WORK.......

Great being a student

I am always at work day before my holiday
All my work mates are sick of me by the time i finish work... rubbing it in that i am flying on the day of the sunderland air show.... where i work it is the busiest weekend of the year.... and i miss it

HI Dramaqueen.

I go through my beauty routine. Pluck eyebrows, shave, paint nails. Enjoy a glass of wine to get me in the mood - discuss the forthcoming holiday with hubby. Go through the house-rules with my two 20 something sons (who'll be "in charge" whilst we're away )Then lie awake (with excitement and nerves about the flight) for most of the night until finally falling asleep about an hour before the alarm goes early morning to get us on the way to the airport. Oh the joys

This year I'll be at my wedding reception! We jet off to Parga on Sunday 10th June. So I have to get all prepared and ready to go straight to Gatwick from the hotel.
Normally, I'd bath etc, pack hand luggage and tidy the house (I like to come home to a clean house!)

Well, in no particular order;
-put fake tan on (then regret this the next morning when I'm all streaky)
-check i have the passports/tickets/money for the millionth time(will do it another million times before leaving )
-Nag my husband as he hasnt packed yet.
-Get my 3 year olds travel bag sorted, realise I've far too much in it, but cram it all in anyway.
-Order a home delivery from the local Indian takeaway (did this a few years ago and got food poisoning)
-put nail varnish on my toes, - although struggle to reach my toes.
- write the luggage labels - god how I detest doing this.
- Fall out with my husband and go to bed not talking to him.
- Lie wide awake all night wondering if I've forgotten something and thinking how I'm going to get through the next day with a Tasmanian devil of a child and a crabbit hubbie!
-

Open a can of Carling check i've got passport,
Open another can check i've got tickets,
Open another can check i've got money,
Open another can check i've got case ,
Open another can starting to get earache from the other half .

Go to bed.

Basil.

check passports/tickets/money
empty cases and repack them just incase i've missed anything!
watch tv
try 2 sleep, fail miserably
get up, make tea, clock watch
check passports/tickets/money

I am so glad others don't sleep. I am ususally so excited it's like being a child again. I normally stay up for as long as I can so I am really tired and hopefully get some sleep. Travelled early Sunday morning for the last 4 years but traveling Saturday night this year which I hope will be better.

Go to beautician to wax eyebrows and have French manicure. Bath & wash hair. Put last minute clothes in case(just in case ) Lie awake most of the night listening to hubby snoring & my clock chiming every half hour. This year there'll be the extra worry of "will the minibus turn up to take us to the airport at 5 am" Will be up around 3.30 "just checking"- hubby will still be snoring. Will usually end up arguing with said hubby because he leaves everything till the last minute then expects me to run around like a blue a***d fly for him!!!!

I'm always at work the day before we go away but once I get home -

1) If we're going to Europe I usually pack the majority of stuff so that I only have to put creaseable things in the morning (I still don't know why I do that as it doesn't stop them getting creased ) but if it's long haul I pack it all the night before.
2) Next I pack my handbag - tickets/money/passport that sort of thing.
3) Hubby packs the backpack with things like ipods, DS, travel books, sweets, fluffy socks for me (on a long flight I love to take my shoes off and put my comfy socks on), earplugs & eye masks.
4) Now it's chill time and I pamper my feet and paint my nails.
5) Pour a G&T and watch some TV to relax.
6) Go up to bed, check the alarm is set 5 times, check we've got tickets/money/passport (again!!)

Usually I sleep OK but if I'm really looking forward to a holiday like I was with China last year I don't get much sleep as I'm too excited.

Im a bit of a nervous flyer so the butterflies are having a serious party in my stomach by now!

Check the tickets/money/passports/EHICs for the hundredth time. Final packing - like Puddleduck2 I leave the "creasables" until the last minute so that by some small miracle, they don't crease in my case . Bath and hairwash for daughter and an early night - she's still at the age where she doesn't really get excited yet and will go straight to sleep (lucky her ). Check tickets/money/passports/EHICs - again. Pack hand luggage for myself, husband and daughter. Will have already had the eyebrows waxed, hair cut, nails done etc so its just a case of "trying" to relax. Normally go to the chippie for fish and chips cause the diet is officially on holiday now as well. Try to get an early night but clock watch until about an hour before the alarm goes off worrying if I checked the tickets/money/passports/EHICs :). Get up and husband asks "have you checked the tickets/money/passports/EHICs" keep calm, keep calm

Well I've an early flight on a Monday so the packing will be done on Sunday evening.

Constant checking of tickets/money/passport will go on from Sunday through to the morning and several times in the car on the way to the airport. I can't help myself!

Sunday evening once I've packed (leaving case open for last minute toiletries to be added on Monday morning before I leave) I will have travelling outfit ready to slip on, give myself a last minute mini facial and pluck eyebrows etc. Clean up house to best of abilities, get rid of anything that is in the fridge, chuck out any bread left over etc.

Open bottle of wine, sit, relax and look forward to fortnight of sunshine and relaxation.

(get up every half an hour from sofa to check tickets/money/passport).

Am usually working..but packing, checking tickets, passport, insurance etc. Arrange to drop keys off at my mums so she can look after the moggies, drop the dog off at daughters, eat out somewhere as I have no food in and then attempt to get some sleep ( and failing badly as i am usually so excited!).

I could never leave the packing till the night before, I'd be a nervous wreck. Besides, it takes me an absolute age. I start with things like towels, toiletries, beachwear etc about a week- 10 days before. The very last item is in my suitcase at least 24 hours before we go. I do put a few items in hand luggage the night before. That way, once the morning of departure arrives I can relax knowing everything's done.

a week to 10 days before?!??!!?!?!?

i'm not going for another 5 and a half weeks and i've had my cases packed since March!!!!!!!! i like to know everythings gonna fit in! obviously i'll need 2 take everything out and iron it all, havent done that! and technically its not packed cuz i've just been "storing" it in my suitcase so i don't lose anything!!!

It's only going to be more creased if you have your stuff sitting in your case for days/weeks on end.

If I have an afternoon or evening flight I will pack in the morning.

Everything is always washed, ironed and ready and I always know where everything is. It's so not a big deal for me, if I forget something, I really don't care! Holidays are for being laid back and for me that includes the preparation.

traveling Saturday night this year which I hope will be better.

No trish, it's worse coz you seem to sit round all day clock watching. We've done this the last 2 years, didn't let the bairn out to play in case he fell over and broke an arm or leg I know, paranoid mum, but I can't help it.

If we have an early morning flight, it's a take away and a glass of wine, then a sleepless night checking I put the alarm on

Last year I was scared that I would sleep in and miss my flight, with it been a transfer from glasgow to manchester, so basicly stayed up all night and slept on plane