Suitcase

Personal growth in action, October 2024

I have a suitcase. I bought it more than a decade ago, when I was at Peak Travelling For Work, and we have had many adventures. But when I got off the train in London I realised that the handle had broken. That plus the lamentable state of its wheels mean that it is time to say goodbye. So when I had a bit of time to kill, I had a phone Google to see what I might replace it with.

So far, so whatever.

I put a very nice suitcase in my (virtual) basket.

AND THEN

I remembered the time I bought some (woven) baskets to keep lipsticks in and they were so big we used them on the fireplace, for logs.

I remembered when I bought mints wrapped in white and red paper to make a Christmas wreath (don’t ask) and there were so many that I not only had enough for 2 attempts at the terrible wreath but also sufficient to last us through the year.

I remembered when I bought a satchel that was an absolute bargain, and just the thing for a writer-about-town to carry a couple of notebooks, a pencil case and three hundred Post-Its around in. When it arrived, although it was delightful, it was not even big enough to accommodate my phone.

AND SO

I decided not to buy the suitcase until I had access to a tape measure so I could check what size my existing suitcase was.

I am honestly more delighted with myself than I have ever been in my entire life.

(Here are The New Suitcases, on their first trip, to Gladstone’s Library. They are, I’m delighted to report, the perfect size.)