Return to the Vaterland
So, I leave for the US tomorrow. I just finished packing. Well sort of. I used to be the type that packed in advance, but more often than not these days I pack the night before.
I only travel with a carry on. It is the only way to fly. I am going to the States for two weeks. Even for two weeks a carry on will do. Now, I must confess that part of this trip home will be to my parent’s summer house where I have an entire summer wardrobe consisting of all the basics – khaki shorts, khakis, Nantucket reds, polo shirts (various colors), oxford shirts (white, pink, blue and white striped and solid blue), summer D-ring belts, sailing jacket, boat shoes and flip flops. Oh yes, board shorts, surfing kit and briefs as well.
But stil,, a carry on will always do. First, everything is at hand when you travel, no ‘oh fuck’ I put that in my luggage in the hold. This also enables quick changes in the plane loo/lounge. Second, you never loose your luggage. Living in England and having the fly through Heathrow, this is a very real concern. Flying with BA makes it worse. I am amazed just when I land period. Landing means that I actually took off to begin with, which is a good start. Flew to Italy a month ago with BA, we sat for 2.5 hours in the plane on the tarmac in London. The flight to room is only 2.5 hours! So we did the trip twice essentially. Third, you get out of Heathrow in about an hour after you land, enabling you to get home and into bed as the rest of the poor schmucks are just getting their bags of the carousel.
Heading home is always exciting. This trip is a bit of work and a bit of fun. It was supposed to be all fun, but then I got a new job starting in September and a meeting came up in Washington so I cut down the holiday and decided to do some work. I have a love-hate relationship with the US. I love the US for all the good stuff. Good stuff like – innovation, civic responsibility – all that crap they brainwash into you. I can’t deny it, I bleed red, white and blue. I suppose the cheap petrol and good customer service helps. But as a gay man, I also have a lot of issues with the US. Scratch that, as a human being I have a lot of issues. Lets be blunt, the record for the last few years is pretty fucking awful. Fingers crossed for November. Enough of this crap, I am starting to think about work. Bad.
So I have packed. Here is what I packed:
English suit, navy blue – perfect for making you feel superior to all the Yanks wearing baggy, poorly cut suits with no vents.
Three nice English shirts – what is the point of a shit that does not taper from shoulders to waist, see above.
Assorted ties – Ted Baker, Vineyard Vines, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren
Socks – dress socks and running socks.
Briefs, assorted, but all boxer briefs.
Brown leather belt
Brown leather shoes, English, see above – actually, lets just come out and say the Brits do f’ing great blokes clothes.
My smythson watch and cuff link case (thank you Glamour Girl), with brown leather banded watch and cuff links. Please note, black and brown do not match, so shoes, watch and belt must be the same!
cabin accessible kit bag with all the good products, heartily endorse dermologica skin products BTW.
Sneakers, aka trainers
running shorts
Human rights campaign t-shirt with “love conquers hate” on the front.
Thats it. I am going to watch Brothers and Sisters now.
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