Monday 7 May 2012

One week away.

I have been away from home in search of some much-needed warmth and sunshine. If I am going on holiday for no longer than a week I like to travel only with an in-flight bag. Mine measures 15 x 18 inches and is 7 inches deep. How much does it hold? All of the below.

Monsoon cotton top and old, baggy drawstring linen crops from Land's End.
Flax linen top and black leggings
with a handy shopper.
Trusty faded pink crochet sun hat and a thin cheesecloth cover-up from Turkey, two essential items that take up no room in the case and protect me from too much sun.
Purple bikini and another cover up from In-Wear.
When I bought this white bikini the shop assistant said, "You're brave." She looked about fifty.I just smiled and said nothing. How ageist! I know that I'm an old bird but I shall wear what I like.
Beaded cotton cover-up from M&S.
M&S cotton tee-shirt.
More baggy linen crops from Land's End and a tee with a pocket from George at Asda. 
White linen dress from M&S.
Irish linen top by Exta with white leggings
and a necklace with a turquoise drop that goes well with a number of outfits.
I bought this coral necklace with an asymmetrical stone.
Phase Eight dress with rose quartz necklace. (A very forgiving dress as it stretches to any size!)
Phase Eight silk blouse with black leggings.
Boden vest and cardigan.

A variety of sandals and ballet flats. Shoes are the worst things to pack, both bulky and heavy. I'm going to make do with less in future.
I took this turquoise outfit but I didn't make use of it.
Neither did I use my beach wrap  and striped beach bag although on previous holidays they have been in daily use. I used the black evening bag each evening as it is big enough to cram with my camera.
I traveled out in my grey dress, also tights, cardigan, fleece jacket and black raincoat which I was happy to discard on arrival!
I dressed for comfort on the journey home in my baggy old pants as we wouldn't touch down until midnight. I packed some small black linen capris but they don't appear to have been photographed. Also not photographed are two other bikinis in black and brown.
The white blouse is the one from Boden that I bought in the spring. Pink cardi from Warehouse is at the ready.
For Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.

15 comments:

  1. I will not comment on your "old bird" remark, but may I say you look amazing. You look a lot better than many "young chicks". Bravo! You certainly did get a lot into you small bag. So good to hear you had a wonderful time. Bonnie

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    1. I cheated on the way home, Bonnie, and Himself put my fleece into his carry-on bag. It was very welcome when we touched down in Blighty!

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  2. You are a maravelous packer, Rosemary, and you look glorious in your beachwear. Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday!

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    1. Packing for a warm country is easy, Patti. It becomes a different matter when you don't know what the weather will bring.

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  3. Wow! You rocked the bikini my dear! Bravo!
    I love your relaxed outfits...reminds me of the beach!

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    1. A lot of my holiday clothes are just that, they never get worn on other occasions. As a result they seem to last forever and many are years old. I love the beach, I don't get enough of it!

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  4. This is a sexy posting! *eyes wide open* Whatever you do to stay in shape, it obviously works!
    I became a fan of light packing not long ago (started when I hade to schlepp all my belonging for two days up a mountain. Now looking forward to packing light became part of the fun of traveling.

    The sun, the light and the colours of your week are so different from your home. I guess I like the flax linen top the best!

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    1. Your packing post made me think to do this one, Paula. I take it as a challenge to use only an in-flight bag. I'm often amazed by the amount of luggage people take on holiday. I assume that they must be going away for a month but then a week later I see that they are on the same flight home as me! (Packing for a walking holiday and/or a cold country is another matter entirely.)
      I like the Flax top but am always searching for it's pockets - which don't exist!

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  5. You look fabulous. It's always interesting to see what others put together for a trip and this one especially. I am an expat living in Canada and it is so wonderful to see colour included in a packing list.

    Keep up the good work.

    Christine

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    1. Thank you for the compliment, Christy. (There were no close-ups!) Paula, above, made me think to do this post, and you can see from my packing which colour range I like.

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  6. When are you going to co-write that book with Helen Mirren, "How to look Drop Dead Gorgeous in a Bikini for Over Fifties"?!

    Learning to travel lighter - for me it has been picking key colours and sticking to them.

    I'm with you on the shoes but I tend to wear biker boots in winter (and travel in them) and Birkenstock in summer which are super-light in luggage terms.

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  7. Biker boots and Birkenstock, now that sounds good! I've been hankering after some biker boots for a while. I've flown in my walking boots on occasion because packing them takes up so much room.

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  8. I like so many of these outfits. Not sure why you're so 'brave' - all the beach outfits are flattering!

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  9. What do you do to stay in shape? You look amazing and have some great abs! Love the outfits too.

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  10. What a chic and elegant holiday wardrobe. You look absolutely fantastic in both your bikinis! Good for you wearing what you want on the beach - I was directed to your post by pao as I've just written a post about a very ageist article in the telegraph about how women ought to stop wearing bikini's after the age of just 39!

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