Heading off to Victoria for a few days. Will leave the next travel tip with you. Think carefully about the clothing you pack. Will you use that piece enough? Can it be interchanged with other tops and bottoms? Layers are better than heavy, bulky coats that might only be worn occasionally. A fleece vest, long sleeved shirt and a rain poncho or umbrella should keep you warm and dry in most climates.  

My website is now up and running. Many thanks to Bob Michek of South Hill Graphics for all his patience in teaching this technophobe the tricks of the trade. I don’t have many techie genes in this body. Now just waiting on the book publishers. Think I will start on my next novel if I can decide on which of the three ideas to choose. Websites and publishing are all very new and exciting but nothing beats writing. “Joy, Joy, Happy Joy...

Paper weighs a lot. Read, then recycle magazines, paperbacks, and guidebooks. Hotels/hostels sometimes have an area set aside for book exchanges. Used bookstores are a good source for new to you reading materials and guidebooks. Perhaps you could consider riping apart guidebooks at home and packing only the essential pages. The advent of the e-readers, smart phones and tablets, make it easy to download books and other materials into one handy,...

Travel tip for the week. Whether traveling with a backpack or a rolling suitcase, weight is important. Often cases with wheels must be carried on escalators and up and down staircases. Many airlines now charge extra for checked baggage over a certain weight. Remember with carry on baggage, you must be able to lift it easily into the overhead bins. You don’t want to start your holiday with a torn rotator cuff or strained...