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Unusual things you take with you.

(51 Posts)
NanKate Fri 02-Jan-15 07:38:15

When you go out or on holiday are there any unusual things you take with you.

DH always takes an extra loo roll and his pillow. I take a small pen knife of my late dad's to cut anything that needs cutting.

What do you take ?

MariClaire Fri 02-Jan-15 07:52:53

I take a nightlight. I once broke my nose walking full stride into the end of an open door during the night. I've never recovered smile

And my Swiss army knife. A spare set of house and car keys (I caused an expensive mess-up involving retooling lost house and car locks...blush) My DH never recovered smile

And cash hidden around the car. We've been known to leave wallets at home...

Brendawymms Fri 02-Jan-15 07:54:18

We seem to take a chemist shop of items that might be needed.!
As we do cruise holidays I take a lot of craft stuff with me for the sea days.
My OH always takes a roll of Gorilla tape for those emergencies. The number of times it's been used on other passengers bags when their suitcases suffer a failure.

janeainsworth Fri 02-Jan-15 08:44:16

How odd to take a toilet roll.
I always assume toilet paper will be supplied in adequate quantities - I wouldn't go anywhere where it wasn't!

A couple of years ago we went on a flotilla holiday in the Greek Islands. The deal was that everyone would eat at night in the local tavernas.
That did not stop a couple of fellow Brits from taking their own supply of potatoes and tins of corned beef confused

Teetime Fri 02-Jan-15 08:44:33

DH seems to take most of the Mandrawer. I just take far too many clothes and don't wear them.

vampirequeen Fri 02-Jan-15 09:09:37

I always have a multi-tool in my handbag and a compass bother given to me by DH before we married. The multi-tool has come in useful for myself and others many times and the compass was a romantic gift. We met on the internet and were miles apart a lot of the time. He gave me the compass so that when I felt lonely I could line it up and know the direction he was in. Sounds daft but somehow made us feel closer.

Gagagran Fri 02-Jan-15 09:11:15

Well janeainsworth you would never visit my DS and DDiL then because they are ALWAYS running out of toilet rolls (and milk and coffee) so we make sure we have a spare in the car now, having suffered embarrassment in the past! My lovely DDiL is not the most organised housekeeper but is the most wonderfully welcoming hostess so we don't mind at all.

chloe1984 Fri 02-Jan-15 10:01:55

We never go anywhere on holiday without my DH taking a torch and a
Title manicure set he was given many years ago. I just take too much of everything including teabags and packets of cup a soup blush

shysal Fri 02-Jan-15 10:07:04

I don't holiday any more, but used to take so many 'just in case' items that there was little room for clothes. I took most of the things mentioned above, (definitely loo roll) plus a variety of glues and sticky tapes, veg knife and a small non-stick pan with spatula if self-catering, a blow-up cushion for airport delays, tools, universal bath/basin plug, portable bidet, washing line and much more.
For every-day car trips I have a permanently half-full boot, containing snow shovel, folding sack truck, tool kit, wind-up lantern, shopping bags, picnic blanket, wellies, foot pump, bottle of water, loo roll, old fleece jacket and lots more, all covered over with an animal print throw. Oh, and a Shewee with gel bag in the glove box!
I am definitely an 'everything but the kitchen sink' person! blush

loopylou Fri 02-Jan-15 10:10:01

Am clearly very disorganised, is difficult enough working out what clothes to take......usually far too many...

Mishap Fri 02-Jan-15 10:13:57

My OH goes nowhere without a J cloth and bin liner bags.

Don't ask! - he also spent the best part of one holiday scouring electrical shops for a bulb for the light in the fridge in the self-catering cottage.

Hmmm.

soontobe Fri 02-Jan-15 10:56:38

Klippits and a small torch.

NfkDumpling Fri 02-Jan-15 11:03:03

DH always takes a toilet roll. And yes, occassionally we have needed it!

For me it's a roll of dog poo bags. Simply because I find a few poly bags very useful and poo bags come on a space saving roll.

And a small torch.

NfkDumpling Fri 02-Jan-15 11:04:25

And a She-wee. (There seems to be a trend here)

Ariadne Fri 02-Jan-15 12:02:15

My Smartcups (like a cafetière but in an insulated mug) and a supply of ground coffee. I cannot bear instant coffee. In hotels, and even motels, in North America, there is usually a coffee machine, but not in this country and rarely, I find in Europe.

granjura Fri 02-Jan-15 12:23:47

Depends if we travel by plane, or car- go to a Hôtel or self-catering.

If we go by car, I take a cafetière and my mattress comforter, and my bamboo neck pillow which is so comfortable. Because of arthritis, I now have a smaller and shorter/lighter mattress pad which I can put in my case if we fly. I always take 2 pillow protectors- as often the pillows in rental places have 1 clean cover but no protector, with less than desirable pillows.

granjura Fri 02-Jan-15 12:27:11

Depends if we travel by plane, or car- go to a Hôtel or self-catering.

If we go by car, I take a cafetière and my mattress comforter, and my bamboo neck pillow which is so comfortable. Because of arthritis, I now have a smaller and shorter/lighter mattress pad which I can put in my case if we fly. I always take 2 pillow protectors- as often the pillows in rental places have 1 clean cover but no protector, with less than desirable pillows. And a small kitchen knife that cuts really well- as self-catering places never have decent knife and cutting an onion or tomatoe thinly is impossible.

Next time we drive to Italy, I might even take our new soup maker kettle!

J52 Fri 02-Jan-15 12:38:00

When abroad, I love pottering around the ordinary shops that locals use on a day to day basis. So I usually bring the unusual back in the form of a gadget we don't easily find here.
As far as taking something, it has to be a sarong/wrap. Can be used to sit on, emergency towel, snuggle up in the plane and anything you need to wrap up! x

Agus Fri 02-Jan-15 12:52:24

If travelling by car, we take our own pillows other than that, kaftan, pashmina and meds. I also take my Swiss army knife, a new one, as I completely forgot the Swiss army knife which belonged to my late father was in my handbag and was confiscated at Nice airport. sad

crun Fri 02-Jan-15 13:12:46

I suppose a lot of this would be unusual if you're not cycle touring:

Panniers
Fleece Jacket
Fleece Jumpers 2 Off
Ron Hill Bikesters 2 Off
Synthetic T Shirts 2 Off
Zip-Off Trousers
Lycra Shorts 2 Off
Cagoule
Over Trousers
Windproof Jacket
Fleece Gloves
Balaclava
Cycle Cap
Sun Hat
Neck Warmer
Underpants 3 Off
Socks 3 Off
Hankies 3 Off
Deck Shoes & Bag
Cycle Shoes
Suncream
Pannier Liners
Rucsac
Bumbag
Compression Straps 2 Off
Belt 2 Off
Spex Case
Plastic Knife, Fork
Platypus Bag
Sterotabs
Carrier Bags
Document Wallet 2 Off
Towpath Permit
Camp Towel

Washkit:
Bag
Soap & Bag
Shampoo
Razor
Comb
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Persil

Food:
Muesli
Milk
Large Loaf
Marge
Fishpaste
Rice
Tin Curry/Chilli
Nuts
Biscuits

Sandwiches
Sandwich Bags
Water Bottles 3 Off
Indigestion Tablets
Medication
Elastic Bands
Bag Seals
Phone & Charger
Battery Charger
Calculator
House Key
Spare Bike Key
Small Change
Pencil & Rubber
Paper
Spex

Atlas
YHA Handbooks
Tube/Train/Ferry Info
Chequebook
Map Measurer
Heart rate monitor
Cycle Computer
Lights F&R
Pump & Hose
Lock & Key
Cycle Clips
Magnifying Glass
Wetwipes & Bag
Tissues
Oil & Bag
Spare Tube
Spare Cables B&G
Spare Pads
Spare Toe Strap

Toolroll:
Adjustable Spanner
Allen Keys 3,4,5,6mm
Screwdriver Flat/Pozi
Cone Key
Chain Tool
Spoke Key
Hacksaw Blade
Tyre Levers
Wire Brush
Insulation Tape
Sellotape
Penknife
PVC Gloves
Tyraps
Spare Pump Hose
Rag
Tube Patches
Tyre Patch
Rubber Solution
Chalk Grater
Chalk
Split Links
Spare Chain Links
Spare Bolts

First Aid:
Elastoplast
Savlon
Antiseptic Wipes
Bandage
Paracetamol
Nail Clippers
Scissors
Nylon Cord
Cotton
Buttons
Needles
Pins, Safety Pins

Wallet:
Cash
Cards
Driving Licence
YHA Card
Clubcard
ECG
PPC
Prescription

J52 Fri 02-Jan-15 13:16:54

Crun: you left out the kitchen sink! smile x

granjura Fri 02-Jan-15 13:17:08

I just love to go into the local hardware stores J52- and always bring back some gadget we just can't find here.

Never take my Swiss Army knife- my dad's too- but a bit different as it is the genuine article he was issued as a soldier in the 30s here in Switzerland.

harrigran Fri 02-Jan-15 13:50:35

I am another devotee of carrying toilet paper. Driving ten hours through France and stopping at aires means you do not get all the comforts of home. I carry a corkscrew, a nightlight and a roll of polythene bags. Since developing a tummy bug on one of these journeys I now also have a plastic bucket permanently in the car.

soontobe Fri 02-Jan-15 14:03:51

Remind me never to go cycle touring! shock

KatyK Fri 02-Jan-15 14:25:06

A torch always comes in useful, especially last year in Santorini. We take a few coffee sachets, polythene bags, plasters as I always seen to have sore feet on holiday confused