The Sacred Art of Packing - Top 10 Tips

It doesn’t matter why you’re doing it, whether it's for a holiday, a family visit or for business purposes, most of us find packing more stressful than the actual flight. 

Some people like to make lists, some obsessives like to start packing a week before, while other more zen like creatures just chuck it all in at the last minute. All types of packer generally agonising over the endless possibilities of doom and disaster that could occur should they forget that one vital item. 

I have become quite blase over the years. I came to realise at some point on my travels, that unless I suddenly get the inexplicable urge to trek through the Amazon Rainforest, chances are I'll be able to buy a replacement of the forgotten item quite easily. Once you get this into your head, the pressure's off, and you are free to pack in peace and harmony. 

So I tend to chuck it in at the last minute with nothing more than a mental checklist. There are a few points that do make it easier though:

1. Pack shoes first, then fill in the gaps. Your goal: create a level surface.

2. Rolling clothes, dresses, sweaters, and even jeans — maximizes space in the suitcase. Sounds a bit mad but it really does work, lessens the crease factor too.

3. Bag It Up, ‘Air Compression packing bags’ are miraculous, squeezing air out of clothes, giving you more room in the suitcase. Giant Ziploc bags work, too. Just roll them tight. I use Ziplocs in various sizes for everything from toiletries to wet swimming gear and always pack a few extras. 

4. Head to Toe, check that you've packed everything you need by mentally dressing yourself from shoes and socks up to goggles and hats.

5. Outfits, think about the number of outfits you need and subtract one. You still won't wear everything you pack, nobody ever does! Unless your travelling with kids, then the rule is to plus two outfits at least.

6. Adapters, carry the adapter for your destination (duh) — a multi-plug version is the best, so you can plug all your gadgets in at the same time. 

7. Liquids, Gels, creams, pastes in your hand luggage must still be in containers of no more than 100ml and placed in a transparent, re-sealable plastic bag no larger than 20cmx20cm. 

8. Add a tie/belt/strap/scarf to your suitcase/backpack so you can easily identify it at the luggage carousel. The brighter and funkier the better.

9. If two or more people are travelling, split belongings between checked luggage so if one case goes missing, each of you will still have a change of clothes. You'd be amazed how many people do not do this.

10. Airlines mislaid 42.4 million suitcases last year, reason enough never to put anything you would hate to lose in your checked luggage. But take heart, 85 per cent of all lost luggage is found within 48 hours.  

Intrestingly, in Britain, luggage not reunited with its owner within 100 days is auctioned for charity. You can attend the auctions at Greasbys in Tooting, London (020 8672 2972; www.greasbys.co.uk).

Mr Bean has a rather unique way of doing things, let us know your packing tricks!

“London is a roost for every bird”

I’m not entirely sure what Disraeli had in mind when he said that, but you can bet your bottom dollar it was not this.

As I mentioned previously, many things have changed in London over the last decade, but really? A big blue bird? In Trafalgar Square? I was horrified, it is incongruous, unattractive and plain bloody pointless. Apparently the sculpture was selected by the Fourth Plinth Commissioning Group, a panel of specialist advisors that guides and monitors the commissions for the plinth. I can only assume that they are all on some kind of medication. Either that or they are sitting at home laughing their collective heads off.

Needless to say the British press had a field day when it was unveiled by the ubiquitous Boris Johnson back in July last year. Out of the many, many, barely veiled puns that made the headlines I think my vote has to go to TheHuffinton Posts, no holds barred: “Boris Johnson In Trafalgar Square With A Massive Blue Cock And Disgruntled Woman”. Can't say fairer than that.

Of all the works that have been displayed so far, Yinka Shonibare's 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' was probably the coolest and at least vaguely relevant to the the location.

But they all, without fail, look totally out of place in one of the capitals most famous tourist attractions that receives over 15 million international visitors a year. Next up will be a skeletal horse, loosely based on the sketch by Stubbs of the original statue intended for the plinth. Then in 2016, keeping up with the 'stand out like a sore thumb' school of artistry, we are in for a bronze sculpture of a hand, in a thumbs-up gesture. With the thumb tip reaching 10 metres high it will be hard to ignore, I'm sure the headline writers are rubbing their hands together in anticipation.

Home is where....

On life's continually amazing journey, I find myself resting on my laurels in London for a few weeks before returning to The Rock. This is the first time I've stayed here for any length of time in about a decade. My has it changed; my decision to leave 11 years ago still holds good. 

Despite, or maybe because of, a winter season in the French Alps, my desire to get back to Greece and Corfu is as strong as ever. It's like a drug that gets under your skin and there's no ignoring the craving. I've seen people fall under it's influence in the space of a weeks holiday. They get a dreamy look in their eyes and start scheming to come back before they hit the departure lounge, and if Corfu airports departure lounge doesn't put them off coming back nothing will.

I love living there for many reasons. I like living somewhere where random people say good morning to you and assume the right to question your family history and life story without shame. Admittedly those same people will tell all and sundry your story with gay abandon but hey, that's community for you. I also like the fact that when summer arrives it arrives without doubt and I don't have to spend August hoping for an Indian summer. I like eating outside, drinking frappe on the beach and best of all, being able to have a smoke with my beer if I so choose. There are, of course, many things that can frustrate, bank queues, hypochondria and power cuts to name but a few. But none of these things detract from the sense of freedom I get there, my entire life feels like a holiday, in defiance of the humdrum; school runs, supermarket shopping, work and bills. 

What am I looking forward to most? Seeing my kids, that's a given. Living in a house instead of a small room that looks like a sauna, of course. Reunions with that eclectic bunch that I call my friends, can't wait. But the initial thing, the thing that makes me smile no matter how many times I do it, is landing at Corfu airport. For those who have never done it (why not?), the initial approach gives you splendid views of one of the most beautiful islands Greece possesses. Depending on your approach, you will pretty much see most of the island before circling widely then starting the descent into what some people find a pretty freaky landing. You either get to come in low, over a main road, the traffic on which has to be stopped a safe distance away and the breaks get slammed on hard as soon as they touch the runway to avoid plunging into the lake at the end. 

Or you get to come in low the other way, which gives you the impression that your landing in the lake, and the breaks get slammed on hard as soon as you touch the runway to stop you plunging into the line of traffic impatiently waiting for the lights to change on the road at the other end. 

Either way it's a blast. The smiles you see on the faces coming through the arrivals lounge are 90% relief, or in my case, 100% joy.