Left my packing until the last minute, mainly because I was still using the intended contents up until the last minute. I had a list & read through it - check. All present and accounted for! Zipped and ready for weigh in.
I bought one of those dial luggage weighers with a hook. OMG! 35kg! Oh no! I can't possibly cull anything - it is packed with essentials only. I unpacked everything, plucked out my sunscreen/mosquito lotion because I had a spray form. That could stay. A couple of my tops feel a little heavy - I'll leave those. Pack my flat shoes & wear my runners (not a good look with my outfit!) instead. Next weight 32kg. OMG Noooooo! I can't leave anything else. I have a duffle-bag which weighs less than my suitcase so I transfer everything into that. Oh FFS (scuse French, but) 31kg. Not worth taking the duffle bag, though it's on wheels at one end, they were from a Safeway shopping trolley in a previous life. Can't steer the damn thing even if dragging it & it won't stand up on it's own.
If I have to pay excess I'd rather take my suitcase. So repack the suitcase, cull another outfit in the process.
Lightbulb moment. I bought the weigher on eBay - maybe it's dodgy? So I weigh myself & then again holding the suitcase. The difference? 15kgs. What the?? I went back to the weigher & checked the dial again. OMG I'd been reading it in frickin' lbs not kgs!! Well, there was a blonde moment that lasted a bloody hour! So repacked most of the discarded items, swapped the runners for my flats (the fashion police will be pleased) & zip her up.
Wait a minute - aren't the circle loops on either end of the zipper supposed to slot in together? They won't join up & I can't thread my padlock through it. Noooooooooo! (insert hussy fit & stamping of feet here).
Obviously I had seriously displeased the Goddess of travel somehow. So I unpack the suitcase, get 'ye olde faithful' semi-retired suitcase from the top cupboard, wipe off the significant layer of dust & empty the crap hidden in it, ready for use. Now who says I can't learn from my mistakes? I'm checking the zipper first before I unpack & repack. It works! Except it's not quite big enough. I can just fit everything in but unless I'm only buying a pair of earrings this trip I'm not going to be able to shop. Not an option.
Unpack & repack into the original suitcase. Able to thread two locks on either zipper end & into each other. At last, I'm only 20 mins behind schedule, but quite hot & bothered by this stage.
Checked into Jetstar star class - only flown economy with them in the past. Lovely lady there gave me a priority customs pass. Go through the X-ray machine after waiting for an elderly man's artificial hip or pacemaker to stop setting off the metal detector.
Got called over for a random bomb residue test. Yes folks, I look just like the stereotypical suicide bomber. So had a wand thingy run over me & the first frisk of my life. Did wonder what sort of idiot makes a bomb without gloves or changing clothes. Anyhoo, I suppose my tunic top could hide sticks of dynamite or C4 strapped to my body - she wasn't to know that it's unfortunately all me under there!
Into customs - can't see a priority queue. Only 2 customs officers on duty it seems - maybe the others were doing cavity searches for reality TV? Anyhoo, I joined the cattle pen with the rest of the flock & only spied the priority queue after I was 3/4 of the way through. doh! Didn't want to look like a total twit double backing, so stayed there for another 10 minutes until my turn. As I handed my passport with a photo only a mother with macular degeneration could be proud, another officer arrived to serve. I'm guessing her name was Murphy.
Found Qantas business lounge & headed straight for the alcohol. Glass of Chandon thankyou very much, with some Brie & crackers. Ahhhhh! 3/4 through the first glass I finally felt relaxed & on holiday. I was a little premature in my celebrations. Rocked up to the departure lounge & waited & waited a bit more. I was ever so slightly pickled at this stage so not at all annoyed by the delay. In fact, once on board my patience & good cheer was rewarded with an offer of champagne. Twist my arm. Hehe. With a glass of sav blanc with dinner a short time after take off, I had to have a wee nap for an hour or so. I was pleased with the attentive service of the air crew & enjoyed most of the flight on the side of Team Edward watching Eclipse (again) & wishing I was Kristen Stewart for 2 hours.
Arrived in Bali 1/2 hr late. I was first through customs - a first for me, but suitcase, so lovingly packed as you may recall, decided to be shy for quite some time.
Managed to heft it onto the X-ray machine (1st time ever been manned) without slipping a disc. Driver to meet me - lovely. Arrive at my hotel, unpack & hit the minibar - empty, it's just a bar fridge without the bar. Oh drat. By this time it's 3am my time, so a swig of fresh warm bottled water & I'm in bed, totally stuffed but very pleased to be in Bali again.
Cheers.