The art of business travel

I don't travel light. I hate the idea of limiting my options. This doesn't mean I pack the kitchen sink, but it does mean that I will take some things "just in case" and carry certain items that other people wouldn't even think of packing. Like some herbal teabags and my own cup. My mother worked in hotels all her life and let me tell you - I know enough about how the rooms and cups are cleaned to have put me off using the crockery.

Overnight stay: one holdall (half-full) + handbag (very full) + laptop-size rucksack; my mobile office (very full).

I now work for 3 departments (which excites and inspires me, but generates a lot of material), have a fully loaded Time Manager (in Filofax covers, mind you - the Time Manager ones were a bit pants), have just started an OU science course and like to have a book with me too. Not that I always need to carry paperwork for all 3 departments and my course, but sometimes I do (as was the case on the trip I just got back from yesterday).

Unfortunately I need few medicines and the epi pen with me. (The meds are now in a lovely travel system I bought from Finland. It's a circular pill organiser that takes a few of each. Really useful).

Then there are the toiletries. I guess I could be better at getting travel sizes of things, or decanting product into a travel container.

Make-up doesn't take that much space, as I have nice miniatures and palettes. Most of it fits into my handbag.

I'm quite good at the clothes and shoes thing. Outfits that combine well, work for travel and don't take up much space. And the shoes I wear are usually multi-functional and comfortable (I am one of those women that only does the high-heeled thing at special occasions).

When I'm zooming around in the Smart, I feel most at ease. Everything fits; I don't have to carry heavy items for very long - brilliant.

The journeys that demand other modes of transport are becoming trickier and trickier. And now there just seem to be more of them, which is not a problem, but I've realised that I need to become quite a lot better at the whole art of business travel.

I still maintain that one of my priorities will be to feel well prepared. Just need to figure out how to make that compatible with travelling light.