toujours au garde à vous prêt à obéir, le MESSAGE étant : ” ELLE… A DIT : “CALTEZ, VOLAILLES !” .
Merci pour ce fabuleux espace démocratique du chien (premier couplet)

]]> By: Meg http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42609 Meg Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:55:38 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42609 Argh! Yes. Allen key! Why did I say Alum? Thinking of sand formations on the Isle of Wight, perhaps.... Argh! Yes. Allen key! Why did I say Alum? Thinking of sand formations on the Isle of Wight, perhaps….

]]> By: B http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42608 B Sat, 09 Aug 2008 10:38:35 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42608 I can't stop laughing at this post. Yes, I think planning in advance is the way to go....! I can’t stop laughing at this post. Yes, I think planning in advance is the way to go….!

]]> By: Steve http://meish.org/2008/08/08/packing-for-a-journey/#comment-42595 Steve Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:30:06 +0000 http://meish.org/?p=2578#comment-42595 Sorry, off topic I know but I can't help myself - <i>alum</i> key or <i>allen</i> key? In an attempt to get back on topic, my <strike>vaguely</strike> OCD tendencies mean that I am a big fan of pre-prepared packing lists. If I suddenly need to go and work in Texas for a week during the summer, I simply get out my Air_Conditioned_Office_In_A_Hot_Country list and save myself a lot of last minute agonizing over whether to take warm or cool clothes. Sorry, off topic I know but I can’t help myself - alum key or allen key?

In an attempt to get back on topic, my vaguely OCD tendencies mean that I am a big fan of pre-prepared packing lists. If I suddenly need to go and work in Texas for a week during the summer, I simply get out my Air_Conditioned_Office_In_A_Hot_Country list and save myself a lot of last minute agonizing over whether to take warm or cool clothes.

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