The art of packing
Think of this before you pack for your holidays: every extra case you bring doubles your stress.
And as more than a quarter of us are stressed out already by the prospect of packing before we have tackled one bag, that counts for a lot.
Most people over-pack massively when they go on holidays. They forget there are shops abroad. They forget that most regular items cost less than they do at home. They forget how much stress over-packing can cause.
The airlines are now charging a tenner for every bag you put in the hold. Go over your allowed luggage allowance by a kilo and you end up paying a fortune. There is really no reason why anybody should ever fly with more than hand luggage.
If you can't resist the lure of the outlet mall or souvenir stalls, pack a collapsible holdall at the bottom of your case to fill with loot for your return journey.
There are techniques that frequent travellers swear by.
Making lists miraculously reduces the amount of stuff you take. Make lists and remake them. Spend time working out what you need.
Make a list of what you need to take with you and then lay everything out on the bed prior to packing. This means you will be able to plan the spacing of items more easily. Brush clothes with a clothes brush before you pack them.
Try laying out the bare essentials you think you'll use, then deducting 50% of them. Take items that you can mix and match, and pieces that will translate easily from day to evening.
When it comes to filling the case, pack from the corners - using every inch of space - and stuff your shoes. Shoes are the sworn enemy of the lightweight packer. Stuff the shoes with socks and underwear or arrange them around the outside of the case. This helps to keep the shape of the case and holds in place the items in the middle, preventing them sliding around and getting creased.
Pack one side of his case with hard stuff and the other with soft stuff - to go next to your leg when you are walking.
Pack heavy things such as books or shoes at the bottom, then place trousers on top of these. Fold trousers by lining up the legs evenly, then place them lengthways along the case, leaving the bottom half hanging over the edge of the case.
Place skirts, dresses, blouses and T-shirts on top of the trousers, then fold the trouser legs inwards, so that your clothes are sandwiched in between the trousers. This should minimise creasing.
Rolling things means you are less crumpled when you get there.
There are brands that seem to work better than others. Your correspondent swears by Giordano shirts from Hong Kong.
Really plan so that everything you take doubles up. Aim to use everything twice.
Wear all the bulky stuff. And don't own anything that needs ironing.
You don't have to look crumpled, although your correspondent frequently fails the test on this one. Lots of black, light suits or trouser suits, wool crepe for cold climates, linen for hot. The danger is that you are occasionally mistaken for staff in five-star hotels all over the world.
Fold a jacket by putting your hands in the shoulders, bringing them together, turning it inside out and folding it in three. It makes a very neat parcel.
Alternatively you can stuff pants and socks down the sleeves to keep the shoulders in shape, and put polo shirts in the middle to reduce the crease across the front.
If you care enough, place tissue paper between each fold and each layer of clothing. This protects and separates the clothing, preventing it from getting bunched up and creased.
When you close the case, it should be as tight a fit as possible.
If it is too loosely packed, lay sheets of tissue paper on top to fill the gap. If anything is creased when you arrive at your destination, turn on the shower and hang the offending article on the towel rail. The creases will be steamed out.
Someone told me once that if you place your shirt face down, put a magazine on top, fold the sides in, the arms back, fold the cuffs and tail and finally fold it up. Then at least the creases are in the right place.
The best bit about only having carry-on luggage is the quick escape home. Sometimes passengers are left waiting for an hour for their luggage to come through after they have landed.
And eliminate the fear you have to make the long walk to the lonely enquiries desk when the squeaky carousel leaves you with that sinking feeling.
Finally, never unpack - you only have to put it all back.
