Car mirror in snow. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Problem
I have friends and family travelling from Singapore and Asia to London, and most years we used to try to get together in the school holidays, sometimes sending a son travelling in the opposite direction. With one free flight each, and one we paid for each, we could get everybody in one country for Christmas by spending one or two of our flights. When we had grandparents in England, we would spend Christmas in England, flying back from the USA or Asia. If you are Jewish, you might fly to join the older generation for Seder night, or to Israel.
If you go ahead despite the weather, will you find that the events you hoped to attend are cancelled? That might depend on whether the events involve public transport, ungritted side roads, family living on hills, slopes, remote places, northern areas more subject to snow.
Plane flight to a new season. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Changing flights involves three questions.
Can I get through easily to cancel the flight? (Plus hotels, taxis, tours, restaurants?)
Will I get a place on another flight at the last moment?
Will I get my money back?
If you rush in to change your flight, predictions may change yet again. Another cancelled flight will cost more in admin time and money.
If you book a non-refundable flight in advance you cannot change direction or date if the weather is bad. If you stick You risk getting delayed.
With many airlines, you can change your flight for a fee. If you are a top grade frequent flyer you will get priority for available seats at busy times.
Easter
This year Easter is predicted to be snowing in London, England and maybe Europe and North America, too.
Snow on the March flowers in London, England. Photo by Angela Lansbury.
Travel Dress
The rule is, dress for your destination. However, you don't want to be wearing a skimpy dress when leaving in the snow. The solution is to wear layers, However, you might want light or easily removed clothes for quickly undressing at security.
I go for wraparound skirts and dresses and coats. Or caftans. You might prefer separates so that you can remove your top and jacket, or keep them in hand luggage and wear them later.
Labelling clothes
I also label all my hats and jackets with my name or put an address card in the pocket. If you have time, you can sew on labels with your name. If you have time to order labels but no time for sewing them on, they can be temporarily fixed with a safety pin. Sew them on when you are waiting in a hotel room.
You can make large name cards in advance to stick onto anything you buy. Or look for a large bag, so that your coat and newly bought souvenirs are all together and nothing gets left behind.
Don't Look, Make Lists
In theory, in the old days when you had fewer possessions, it was simple to find your alternative season clothes and shoes. You had one suitcase for winter clothes and put that in your attic or basement or top cupboard. Change of season, holiday overseas, bring down the suitcase.
Nowadays we have skis and ski boots and poles, long coats, long boots, warm hats and gloves. In addition, in winter and snow, we need de-icer for the car. We have loads of stuff, kept all over the place.
I have one system - the vital stuff is far right or far left. Imagine that your shelf runs from January on the left to December on the right. So the de-icer for the car is on the far left in four-season England or the USA, whilst the fly-killer for summer is on the far right.
The same goes for underwear. The thongs and hot weather clothes and bikinis go on the left. The fur or imitation fur hats and gloves go on the right.
(If your cupboard has one side more accessible, keep the current season clothes nearest, the other season clothes at the far end.)
Label Stored Clothes
Also label every suitcase on all six sides and the handle with the contents. Just type the contents once, copy it six times, use sticky tape to attach the printed word to stickers and a label for the handle.
Instead of worrying about how your life is control, keep busy and in control. You reap the benefits and save time later.
I hate having to hunt for thermal underwear and warm hats.
I keep a list of where I have kept my winter gloves and hats and ski boots.
The other items which have caused us to hunt in the past have been smart suits. All of a sudden we are invited to a wedding. Where is the suit? In theory it should be far right of the cupboard in the bedroom. But it isn't. Is it in another country? Has my husband's suit been borrowed by my son?
First, what is the dress code? Flying off to another country for a wedding means a new set or rules. In the UK it used to be the case that brides wore white (copying Queen Victoria), so everybody else wore other colours, not black which was for funerals.
We discovered that in Israel you can wear shorts with a silk shirt to a wedding, and I saw children and adults in skimpy summer clothes in a synagogue.
Neck Warmers
Neck warmers are light and small to carry. Great for winter and travelling.
Scarves
The solution is to ask. Despite all, I carry on three large thin scarves, one black, white and one brightly coloured, for a quick cover up for all occasions.
Cover-up For Revealing Summer Clothes
Some temples say you must wear proper clothes, not just cover-up scarves which might slip and reveal cleavage and arms. However, if you fix scarves with safety pins and waist belts you have an instant outfit. A high-neck lace blouse dickey is another handy item.
Food containers
I take my own small insulated water bottle. You can drink or empty out the water just before going through security. Refill at the other end.
Now all I have to do is email my family and friends and ask them to check in which country they have their warm clothing.
Research Clothes Buying
If you don't have a large luggage allowance, and might need to buy clothes for a change of weather, check shops in advance. Allow time for postage to your home for the last minute packing. Time is money. You can get overnight delivery if you are willing to pay.
Another piece of research you can do before leaving home on a trip is check which conveniently located stores at your destination stock cheap ski gloves or cheap swimsuits.
Night Clothes and Light Clothes
I have also found that night clothes need to adapt to temperature. I like to have one lightweight nightwear and one cover-up. You might think that skimpy outfits are sexier or less to pack. However, in hotels, I have found a revealing sexy outfit is not ideal when answering the door to the waiter with the early breakfast or late night dinner tray.
Hotel Cover-ups
I also thought I was not expecting anybody to call at my hotel room. On checkout day we were woken by ringing at the door, the unexpected hand delivery of the bill on the day you leave. That was followed by the person checking the bar. Finally, room service wondering when we were leaving so they could make up the room and change bedding and towels for the new arrivals. "What time are you checking out?"
I have also made the mistake of thinking that a sleeveless nightdress would be right for the tropics. With air conditioning on full blast, you can get quite chilly. With mosquito nets over the bed in Bali, worse still the sound of a mosquito zooming past after you open the bedroom door, you will be glad of nightwear which covers you from head to toe, and down to your wrists.
Author
Angela Lansbury
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