I can’t believe the day has arrived – it’s time to move out (for a little while) and on. Last night i spent hours packing, sorting, repacking, and finally going to bed very tired to dream about more packing – and I have to admit that I even got up a few times and took things out of the suitcase, added a few and tossed and turned wondering about the contents. The bigger problem is what I had to really scale down my ‘mobile office’ and books – who knew that clothes wasn’t the issue but books and note pads!
Now everything is stowed away and all I need to do is pack everything into the car and head out for my two-night-sleepover at the most enchanting home in Dublin. And while I am really looking forwrad to spending some time in a place I love so much it does feel a little bit odd to be in Dublin but not at home.
But since it is the beginning of my six week adventure I will just go with it and see what I find – I may even check out a few wardrobes along the way and see if I can find my way to Narnia.
As many of you will know Barack Obama and his G8-pals are in Northern Ireland deciding lots of important things at the moment. And while Obama, Putin, Cameron, Merkel and Co, debate the conflict in Syria and try to solve tax avoidance issues Michelle Obama has decided to take her two girls down to Dublin for a few days. So instead of enjoying the Irish sun on the shores of beautiful Lough Erne the girly threesome has been causing traffic jams all around Dublin.
Now I do understand how a trip to Trinity College and a flick through the Book of Kells may be more interesting then going for a stroll around G8-fortified Fermanagh, but did she really have to keep getting in may way?
You see, I was on a mission today. After a lovely lunch with a friend and helping her with a few edits on her book I had planned on trying to find the perfect bag for Berlin. Well, nearly perfect as the one I really want is just not in my price range at the moment (if any of you feel the urge to be generous it’s the Ona Brixton in tan).
The first time Michelle got in my way was when I was on the bus into town. A few roads where blocked off forcing everyone to a standstill, then when I tried to cut through a small street to get to where I wanted to go the Gardi made me turn around, and when I was nearly at Stephen’s Green Shopping Center barriers where in my way again. I had a 2011 and Queen Elisabeth II flashback and only prayed I wouldn’t have to wait for an hour to be let through.
Luckily I saw an opening and made a break for it, and finally I was there. After searching high and low in TK-Max I bought a returnable canvas messenger bag. It’s not perfect and I am not sure it really is what I need.
Here is my Issue I have A LOT of thing I need to take with me: my laptop, small bag with laptop cables etc., external hard-drive, notepad and pencil case, a pack of tissues, glasses and sunglasses, calendar, address book, bottle of water, little bag filled with cream, lip-balm and other lady-things, purse, book, guide book, camera, extra lens and close up screw on lenses, my phone and travel documents.
my essentials
I tried it and everything fits in, however it is quite heavy and I won’t be needing to carry everything around with me all the time, so I could use my small leather bag and large hold-all, still very heavy but two bags that I can interchange when needed. However the hold-all can get very heavy over longer periods.
canvas bag
everything is in
leather bag combi
again perfect fit
Both options work and I could return the canvas bag (or keep it and give it to my nephew as a Christmas gift). So what would Michelle Obama do, other than get in my way?
Shoes may be my ultimate passion but my love for bags is not far behind. Even as a little blonde, curly haired girl I would rarely leave the house with out a collection of luggage.
Before I had a schoolbag I would lug around plastic bags filled with ‘scraps of important papers’, handbags stuffed with tissues, coloured pens and purses, mostly empty or filled with fake money. I even owned a little brown suitcase, my ‘bumper-case’, which would bump against my knees as I walked, hence the name. This little suitcase was a prized possession and came with me wherever I went. It was filled with loved objects and toys, papers and books and my favorite dolls clothes. For a while it even lived under the bed, ready for me to grab, in case the house burnt down or I needed to make a quick get-a-way.
I may no longer have an ’emergency pack’ under the bed, and the things I deem important definitely have changed, but my bag lady instincts are still very much intact. I am always carrying stuff around with me, and my belief is that a bag can never be too big.
I marvel at those women who survive with tiny clutches and miniature shoulder bags and I am in awe of those rare ladies who seem to exist perfectly out of their pockets. While I do find it very unattractive to have bulging bumps sticking out of peoples jacket, jeans and shirts, I still don’t know how they do it.
After all the minimum amount I need is this: my purse filled with money and cards, my glasses in a case, tissues (I always have a runny nose), a book/magazine, a notepad and pen (I am a writer after all), my phone, my calendar and a little pouch filled with toiletries (well, cream really a I have eczema) and of course my keys.
In addition to the essentials comes what ever I need for the day, college paperwork, laptop, lecturing notes, a variety of pens, a flask of tea and a bottle of water, snacks and fruit, a bag for the shopping, maybe a cardigan etc. So I normally leave the house laden down like a pack mule.
I’ll never be a minimalist and maybe by lugging around all these items I am carrying a little bit of home with me, in true bag lady style. And I don’t really have a problem with it either, but on day like today, when I need to pack for the weekend, my overnight case and the amount of things I want to bring never seem a perfect match. And in moments like these I dream of Mary Poppins and her wonderful carpet bag, wondering where I could get one of those.
jensinewall 