Clean Underwear on my Mind in the US of A (10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you)

Member Name: marandina

Product:	10 indispensable things to take on holiday with you
Date:	13/03/05 (931 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Be organised man, I'm off to NY City

Disadvantages: Dirty underwear is a possibility

D’yer know, I’m sure this cat was designed for folks to crow about forthcoming holidays. Of course, me being the noble sort I am you just know I wouldn’t resort to anything so shallow. Hmmmm….well, actually….I’m lying. I’M GOING TO NEW YORK SHORTLY so I thought I’d write a note to self as to stuff I should take. To be honest, I was gonna write a spoof piece about how I didn’t find lurve on the Internet but maybe I’ll save that for another day although now that I’ve told you it’s a spoof the fun’s gone out of it somehow (note to Nednod – do the deed. It will be dead funny if you write one). So aaaaaaaaaanyway, did I mention that I’m off to NEW YORK in…well….about 15 days actually.

Sooooo…10 indispensable things I’ll be taking and as generic as possible in case someone ever does stumble across this piece and genuinely wants to find it useful (very useful or maybe just somewhat useful).

Numero uno: Well for Lordy’s sake it has to be me passport. Having watched Tom Hanks in The Terminal last night (and very funny it was), it kinda re-emphasised the need for a valid passport. So I’ll be checking the expiry date resigned to the prospect of filling in a horrible Via Waiver form during the flight. The last time I filled one of these ‘ere forms in was when we went to Orlando a few years ago. I distinctly recall waiting in a HUUUUGE queue only to be turned back by a surly American check-out-type person when I’d gottten to the front. I think I must have missed a dot above an I or something but nevertheless aaaaaaaall the way to the back of the queue we went. Sassa frassin miserable git he was and it seems that we now have a one in three chance of a full body search when we enter the States such is the level of security still. Yep, I’m dusting off me passport as we speak and readying my self for a full anal probe.

In at 2: Well normally it would be my sunglasses but I’m not quite sure what to expect in March. I’ll probably take ‘em anyhow just in case but it could be anything from torrents of snow and rain to bright Spring sunshine. Who knows?

Number 3: My Hawaiian shirts, man. Normally reserved for the Costa Del Plonka, these may still have to travel despite the uncertainty surrounding the weather. I mean, there’s nothing like looking like a Hula King when you are on the beach is there? Saying that, there ain’t any beaches in New York. So what’s Coney Island then? Ach…they’re coming and darn the consequences. (I don't really wear Hawaiian shirts. Look no further than a beer drinking, gag cracking, Dooyoo guide for such attire *snigger*)

4: Me sun tan lotion. To tell you the truth, I can’t see me using this and I only really use it if I have too. At my age *sigh*, I only use stuff like this as a form of protection as beach holidays are a thing of the past now. All that beached whale stuff lying on beaches is all too boring which is probably why we’re off to Ireland for the first time in August. (County Kerry don'tcha know?)

5: A Guide Bookeroonie. We have already bought not one but 2 guidebooks, the other one being purchased by my lad. I’m very pleased with my guide to the Big Apple having acquired it from WH Smith in December. I’ve read most of it so can strongly recommend books like this that detail the places to visit, cost and includes tips on where to go for great service and a cheap deal. (Cheap being very important to us Brummies)

6: Enough underwear. The thing is, what if I get run over and some anxious doctor or medic has to cut my trousers off to get at the source of my wound? I mean, if I have dirty underwear on because I failed to take enough supplies then my ma will never live it down. Can you imagine having to recount the day you were found wearing grubby underwear or even worse, you were discovered going commando!

7: I may take a secret supply of tea bags. Me and my good lady are currently into herbal tea in a big way so whilst I appreciate that New York is the capitalist centre of the Universe, what happens if we can’t find our teabags in any of the shops? The fact is that Americans seem obsessed with caffeine in take and coffee in general so I’m not convinced that we’d find our tea bags in a small corner of Macys.

8: Camera! Dagnabit, we need to buy a new digital camera as we are camera-less just now. I’m ultra keen to capture all those boringly predicable shots from the top of the Empire State Building and stuff so if anyone can recommend a VFM digital camera that saves me ploughing through squillions of reviews on Dooyoo and Ciao then feel free to leave me a note!

9: Ear plugs. Let’s face it, New York is gonna be a noisy place. I know we are 13 floors up or something but I’ll bet we will still be able to hear the sounds of the city that never sleeps below. When you’re a raging insomniac like me, ear plugs are essential for any hotel in any location never mind the fact that it’s New York.

Last but not least: Well, I suppose I ought to remember to take the wife and kiddies…..especially seeing as I’ve paid big moula for ‘em. In all seriousness, my 9-year-old boy has a countdown going on the side of his bunk bed and notches off each day as we get closer. I’m not sure whose more excited, me or him!!

Well, thanks for indulging me and I’m sure I’ll remember to bring you all a souvenir back. I hope you’ve found some of this remotely useful. I certainly have as it gives me a chance to reflect on what I need to do before I go although I am notoriously male in packing seconds before departure and just throwing a few things into a suitcase and hoping for the best. Well….I am taking me credit card in case I get stuck *women of Dooyoo roll eyes*

Thanks for reading!

Marandina (I’m gonna be an Englishman in New York….hooray!!)

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