Wednesday, May 28, 2008

My life in a triptych

Everything I own here must be put into one of three categories:

1) stuff that is coming home with me via Tennessee, and therefore must fit into 2 suitcases, 1 backpack and a handbag.

2) stuff that is going to be shipped home, and therefore that I will have to do without until October.

3) stuff that must be either sold, given away or put in the rubbish.

The problem with the first category is that it is summer now, and in Tennessee it is going to be even hotter and so I need several summer-type outfits and sandals and the like.
HOWEVER!!! When I get home it will be late June, which as everybody in the Southern Hemisphere knows, is smack bang in the depths of winter. So I also have to pack a jacket and some woolly socks and a hat. Plus the absolute minimum of five (ok, six) books, my laptop, my external hard drive and all associated cords, camera, sleeping bag, towel, toiletries to last from Sunday to the 19th of June, hats and sunscreen and sarongs because I am the whitest person in the world, various essentials such as can't-live-without dvds, summer jammies and one or two reasonably respectable outfits for when I get home and for Memphis, because you can't turn up at the home of The King looking like you've been dragged backwards through a bush. Did I mention this all has to fit in TWO SUITCASES!!!

Unfortunately my suitcases lack Tardis capabilities, so this is proving problematic.

There's really no problem with the second category, because I've filled 2 medium sized boxes and 2 small boxes and its mostly done.

The problem with the third category is that I hate throwing stuff out. Wastage drives me around the bend, so thus far I just have a large pile of things to give away to people.

Half used bottle of handcream, anyone?