When I was at boarding school, I had a huge old-fashioned Mallory Towers-style trunk that sat at the end of my bed. It had been my mother's trunk when she was at school and was really quite impractical in 1997, when I went, but there was something so romantic about taking a trunk to a boarding school that I insisted on having it. (I also insisted on turning up in school uniform, Mallory Towers style, while everyone else was in jeans, but that's another story.) My trunk sat at the end of my bed, full of the promise of going home soon.
I was given a big modern suitcase as a gift last year. It's too big to hide away anywhere, so it sits at the end of my bed, just like that old trunk, waiting to go somewhere. When I'm consumed by work (as I am now) and find myself forgetting about travel, and how big the world is, having my big suitcase sitting there – getting in the way, taking up space – but waiting for me to take it somewhere, reminds me what it feels like to just pack up, ready to go.
In other news, I was totally blown away by being named as one of the Up and Coming Blogs of 2012 (courtesy of Rachel of Black Eiffel) at Alt Summit last weekend, alongside such luminaries as Fieldguided and Honey Kennedy (whose recent wanderlusty guest post is partly what reminded me to write this one). Hello to anyone who has arrived via Alt – I'm more than delighted to see you here.
Congratulations for the Alt Summit kudos (is that the word?). Love the trunk too - sounds so glamorous though I can't imagine school can ever be that.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was never very glamorous, no, and there was a disappointing lack of mysteries to solve, but I still love trunks.
DeleteAh, suitcases are wonderful reminders of the wide world waiting to be discovered. I feel tempted sometimes to just pack up and disappear in the middle of the night.
ReplyDeleteSuch a romantic thought! They really are, I agree.
DeleteI did find you this past weekend through that up-and-comers list from Alt. Congratulations, your blog is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI recently acquired two vintage suitcases which I plan to use for storage and then some travel, too. They are dynamic things to have. Not only for the multi-uses they possess, but they indicate movement and travel, as you have pointed out, even while just sitting there. I love mine for that reason. :)
I'm so pleased you think so! Dynamic is a good word for them - especially if they're lovely old ones with all their character. I always wonder where they've been and what they've seen in years past.
DeleteI was given a set of suitcases upon my graduation from high school. They've only just fallen apart this year. I would love to have an old suitcase, they're so romantic. I so badly wanted to go to a boarding school when I was younger and I imagine that if I had, I would have shown up the same way as you.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of travel, my boyfriend and I are planning a trip to your home island of Islay this summer! Plus, Glasgow and Edinburgh. We're so excited to visit all the distilleries! If you have any tips, we'd love to hear them. :)
Ha, Erica, I was teased about it probably for the whole time I was there!
DeleteYou're going to Islay! That's amazing - I'll have a think about some good tips... It's really lovely, I promise.
Glasgow and Edinburgh are lovely too: Glasgow's amazingly friendly, and Edinburgh's just beautiful. How exciting!
There are so many times when I forget what it is like to go on an adventure. Between school, looking for a job, and working, I often shove thoughts of being able to travel and go on an adventure to the back of my mind. :(
ReplyDeleteI find myself doing the same - I always have to make sure I don't forget!
DeleteMallory Towers! So I wasn't the only one who read those books? Amazing.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a picture of your suitcase by your bed. What a nice idea. I've always said one of my favorite things is moving into a new place and having blank walls and nothing unpacked. I love the feeling of freedom and lightness. :)
ReplyDeleteEveryone at my school had trunks. Except me. My mother favoured bin bags. More practical I will admit but less glamorous...
ReplyDeleteHa, that really made me laugh. I was so messy at school to be honest that I always ended up supplementing with bin bags too! So glamorous!
DeleteSo I can say I discovered you before you were 'up and coming' :) Congrats, a well deserved mention!
ReplyDeletehi there! found your blog through black eiffel... nice blog! love the photos and the stories... happy blogging!
ReplyDeleteLovely story, both past and present.
ReplyDeleteI had one Mallory Towers book when I was little that I read over and over...I always wanted to find more but it was tricky finding books in English in South America at the time. This was a lovely story from a lovely blog!
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