I became expert at packing for a week as that timeframe was the average period of my holidays for the last 10 years.

In my packing frenzy before leaving Australia, I had a lapse of memory and packed for six months (instead of a week). As a result, a very heavy backpack (see previous story) and too many clothes!

The old adage ' you only wear 10% of what you have' certainly is true. As a wise friend said to me recently, you can always buy additional items when the current items wear out...and they become your souvenirs...how true!