The adventure begins! … Heathrow, England

I have been planning my trip for nearly two years and I am now sat at the airport waiting for my flight to Delhi, India!

The last seven or so weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster from finishing work to surviving bathroom and kitchen renovations (just in case I didn’t have enough ton my plate!), Christmas in Yorkshire and nipping between there, London (to get visas) and Suffolk in order to get everything sorted before I leave. All of the above, however, pales in to insignificance in comparison to the horror of trying to pack my bag!

I have just weighed my bag at checkin and it is an impressive 13.2kg. Definitely the least I have ever managed to take long haul! Getting to this point though was long and painful! I knew I’d have to streamline my packing but theory and practice are two very different things.

I began by laying out everything I wanted to take several weeks ago. I could have kitted out a small country. The plan was to keep whittling it down but I only ended up adding to it! Eventually I got my very practical friend Leanne to come and give me some tough love. Glass of wine in hand, she chucked around half in the NO pile and pointed out that the Top that I felt I would wear with skirts was void as a skirt was the one thing I actually didn’t possess!! I think ‘packing delirium’ must be a thing!

Toiletries have been particularly contentious. I love my Clarins fave creams and traveller or not I refuse to go without. I admit that the heavy glass pots aren’t ideal but I’ve got to carry it and I don’t care what anybody thinks. Plus they can be used as self defence weapons!

Anyway the first lesson I have learnt is not to Look on Pinterest and buy/ask for everything that everyone suggests as you will certainly not be able to fit it all in your bag!

Anyway I’m off to the gate so next stop Delhi!!