Arrivederci, Sydney!

[blamebrampton]

Right, have packed two week's clothing, some large books, more cosmetics than I need and a ridiculous amount of confectionary into a small bag that I can hoist to an overhead rack by myself should the need become apparent. Since I plan to travel first class from Rome to Florence, I hope it will not, but be prepared and constant vigilance are mottos to more than Mad-Eye Moody. My printer has finally allowed copies of my ticket to exist, I have reading matter thanks to my lovely friend (YA Fly By Night, loving it so far) and all my Italian primers to fail with on the plain.

Darkfest fic all but done, and final scenes should be sent to beta from either Sydney or Hong Kong airport, just need to remember to pack laptop and power cord. I even have all my take-on fluids sorted, with a full cleanse, moisturise and make-up for under half a litre. Spare change of clothes and scent-free deodorant in hand luggage. J has been kissed goodbye, cats are having emo attacks -- they have learned what the suitcase means, garden is splendid at front, which I will miss the best of, and a disaster at back, which I will return home to the full horror of.

If I catch a cab in half an hour or so, I will arrive at the airport only slightly early, not OCD early, and will have time to write. I seem to be on top of things.

Which means that I am sitting here racking my brain to see what essential thing I have forgotten. And before you ask, yes, passport, Euro-wallet, euros and credit cards are all sorted.

And yes, I do have a wallet for each currency I regularly exist in. Which I recognise is a tad OCD, but you will not believe the grief it has saved me! If the worst happens and you lose one, it's just your travel cash, all those cards and everything else you need at home are safe in your sock drawer ;-)

Still, if I have forgotten something vital, Mr Brammers is at home with the cats, and there are express couriers in this world.

I hope to be checking in regularly, but in case it is all far too hard, stay well, let me know anything I should definitely read, and I sincerely hope that the run of bad luck for some people ends. It's been a bit much -- health issues aside for some of you dear ones, who breaks into a car by ripping the door off?

Comments

[deensey.livejournal.com]

I'm sure you haven't forgotten anything important. Cord for camera? Charger?

I love you, and you have a wonderful trip. I'll pop by one night (after speaking to your J) and give the cats an extra pat or three.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Love you too! And thanks so much for the loan of the overlocker, I have new skirt and top with only one embarrassing cock-up that I just faked a fix for. It's in the living room all packed up.

Have cords, chargers, spare batteries ... I think I am set ...

[bewarethesmirk.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a wonderful, safe trip! ♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I will!

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

*clings*

But you'll be so far away. *sigh*

Still - I hope you have an AWESOME time. And first class? wow! *envies*

I also envy your packing skills.

Fly safe, have fun, stay in touch! *smooch*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Only on the train, it's a 20 euro dfference but much much nicer, so I will buy one pair of gloves less than I otherwise would. Plane is cattle, alas. (GLARES at mother who has all my money!) I will have nearly as much fun as you did, and yes, I am the packing QUEEEEEEEN!

[potteresque_ire]

Ooo. Have fun and travel safe! And blow kisses to Hong Kong for me, will you? Please? *Misses*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I will! I've not been back there since it became China again, so it will be interesting to see if the differences my friends report in the city extend to the airport ;-)

[vaysh11.livejournal.com]

Charger for laptop?

And it is so good for my mental health that you are, too, writing fic in between flights, on airports all over the world :). The final scene for my last story was written on the train station of Gerolstein in between waiting passengers and tourist buses arriving.

Can't wait to have you on "our" continent! Travel safely!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I feel so NAUGHTY being in Europe and avoiding England. I'll probably be cackling with evil glee at avoiding my mad family the whole time ;-)

And yes, if it wasn't for transit lounges, I would never get anything done ;-)

[leela-cat.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful trip. Travel safely.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks dear, I will!

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

Be safe, and have fun!

Rain gear? Maps of the area?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Maps and a brolly, will buy wellies if it is grim, but since it's not Venice, should be fine ;-)

[frantic-mice.livejournal.com]

OMG!!!!!!I love love love love traveling so so so so much.

I'm so happy for you! Be sure to keep notes and tell us about all ur adventures there and once you get back and take loads of photos and show us?!?!? PLS??

LU my dear ♥ *sends off safety joy vibes*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Me too! Though not so much without J ... I have notebooks, gluestick and a camera, expect picspam! Thanks for the vibes!

[oddishly.livejournal.com]

Ooh, have fun! Hope it's nice and sunny for you! :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Not too sunny, I have left my parasol behind! Thank you, I'll take loads of photos.

[romaine24.livejournal.com]

Having never really travelled outside of North America, this all sounds so exciting. Have a wonderful time and I look forward to the updates. :)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It is a lot of fun, even with the Pacific Peso crumbling against the euro ;-) I'm coming back next year if you need an excuse for a trip!

[sassy-cissa.livejournal.com]

Have a safe and wonderful trip. Can't wait to hear the details.

*your efficiency in being prepared makes me ten kinds of jealous!!*

I'm always running at the last mo - grabbing a hair brush or something as pointless. And don't even get me started on my OD *over-packing disorder* lol

♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Packing is my one skill after a life with my father whose idea of fun was to come home and move us to South and Eastern Africa for two years (not joking. That was the worst one, but the most startling was when he pulled me out of school at lunch to pop me on a 7pm plane to Mumbai.)

I don't particularly overpack, as in, I always have a sensible amount of clothing, cosmetics, books, etc, but I DO over-plan, I had earplugs and an eye mask and a small torch and a booklight in my handbag. However, it was all for the best as the lovely Chinese man next to me fro HK to Rome snored like a bastard, the man across from me had a v bright light on, I was able to read without disturbing snoring man, and then when I had been at the hotel here for half an hour there was a blackout and I had my torch!

I feel the universe is patting me on the head for my Mad-Eye Moody tendencies ;-)

[bryoneybrynn.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful time. I can't wait to see all the gorgeous pics!! *hugs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

There will be picspam!! XXX

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

have a wonderful, fun, safe journey! May you find unexpected pleasures and hidden treasures!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Grazie mille!

[anabellhenry.livejournal.com]

Have a wonderful trip! Gah! It sounds just heavenly to be going to Italy - and/or having a garden splendid or otherwise.

Take care - oh, and I'm so looking forward to that darkfic.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Italy is heavenly if damp so far, and the garden is a source of joy, save for the triffid-like weeds at back!

I have just one scene to go!

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

*snicker* I'm just off to Barcelona, and I've packed my euro-wallet. ;) Secret OCD twinnery!

Have a safe journey, and I'll see you soon! (!!!)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

TWINS! I have already found something nice for you to see when you get here!

[pingrid.livejournal.com]

Oooh, what?

How's Europe treating you so far?

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

Enjoy your trip and travel safely!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Thanks! All good so far!

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Soooooooonnnnnnnnnnnn

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I found a blond, but he was rude and American, so I threw him back.

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i hope you have a splendid trip hon. ♥

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It's very good so far, Rome was stinky hot! But Florence is lovely and cool and a little rainy, and I have an umbrella! XXX

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

of course firenze is lovely, i have cousins there :D

and the duomo is gorgeous. wave at it for me. (((hugs)))

yeah i know it's not xmas but it's the only italian icon i have

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

Separate wallets are not OCD, just sensible! I don't have a different wallet for each, but I do have a not-GBP wallet for whatever currency is current.

Have a wonderful trip.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

That's how I started out, but I grew tired of having to swap ;-)

Trip is wonderful so far, though surrounded by Australians. Seriously, they're EVERYWHERE, even two lovely ones coming to the same conference behind me at Passport control

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

Have a fantastic trip! I did the Rome to Florence thing back when I was in University and it was awesome. Aside from the crippling stomach bug, it was really awesome!

And there is a difference between being organised and practical and verging on OCD. Have you matched the colour of the currencies to the colour of the wallets? Have you made sure all the bills are evenly aligned and/or folded? If not, you are probably just well-prepared. ;)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I do like my notes arranged in descending order of value ... but that's practicality, honest! And no-one who saw the slatternly state of my house could truly believe I had OCD ;-)

I really wish that I had more time this trip as Roma screamed 'STOP HERE! You love me!' as I zoomed through on the trains. I may have a day on the way home, but I think I will leave it till next year when I can come back with J and have a romantic holiday. Happily, I now have power and internets, so I can write the very last of my Darkfest, which needed a factual detail before it could occur! Last scene, hurrah!

[aldehyde.livejournal.com]

i have separate wallets for different currencies too! *high fives*

hope you have a stellar vacation :D *hugs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

YEAH! All the best people do, I have decided. It is running seamlessly so far, save that my Italian has gone from bad to worse, I forgot that the word for cold was freddo, which is ridiculous given how much I love semifreddo!

[pushdragon.livejournal.com]

I wish I was in your suitcase right now!!

I can't wait to hear about the fabulous time you're going to have. Take care, and if the opportunity arises, have a heap of gelati for me. Hazelnut. No. Lemon. No. Pistachio. No. Ok... just have cake.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It felt as though you were when I tried to pop it up in the rack on the Eurostar ...

I shall have all the gelati I can stuff in and sundry variations of cake! At the moment I am waiting for my friend from London and finishing the final paragraphs of Darkfest after falling asleep on the plane (which was mostly welcome, but I had things to do!)

When I am back, we should meet up in Canberra, though having said that, I think it is a lie that it is halfway between Sydney and Melbourne ...

[annes-stuff.livejournal.com]

Have fun, take care and i can't wait until you get back!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I have already found my first textile to photograph for you! Have arrived, all is well, small blackout in hotel room, but bar is lit!

[annes-stuff.livejournal.com]

Woot! Oh and those lacing rings arrived yesterday, i will send them so they arrive when you are home.

Can't wait, textile porn!