A Week Of Joy

We flew out to Cyprus from Stansted on the Thursday afternoon and Peter and Wendy met us at Paphos Airport and took us to their new home. So good to see my friend again since she left England last November. We were tired! I was amused by the Greek/English handwash sign in the airport loos. [look at the Greek in #2]

Wendy has just had knee surgery and Bob did not want to do too much walking. So Friday was relaxing around the pool. I haven't really swum for years - but on the Friday I did thirty lengths! Each day we spent some time reading, relaxing and swimming, and some time going out, sightseeing, shopping and eating. It was a good pattern and we enjoyed the sunshine, and the freedom to just chill out.

Saturday evening we went on a lovely sunset boat trip from Paphos Harbour. Not on the Jolly Roger, but on the Wave Dancer [a former car ferry] 

We sailed out as the sunset, then further along the coast, they anchored so people could swim - entering the water off the back of the ramp. I actually went into the Med and splashed around for a while. Then they served a BBQ on board followed by a fascinating acrobatic display. As the boat returned to Paphos Harbour I stood and watched the twinkling lights. So much beauty, so much history. The Apostle Paul came to this harbour too. I felt so privileged to be there.

Sunday we went with Peter and Wendy to their Church and were made very welcome. Afterwards we had coffee and visited a beautiful bakery - the selection of breads, pastries and cakes was quite overwhelming.

Monday was a shopping day, we visited the Market to buy some gifts for the Grandchildren- after four days of swimming in the pool, I wanted to buy a new costume to celebrate. Wendy is a good friend and helpful fashion adviser!

Tuesday we visited Akamas - a cape which includes the blue Lagoon, an National Park, and stunning views. At the top of the hill is Viklari "Last Castle" restaurant, P&W's favourite eating place. We watched the quad bikes racing up the hill 

It is tradition to have your photo taken under the arch!

Wednesday P&W had a meeting at their Church, so Bob and I visited the nearby Museum and Roman Mosaics - a UNESCO World Heritage site. These mosaics were mind blowing! I was particularly taken with the "Christian House from the 5th Century AD" A large mosaic, regular pattern- but in the doorway a mosaic plaque with Psalm 117 verse 6 in Greek. The sign board informed us they'd made a spelling mistake! [The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man will do to me] In one of the new buildings was a huge display about Crafts in Cyprus - I was in seventh heaven looking at all the boards about different lacemaking/weaving/etc. That will have to be another post! It was very hot - I have great admiration for the Apostle Paul - I would struggle to preach in that heat!!

Thursday - our final day. To  have coffee at La Plage Municipal Beach at Polis, followed by lunch at Santa Barbara. That turtle sculpture on the beach is a recycling bin for plastic bottles! We both swam in the sea, walked round the marina, and had a beautiful final day with our friends. We came back via the Mall and Bob went in a DIY superstore, whilst Wendy took me to another of her favourite clothes stores. 

After getting back to their bungalow, finishing packing, and eating baklava we loaded the cases into the car. These two good friends took us to the airport. Final goodbye hugs and a prayer for a safe journey. 

Their hospitality was wonderful, and their friendship is very precious. I am so grateful to them for giving us the relaxing, reviving holiday we both needed. I hope I can return to their beautiful island again one day,

[Despite the fact that I swam over 200 lengths, there is no photograph of me in Wendy's pool!! And I forgot to take a picture of Jethro and Molly, their two cheerful dogs, sorry!

Wednesday Weigh In

At the start of the holidays, I was with Rosie and Jess in Starbucks, and Liz took a photo of us sipping our drinks. "Oh I am so overweight!" I said. Liz said firmly "Mum, I see a picture of a happy woman enjoying time with her grandchildren - not an overweight woman. You mustn't look at every picture of yourself and beat yourself up"

I suddenly remembered this photo of Jamie Lee Curtis taken 25 years ago. Then in her 40s, she deliberately posed in a bikini, no make up, just as she was - extra fat at her midriff, legs not as slim as they'd been twenty years before...and she looked really happy. At the time, it was unheard of for Hollywood stars to show their less-than-perfect-figures. But she said "This is what I look like now!" And was applauded for it
Now she has thighs, a tum, wrinkles, and grey hair - and celebrates them as part of her authentic life and experience. [she is 3 years younger than me]
Now she is quite a bit taller, which does help. But I have taken Liz's words to heart this summer, and celebrated the shape I am. And for the first time since the 1970s I've worn a bikini. And felt good about myself.

But as this wonderful summer moves into autumn, I have to admit that the comfortable retirement, and change of pace, and more time to prepare meals [and Bob doing more of the cooking, with his generous butter-rich portions] has added slightly more pounds than I'd like. I'm even heavier than I was in pregnancy. My knees are protesting because my thighs are so heavy. I know that I do need to get my BMI down - 5 feet high, 12stone in weight is well into the 'obese' category. This is about health, not fashion. I am going to cut back a on sweets and supper-snacks. And drink more water. Aiming for steady not rapid weight loss.

So I have made a little chart [stuck inside the bathroom cabinet] and every Wednesday morning I am doing a Weigh-In [and my mate Wendy in Cyprus is doing likewise] We will encourage each other [at a distance!] Last week my GP decided I ought to have blood tests for diabetes. If better eating can stave off such issues then it is my responsibility to try harder. 

Watch this space...

Holiday Habits

I have a strange holiday habit - I like wandering round foreign supermarkets, and buying interesting packets to bring home. I think that I may have passed this on to Liz, who brought back some Speculoos Pancake Mix, so the girls could recreate their Dutch holiday breakfasts once back in England.
Bob and I had a happy meander round the Supermarket in Paphos on Wednesday. 

Wendy's favourite shop is Sklavenitis, which she always refers to as 'ScabbyKnees' - its slogan is "As cheap as anywhere else"
Here is what we purchased

1. A jar of tahini, a basic ingredient which I shall use for dips and salad dressings, as well as in sweet dishes.
2. A large tin of Royal Baking Powder. Just because I love these tins*. Now produced in Spain where Royal is a synonym for baking powder, this brand began in Longhorsley near Newcastle, in the factory of Thomas Bell. He called his brand Bell's Royal and shortened it to Be-Ro. 
3. Some Cyprus Delight. Similar to the Turkish stuff, but a little denser, with different flavours. Some varieties have PG status [protected geographical] 
4. White beans.Because I ate a bowl of fasolia . I loved it and want to make some more at home
5. Olive Oil. Bob's choice. Agios Georgios [St George] is a very popular premium brand. And Bob liked the cool cuboid tin!
6. "Premium Nuts" We are not convinced everything in the bag is a nut, there are some rectangular biscuit looking pieces. But it will be portioned out as a TV snack [so someone does not eat the entire bag at one sitting!]

Finally a pot of salt. I know, you can buy salt easily in the UK, and it is not especially Cypriot. But every place where we had a meal had these cute little sailor pots standing on the table. I splurged 30p on this jolly little chap.

Today [August 15th] is celebrated in Cyprus by the Greek Orthodox believers as the Feast of the Domition Of The Virgin Mary  [In the Roman Catholic church it is called The Assumption, and marked on 28th August]  Traditionally it is the day when they eat Arkanata Bread Rolls. 

I did not know about the feasting when I picked a up a bag of these rusks in the supermarket, just that they were uniquely Cypriot. The name comes from the Greek word for labour because their overnight production is very laborious, using ground fermented chickpeas and ginger in boiling water . And they are baked twice- once as soft round roll, and then a second time to make the roll into a dry, long lasting rusk.  Unfortunately despite very careful packing, we got home to find our pack has been reduced to chunks and crumbs! Never mind. We can consume them with dips and dunk them in soups.
Do you ever buy interesting foods in foreign supermarkets?

*this tin has bolos fofos printed on it. I have no idea what it means. I tried various Spanish Translation programmes and got "Flabby Bowling Balls" can anyone out there explain???

THIS Gran Read The Book...

... And The Book Was Good!

NO SPOILERS HERE!

I am usually very careful about spending money - and if it is a book, then most of the time, I borrow from the library first, then decide if I want it. Then try and find a secondhand copy...But not with this one - I preordered [as my delayed plane sat on the tarmac at Stansted last week - it made me feel much happier, and helped calm my fear-of-flying]

Julia does not disappoint [and Axel's illustrations are really good] Twenty years after the mouse first stepped out into the deep, dark wood, the story continues. It is witty, and clever, and full of the wonderful rhyming couplets which are Ms Donaldson's forte. And I love it! I opened the book, and read it through [out loud] whilst Bob was trying to concentrate on something else.
The book is dedicated to her husband, who died two years ago. [he was, by all accounts, a lovely man. A paediatric consultant, his young patients called him Dr Gruffalo]

Thank you Julia - I shall read this to the grandchildren, and anybody else who expresses the slightest interest. Definitely 5 stars

*****

We Plough The Fields...

For many people, that is the harvest hymn they remember from schooldays. Today we have Harvest Festival at Church followed by a Lunch.
Here's a more more modern one - reflecting that crops are not always as bountiful as we might hope - and that we all have a responsibility to our world - to share our blessings with others [and to be better stewards of our plant] And to acknowledge God's goodness and faithfulness to us.

For the gifts of heaven in the fields of earth,
My soul will sing to the Lord.
For the fruitful lands as they yield their worth,
My heart gives thanks to him.
We may plough the soil, we may plant the seed,
But God will make it grow,
And the harvest comes from the tender goodness
Of the Father’s hand.

As the trade winds blow over thirsty plains,
My soul will sing to the Lord,
And the storm clouds pour with reviving rains,
My heart gives thanks to Him.
Every season whispers the mystery,
The glorious rhythm of life,
Till the harvest comes from the boundless goodness
Of the Father’s hand.

When the crops have failed and the fields are bare,
My soul will cry to the Lord.
When the hungry know only death’s despair,
My heart will look to Him.
For the call goes out from the heart of God
To share with those in need;
As we feed the world we reflect the goodness
Of the Father’s hand.  [Getty/Townsend/Bronleewe]

The top picture is a field in Norfolk about 8 miles from here - the farmer was lamenting his poor barley crop in the local paper - but at least he has some grain. The drought -ridden fields are in Myanmar, the flooded rice field in Bangladesh. 

We are collecting food for the local foodbank, and contributing to a project in Sierra Leone

Did It Work?

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Last week, I shared my Sudoku Packing Plan. The idea was to take a selection of separates which would combine to make various outfits. Did it work? Mostly yes. But there were a few mistakes.

• I hadn't realised it would be so hot or that I'd spend so much time I  the pool. One, not two, pairs of trousers would have worked along with the shorts [see below].
• I took a pair of brand new shoes, and developed a blister.
• Having use of a washing machine meant I could have managed with far less underwear and fewer  tops. 
• I never wore the blue sarong/scarf at all. 
• I somehow only packed one pair of socks, but Bob let me borrow a pair of his trainer socks

Good things

• At the last minute I tucked  my shorts in the case. These got worn a lot. 
• I was able to create various outfits - very satisfying. 
• The lightweight cotton robe [for breakfast in pj's, or sitting round the pool] was quite superfluous, worn once.
• The folding M&S sun hat and CS baseball cap both got a lot of use
• The jewellery suggested by my Family  Fashion Advisers meant I could dress things up or down.

I realised I was feeling more confident about my shape than I've been for ages, even though I weigh a little more than I'd like. So I splashed out on a new bikini. I have not had a bikini since 1978!
Wendy took me to her three favourite clothes stores- I came away with a smart top [on my wardrobe wishlist] and a cool linen-mix dress [to wear next time I visit Cyprus?!] She is very persuasive! 

Bob bought a lightweight cotton collarless shirt, cooler than his teeshirts [both in fabric and styling!]. His fleece remained unworn until we got back to England in driving rain, in the early hours of Friday morning.

Main lessons learned 

• I hadn't allowed for the hot weather, which made it was so easy to wash and dry things. Wendy was really helpful, and so I was able to do a final wash first thing on Thursday morning, and therefore had a suitcase full of clean clothes to bring home!
• Next time I go, I will pack two or three dresses - although my trousers were linen, and elasticated waist, they still felt quite hot. My long skirt was cool and breezy.
  

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I will use this method again. 

Other holiday pictures to follow later... 

Twenty Five Years Ago

 

A Stitch In Time?

Except 24 years is quite a long time for starting&finishing a project! Back in 2002 we were on holiday in Florida with another couple, all paid for by Argos [long story, 4 places won in Prize Draw, and they kindly invited us to join them] 

As we strolled through the huge Mall, I saw a Victoria's Secret store. I grabbed Kathryn's arm "Come on! I've always wanted a garment from this shop!" There was a lot of interesting lingerie, some of it quite attractive. Most of it too expensive. But there in the sale section was a grey nightie sealed in a bag, for $5. It said "Medium" and on the front was embroidered a n g e l in pink.

 "I shall take it home and stitch the final A to make Angela" I declared. I have worn that night frequently ever since. It has taken me till last week to do this task! 

Better late than never! I am pleased with my hand stitching though.

I love this garment, it is really cool in hot weather. But it measures 28" across the bust! Does a 56" chest really count as Medium in the USA? 

What is your longest WIP? (Work in progress)

They have a store in Norwich now - but I don't imagine I shall ever buy anything in there!

Fit For A Queen?

 A couple of weeks ago we were at a Village Yard Sale. I picked up a spare Pyrex Bowl for 10p and a second melamine bowl for 20p. The first a simple 1litre pudding bowl - I have one already - this is a useful size for steamed puds etc. The second is an iconic bowl I have admired since we first married...

In 2009, my SIL gave me these two melamine bowls from M&S, 2.5 litre and 1.5 litre sizes. I use them all the time. I love them, and their cherry red brightness enlivens the kitchen.

Here's my new orange bowl - it is 2 litres in size - halfway between the other two.  And although different in shape, I can still stack the three so they go in the cupboard. 

But why is so special about this new bowl? Simply that it is a Danish design, from the Rosti Company, and called The Margrethe Bowl. It has the most wonderful history, it was first made in 1950...

The designer was a guy called Sigvard Bernadotte, and his dad was King of Sweden. His niece was Princess Margrethe of Denmark, daughter of King Frederik IX. When the forward thinking Danes changed the rules of succession so that the teenage princess became next in line. S got permission to name this design "The Margrethe Bowl". The design was so good, most Danish women wanted one for their kitchen. In 1972. Margarethe became Queen, reigning for 52 years, till her abdication in 2024. She was a gifted, and popular monarch.

Over the last 70+ years, more than 25 million Margrethe Bowls have been sold. It features in design museums, and even got onto a postage stamp. Its useful handle, efficient pouring lip, and high sides, make it useful for batter and cake making. It is now available in 15 colours, plus a steel version. Mine is about 35 years old, I think. Like my two M&S melamine bowls, it has lost its rubber non-slip ring at the base [but that hasn't proved a problem with the other two]  I do like Scandi design, and I think this will prove a useful addition to my kitchen. Yes, IKEA do make a similar shape bowl in cheaper plastic, but I love the retro orange colour and 'Rosti' printed on the base of mine! Now I am even more determined to visit Copenhagen! 

Can you imagine a British designer producing a  piece of kitchenware called Camilla?

What item would it be, do you think?

Bargain Buy

Blogfriends will know how much I love words, their meanings and their history
In Greek. lego means I say
In Latin, it can be mean I collect or I assemble
And in Danish 'leg godt' means play well

All the grandchildren enjoy Lego, George especially [I am convinced he has more Lego people than there are people living in this village!] So I was interested in a Lego storage unit which I saw at the Yard Sale. I took a photo, and put it in the family WhatsApp group. Steph responded positively so I bought it. The seller apologised that the front bottom bar was missing. I said I that was no problem, I was married to a guy from the Men's Shed!
We brought it home. I put the bins in the bath [they were not very dirty. just a bit dusty] and Bob added a front bar, a backbar, and a back panel to stop the drawers pushing right through. All scrap wood from his Stash. The pink baseplate on the top reveals this is actually a Strictly Briks piece which is Lego compatible. So I tried out a Duplo Cowboy from the Toybox and he seemed quite happy. Now all we have to do is plan a trip to Manchester [not sure |I could manage this on the train!] 
What a bargain for £4!

Will This Work For Me?

Sometimes I tune in to one of Joshua Becker's minimalism videos. He seems a very nice guy, and genuine in his approach. And he certainly practices what he preaches in terms of being generous with his resources. His main premise is that if we have too many possessions they can be a burden to us, and stop us living to the best of our ability*. This little video could easily be included in Michael Mosley's "Just One Thing" list. Joshua explains how the "one less" habit can help reduce clutter gently but effectively. I may try his idea this autumn and see if it works for me.

*JB is an enthusiastic Christian, and elsewhere speaks about how having a faith in Jesus helps him to 'live, and to live abundantly' 

Do Small Things With Great Love...

Mother Theresa has been credited with this quote. I love the fact that the 'rope' thrown out by the bear and mouse to help their friend rabbit back to shore is strung with hearts.

In these days of 'instant gratification' [Order online now and it will be with you within hours...] it is good to remind ourselves that some things take time, love and patience. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step [Personally, I'd struggle with 500 miles, and then 500 more, but I would be do it, if it got me to my beloved] 
I was thinking of the goals we set ourselves [major and minor] which may need a lot of little steps

• learning a new language or skill
• tidying and decluttering the home
• restoring broken relationships
• making a patchwork quilt
• teaching a child to read, swim, cycle
• reading a difficult book
• building a good community
• creating a lovely garden
• adapting after a 'life-event' [moving, childbirth, job-loss, aging, bereavement etc]

This month's calendar picture encourages me. It reminds me

• I'm not doing this alone, friends**, family and faith are there to help
• I don't need to be quick, I can go at my own pace
• Some steps will be small and easy, others may challenge and stretch me
• I need to slow down sometimes, and wait patiently for others to catch up

**September marks the birthday of my friend Christine, who generously gives me The Painted Bear Calendar every year for Christmas, it is a year round gift. Thank you Christine for being there on my journey with me for so many years now. 

 

Golden Apples, Or Wolf Peaches?

A huge thank you to all the kind people who have shared their lovely homegrown tomatoes with us this summer. I have concluded that gardeners fall into two groups - the diligent waterers [like Brian] and the less conscientious [like me]. I started off determined to raise a crop of crimson globes, but once the water butts were empty and I was making frequent overheated journeys with the can from tap to pot I lost enthusiasm. 

But despite that, the fridge has been well filled with lovely donations - huge scarlet beefsteak and golden 'Texas toms' and tiny ruby cherries. The lettuce patch revived after the rains, so I was able to make 'regular' salads. But I knew we couldn't eat all the tomatoes before they were past their best. What to do?

Ann suggested a pie, and Liz mentioned a Tarte Tatin just as I was thinking about pastry. The legend is that at the famous Tatin Hotel in the Loire valley, one of the sisters absent-mindedly made an apple tart upside down, flipped it out of the pan, and into the history books. [I am not convinced by this story at all]

But what works for apples ought to work for tomatoes. Joy the Baker advises cooking them whole. I cut mine into slices [smaller ones in half] Arranging them in my Le Creuset pan, big slices first then filling gaps with smaller ½ toms I sweated them off for a little while  with a little butter and olive oil. Having sprinkled salt, strewn basil leaves, and drizzled balsamic vinegar, I patted a circle of puff pastry on top [Co-op pre rolled sheet from chilled section] 16 minutes in a hot oven, then I flipped it over. Cheese on half of it [for Bob] and under the grill till that melted. Served with a red&white cabbage/red onion/carrot coleslaw. Quick and easy to make and very toothsome....

The remaining toms were sorted into 'better - use for salads' and 'less exciting' . These ones have been cooked off and frozen to make a sauce for pizza/pasta/bolognese base.
Italians call them pomo d'oro which translates to golden apples, as the first fruits brought to Europe from the Americas were yellow. We Brits call them tomatoes from the Aztec word tomatl
The Latin name is lycopersicon which translates as wolf peach and that comes from a German legend saying that you could use these fruity to summon werewolves! [You may know the word lycopene, that helpful antioxidant found in tomatoes, and also pink grapefruit]

Whatever you call them, big or small, red or yellow. tomatoes are full of good nutrients. I'm truly grateful to my lovely neighbours for their generosity. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TOMATO RECIPE?

Blinkin' Blogger!!

 All good herein Cyprus. Blogger will let me post your comments but not reply to them. SORRY 

You Gotta Pop A Pocket Or Two!

Someone posted in a Community FB group to which I belong. Her daughter had been receiving treatment at our local hospital, but they'd referred her on to Great Ormond Street who were brilliant. Mum wanted to "give something back" in gratitude - and was appealing for local stitchers to make some "NG pouches" [sometimes called "tubie pockets"]
Online these can cost up to £15 each

These are simple, washable pockets to hold nastro-gastric tubes tidily [and can be pinned safely out of reach of fiddling fingers!] Most are around 10cm square. How hard can it be?
The Norfolk Mum had posted a picture, so I made a cardboard template. She wanted the simple pockets, not the pones with an attached clip. I set up a production plan, and  easily made forty in a day, using scraps from THE Great Stash. I already had a poppa gadget and supplies. I used some floral prints, and some which were 'child friendly' - cars, dragons, fairies, teddies. 

Mum was very grateful, she said in her post she wanted 100 pockets. I hope that she exceeds that target,. and I am sure GOSH will be pleased too.

Do you have any experience of these little pockets?

A Bit Of A Puzzle

I love puzzles, and do a daily killer sudoku each morning - a 3 x 3 grid into which I have to fit numbers. But this week I have done a different sudoku challenge- one for packing my suitcase! We are going on holiday to Cyprus. I needed to pack the minimal number of garments for the week. Following the example of my daughters I've used the sudoku method. You choose 9 garments which will combine to make 27 outfits. 3 tops, 3 bottoms, 3 pairs of shoes = 3 x 3 x 3 =27

I looked at what was in my wardrobe, and decided that I did not need 3 pairs of shoes - trainers and sandals would be fine. I also wanted to avoid strappy tops- it may be hot, but if we visit local churches, it is respectful to have covered shoulders. I'm definitely 'coastal grandmother' looking at the stuff in my wardrobe

Blues and whites abound. But I am not taking jeans. They are currently way too snug for hot weather. I don't want shorts. This was what I've ended up with-
4 tops - white linen, white cotton tee, blue cotton tee, striped tee

3 bottoms - blue linen trousers, pale blue/white stripe linen trousers, cotton pattern skirt,

2 shoes - sandals and trainers [the latter for clambering over ruins etc]
This should be 4 x 3 x 2 = 24.

Plenty for a week [not that I'd wear the stripes with the floral skirt] 

But I did add an extra outfit for fancy evenings out, a new black cotton maxi dress with heeled blue shoes, and silver accessories [chosen by Liz and Rosie] and a blue cardi in case it gets breezy [ suggested by Steph] 

Plus of course sunhat, pjs, and swimsuit [and underwear] 

The only item specially purchased for this trip was the dress- and that was paid for with my M&S reward vouchers. 

Have you ever used the Sudoku packing method?
Do you buy new clothes for your holiday?

A Case In Point

I remember many years ago reading an article in a magazine about packing to go on holiday. It said this:
Put EVERY thing you think you need on the bed
[clothes, toiletries, personal stuff etc]
Now put HALF of it away again.
You only need 50% of what you first thought.

I think I must have taken this to heart down the years, because when I begin my packing these days, I am thinking minimally from the get-go. I try to pack as little as possible.

Another 'tip' I came across was this :
If you are holidaying in the UK, wear trousers for travel, pack underwear for the remaining days and use a small case. Then pop into a charity shop and buy a dress and a couple of tops. Swap these around through your stay. On the last day, put all but your underwear and travel outfit into a bag, and give it back to the CS

That tip may make for very minimal luggage - but raises too many questions - do you give back the stuff unwashed? What if the top is now damaged? If you fall in love with the dress, how do you fit it into your small bag?

In the past few years, we've rarely had holidays 'away' - we just came to Cornerstones. Since retirement, our trips have been in the UK by car [plenty of luggage room] and our one Paris trip [by train]  was brief and we had minimal packing [as we did in the days of motorbike holidays - three pairs of knickers and a tin of soap, and not much more] But this year, now Bob's back has been treated, and we are flying abroad. So what's essential in my luggage? 
Passport and tickets [keep copies of all important info on my phone as well]
Prescription medications [so many pills...] which should be kept in the original boxes. Customs may refuse plastic bags with strips of meds which have been trimmed to just the 7 days worth, as they cannot be identified. 
Technology - phones, tablets, headphones, charging leads, travel plugs. 
Toiletries -toothbrush, hairbrush, suncream etc [I have treated myself to some little bottles for decanting shampoo etc] 
Random useful bits pen, bite-zapper, tweezers, mini-sewing kit, lightweight fold-up tote
Clothes and shoes - a hat, underwear, swimwear, and a 'capsule' wardrobe
And not much else!

Bob has never quite got over the shock of seeing me unpack teabags, mugs and a flask on our honeymoon in Yorkshire [I was so thrifty, I wasn't paying for cups of tea in Betty's!] These days when I pack, he will watch me and say something like  "They do sell tea in Kent, you know..."
My Son In Law Gaz gave me a very useful tip - if you are staying in a hotel, [especially abroad, or in an unfamiliar city] grab one of the cards from the reception desk and tuck it in your bag or pocket. That way if you go out for the evening and want to get a cab back, you can easily show the driver the correct details. 

What are the essentials in your suitcase? 
What have I forgotten in my list?