Almost ready to go...

Well, I have everything I (we) need... This time next week we'll be packed and ready to get our flight to Tashkent. My enforced idleness over the last few weeks has meant that I've had far too much time on my hands to plan and organise - I can be a pathological planner and organiser! I just get so excited, I have to be doing something... So we have all our money, our tickets, passports and visas, duly photocopied in case of crazed muggers. I have managed to limit the amount of "Lifeventure" unnecessary but cute little travel items and have simply bought Dry Wash (indispensible) and vacuum pack clothes bags, which I haven't come across before but I think will save a lot of space. I have dug out my trusty money belt, universal plug and washing line and have been collecting rubber bands and safety pins, on the basis that you can never have too many. Ditto with varying sizes of plastic bags. As for clothes, I have 4 t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers, 2 sarongs and a fleece for nearly 7 months of travelling. Ample!
The main thing limiting the amount I can take is that my backpack isn't very big, and got even smaller when I put it in the washing machine (just about managed to jam it in there) last year and it shrank. Not a problem, it simply means I don't give myself back issues trying to carry lots of stuff that likely as not I won't even need. Oh and as I'm taking Andy this year, he can carry the stuff I can't fit in. Perfect!