Travelling lighter

The last few months here are flying by and we've still got a few things planned to make the most of it. But alongside the fun, there's a bit of sorting to do too and the packers have been round to measure up. We came with a forty foot shipping container that we packed our London home into. It was nearly full and we added 240kg of luggage that we brought with us on the plane to keep us going for the 3 or so months it took our home to cross the sea. We get even more luggage space going home as I have a work allowance to add to Tim's. But the aim is to make sure we travel lighter, not least because the idea of unpacking everything is grim.

So there are a few things we won't be taking back.

Favourite flip flops - our usual footwear takes a real pounding here and all of us have seem our favourite pairs have been loved to bits. We hope they have been recycled into things like this......

candles - we brought a drawer full of candles with us including a couple of dozen slow burn ones we had at our wedding. They have stood us well through the repeated power cuts, the kids have had fun recycling the wax to make their own candles and the last few will make our garden look pretty through the next few weeks of entertaining as we say our farewells. But the drawer will then be empty and that's one less box to pack.

Kitchen stores - we have slowly been eating through the UK treats we bring back with us and that visitors have donated. There are a few more jellies to make, a handful of chocolate chips and enough lunch box snacks to see us through. The European wine has long gone and we will, like friends before us, hand on any remaining spirits from the back of the shelves - who does drink advocat?

Hammocks - we had 2 as wedding presents years ago. They were great hanging from the mango trees in our garden here. But they have been riddled with holes by weather, termites and vigorous swinging and have been removed before anyone falls through them.

Outgrown toys, clothes and shoes can always find good homes here. The kids continue to grow apace and we have plenty to pass on. I have a box that I fill every month or so for someone who needs it more than us. I've been filling it a bit more regularly the last few weeks and have added a second box full of things that it's better to sell on, giving the money to those who need it.

Lotions and potions from the UK have been my other treat when travelling home. We have been running down supplies and know that our ayah and house help will make good use of anything left in the cupboard in April.

Legacy of an extreme laundry regime - we have a big pile of sheets, towels and clothes that won't live to fight another day after repeated washing and bleaching in the sun. It halves the lives of our shoes too - not just the adore mentioned flip flops.

Balls - burst, gifted, hit, kicked or thrown into neighbouring gardens. We also plan to give any balls that survive the next few weeks to The thunder foundation, a charity that works with kids in the slum that backs onto the kids' school. But I'm sure the incrediballs, and a football or two will be deemed essential plane luggage to keep everyone busy in our first few weeks in an empty house.

Broken plates, mugs, glasses, cafetieres (x 3) - washing up and hard surfaces and stone floors mean a box or 2 less marked "kitchen". Even our plastic plates have been the victim of hot ash on camping trips and will find a happy home here when we leave.

Of course we have found other things to take their place and will be bringing back our fair share of wicker furniture, wash baskets, bins, carved wooden nicnacks, kikoi towels, t shirts for various causes and from various beaches and loads of very happy memories.




Anne