I like to use my credit card while abroad as it provides an accurate reference point for what was spent where, when trying to reconcile the books on return. Another reason is I’ve always found getting Forex annoying. I hate filling out forms and waiting in queues at the best of time, so when I saw someone coming to the office to deliver Forex to Roger I paid attention.

JP of course suggested I simply go and buy Forex like everyone else and said anyone who delivered would charge for doing so. Anyhoo, here’re the details if you too like to be served in the comfort of your office at no extra charge!

Tell him I recommended him: Andre Claasen of FX Africa 082 458 1766. 021 683 8690.

I decided to lose one kilo a week in the months preceding my trip. Disappointingly, however, I seem rather to have gained what I hoped I’d lose. The panic now is what will I have to wear in Europe – most of the hotels will require smart casual garb (and The Ritz London jacket and tie) so I’ve shopped up a storm – also (funny this) as an antidote to my anxiety about how much money I’ll have when I return from a month in Europe – I’m spending more, not less. I’m a sick puppy.

I’ve decided to take the Samsonite Four Wheeler and JP as taken the F’Lite range. I’m using Ziploc bags to act as partitions as the case in simply a hard shell.

I am taking so few things along (just cameras, computer, phone chargers and toiletries already make up 10kg) that I’ve even told my mom and sister that I won’t take their gifts along to my brother in London. The thought of schlepping my bag (even such a fabulous one) on and off eight trains in one day almost made me change the routing to skip the scenery and lunch in Bern instead or get Fedex to deliver my bags directly to the hotel.

Best news about Switzerland though is that we seem to have found JP’s half-brother whom he has never met. More as that story unfolds.

I’ve had a wonderful response to my newsletter requesting assistance of where to eat and what to do in Europe. In London readers have suggested Bbar, Skalini, Assagi, Zuma, Hakkasan, barra fina, Le Gavroche and Sketch. In Paris, l’Ami Louis, Ma Bargoune and Chez Benoit with the promise of more to come. I tried to book for Pierre Gagnaire in Paris but they’re closed while we’re there.

 
I never thought I’d get so excited about luggage but last night I played with the Four wheeler F’lite hard case from Samsonite. It’s the first case that I’ve had with latches rather than zips and now that I’ve got the hang of opening and shutting them, I think I prefer it to a zip. Thing is, even with a zip (if you’ve got one of those clam-shell cases) you have to open them entirely which means you can’t open it a bit and pull something easily out. They even provide transfer letters with which to brand the luggage. It reminded me of those school projects where we used Letraset to write the headings. It didn’t work out as well as I hoped and it looks like I had the hiccups while pasting them down.

Two cases arrived from Samsonite to trial while in Europe. The Samsonite F'lite 74cm Spinner retails at R 3,495.00 while the Samsonite Skywheeler 67cm upright is R3,395.00. Although the F’lite is just a shell, it feels more sturdy and it looks like the seals could even be waterproof. It moves like a dream on four wheels.

The Skywheeler is more visually appealing (it has a zip rather than side and front clips) and I love the inside pockets which I imagine will make it easier for me to keep things tidy especially considering I need a suit for The Orient Express.

The brief was simple: two cases costing about the same that will cope with three weeks in Europe travelling mainly on trains – but look good enough to check into The Ritz. Let’s see how they do.