Planning To Leave
I once came home with only one slipper. A popular modern saying which is set as an impromptu speech (a two minute 'table topic', selected from the table or screen by number) is 'We learn faster from our mistakes - do you agree?'
Yes. After losing my slipper, I learned to keep a list of what I packed.
What have my family left behind, or nearly left behind? The food for the jourrney left in the fridge. The toddler's toys in the hotel cot and cupboard. The pen, noebook, map, hat and gloves in the ca's glove box.
Packing lists are useful for three reasons. Firstly to check that I packed everything on leaving. Secondly, to be sure nothing went astray in transit on arrival. Thirdly, to be sure everything is with me on leaving the hotel or holiday home.
1 Packing Lists
1 Make a packing list before you leave.
That way, when returning home, if the slippers are missing a tick on your checklist, you know to check under the bed or in the bathroom or in the cupboard.
For A Brief Trip
2 Addresses
Take the addresses and phone number of the place and people you are leaving, . Also make sure every member of your group has all numbers of those at the destination. This ensures everybody is organized. Your passenger can check or ring ahead if you are the driver, stuck in traffic, unable to check a phone number. Or you can separated on the journey. Or your jacket contained your paperwork goes missing.
3 Umbrellas
Pack an umbrella. Or keep one in the car. You can keep it in the glove box, the boot, under the seat. Remember it is there. Retrieve it from a hire car. Collect it from the umbrella stand at the entrance to a restaurant.
4 Fill the vehicle tank
Fill the car with petrol.
If it is not full, allow time to stop and fill up. This applies when leaving
Put the address in your satnav in the car and in your mobile phone. Get familiar with the car satnav and the google maps or other service such as Street View on your mobile phone.
Check for train cancellations. Check weather warnings. Check road motorway closures and diversions.
Packing
I have managed to leave all sorts of things behind. You may know the humorous song, because of battle the kingdom was lost, because of the horse the battle was lost, and all for the loss of a horseshoe nail.
What have I lost? A bathrobe behind a bedroom door. It belonged to my boyfriend. I was checking out while he was on the last day of the conference. That relationship came to an end. I married somebody else.
A passport in a shoulder bag on the back of a dining chair of family friends in France. We never got to Italy from France.
Crockery in the dishwasher. Food in the microwave. The dictionaries - I have loads at home - why buy more, unless you don't want to carry them outwards, but then your packing is heavier on return.
Friends have left behind pets, which went missing. One family even had to cancel their emigration flight because a child who didn't want to leave went and hid.
To sum it up, packing needs preparation, and precision in planning, when you need to return home from a hotel or a winter home overseas, or moving country for a new job, or back home to look after parents or see grandchildren. Your mind is on your destination and plans. But you need a checklist of things you must take with you and do.
Let's start with the commonest situation.
Leaving A Hotel
Check items in the bathroom. And on hooks behind the door. On the shower shelf.
On the balcony. Items hanging over railings. Left on chairs.
The Bedroom
Check under pillows, inside bedding, under the bed.
Empty the fridge. Ensure you have your food, drink, medicine. Check any food, drink, or pills, left downstairs in the hotel kitchen or bar.
Check all the hotel drinks and foods are returned if you took them out to make room for takeaway food.
Reception Checkout
Check you have handed in all room keys.
Pay bills, and check bills.
Leaving A Ski Resort
Remove drying boots and clothes from balcony and radiators.
Check for any skis and boots and jackets left in a locker room. Return locker keys.
Reclaim deposits on rented skis, boots, clothes, snowboards.
Allow time to clean off ice and dirt, pack skis and boots and snowboards in zip up bags or special packaging, and large item check-in at airport.
Beach Resorts
Remove swimsuits, swimming hats, bath towels, beach clothes, wraps, and swim shoes from balconies or radiators and bathrooms, and lockers.
Pack children's beach rings, buckets and spades, or allow time to give them away. Unless the airport has an area for tourist to leave beach items for others, to loan and recycle instead of using landfill for abandoned items.
Leaving A Winter Home
Turn down heating. However, leave enough heating to prevent broken pipes bursting and leaking. Arrange for family to check property heating and plumbing
Leaving For A Holiday or New Home
Check all travellers have passports, o ID including driving license, plane or ferry or train or coach or bus tickets.
Check neighbours will push in post.
Check all members of the party have address and phone number of destination, last check-in time, onward travel from airport to destination.
Overnight clothes in case of lost luggage, photo of luggage to fill in forms asking colour and make of lost suitcases.
Arrange neighbours to water plants, or put plants outside, or add watering systems.
Check no items are left behind a front door or bedroom door.
Rental Car
Check no luggage or bag is left on the doorstep. Nor on the top of the car.
No keys left in the front door.
No car keys left in the car - unless that is required by a rental company. Nor in the boot, or glove box
Leaving Your Old Home For A New Home or Holiday
Fridge
Empty fridge of milk, or take it to neighbours. If you leave it on their doorstep, warn them in advance, or leave a note or email to tell them it was from you.
Gas, Electricity, Lights
Check you have turned off gas, electricity, lights. Check you have set timers to turn on lights or sounds to deter burglars, or engaged house sitters.
Insurance
Your insurance might have a limit on the amount of time the property can be left empty. They may extend the time
1 f you inform them in advance,
2 have relatives and/or neighbours going in and out to make the place look busy,
3 or are willing to pay an extra premium to insurance, if you decide this is cheaper than a house sitter.
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