Cue in Peter Paul & Mary

WAY BACK IN 1969, Peter Paul & Mary had a huge hit, John Denver’s Leaving on a Jet Plane. That September, after working in Canada for nearly a year, I left on a jet plane to return home to Sydney to get married, so this is one song I always carry in my heart.

Fast forward forty years, and here we go again. Please sing along with me:

All my bags are packed, I’m ready to go …

Hmmm ... maybe I'd better rethink the wardrobe a little ...


Ah - that's better ... who needs sneakers anyway?

Oh, and I made this jacket to dress up the daggy jeans for when we go out to dinner in Paris (I can't believe I just said the P word):




And some shoe bags, just in case I lose that one pair I have been allowed to pack and find some dirt-cheap little substitutes in Florence.



Mr Fudge's bag ...



Spot the difference?

In my defence, it has to be said that we are attending a wedding in Scotland, which makes it necessary to include warm semi-formal clothing, high heels (for me), and a man's suit, which hisself has conveniently dumped in my bag. Two months' supply of Lipitor, Avapro, and other such life-saving drugs tend to take up a lot of space as well - something we didn't have to contend with sixteen years ago, on our last trip overseas. Anyway, back to the song.

I’m standing here outside your door (AKA the bathroom)
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye.

If you don't get a move on, we'll miss the taxi!

But the dawn is breakin’, it’s early morn
The taxi’s waiting, he’s blowin' his horn
Already I’m so lonesome I could cry.

In truth, our flight is not at dawn, but at 2.45 in the morning - we'll be so lonesome because what sane person will be up at that hour?

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you’ll wait for me
Hold me like you’ll never let me go.

Of course he will - I've got the tickets in my handbag.

I’m leavin' on a jet plane (wah-hoo!)
I don’t know when I’ll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go.

And if you believe that, you'd believe anything. Stay tuned for reports of our Awfully Big Adventure.