Leather suitcase Temp 16738
“Alone, with my worldly goods; three suitcases, a cabin trunk and two tea chests. I felt as if I had come to the end of the world.”
Nan Jacobs, Scottish emigrant to Australia, from NSW Migration Heritage Centre
When I left for university, with a car full of stuff, my parents kept telling me that they both left home with just one suitcase – and they’d had to take the bus.
I’d just arrived in Buenos Aires, but my suitcase was in Brazil. I got money to buy essentials, but I was horrified to find out that it was about half the amount they gave the first class passengers who lost their bags.
What's your most memorable journey with a suitcase? And did your luggage end up in the same place as you?
It was 2 days before my nephew's wedding in the Rhondda. Myself, my 4 year old daughter (soon to be bridesmaid), 6 year old son and an enormous leather suitcase (regular hiding place of my son) were awaiting the train in Glasgow Central. As it grew later and later I began to worry. Finally the train trundled up over an hour late. The suitcase weighed a ton. I struggled onto the train, heaving the behemoth, with my daughter clinging to my arm. We had missed our connection at Crewe. There followed an incredible wait for another train, two tired and grumpy children - a suitcase that wouldn't allow any trips to the loo without the aid of a train official (after much searching - and suitcase heaving!) All in all, it was one of the worst journey's I've ever made and each and every step was hindered by the dreaded suitcase
I left the UK to embark on the journey to Australia, leaving behind me a family in tears. We had decided to travel light, bearing 9 suitcases and 5 carry on bags.
I'm emigrating with one suitcase therefore space will be limited - I'm trying to weigh up what is essential, i.e. better in UK than Oz. I guess it’s just the fear of the unknown – and I will be travelling on a thimble/almost nil funds.
When me and my wife flew to NZ 1966, we were restricted to 2 cases. We travelled to London by Train, then BOAC Boeing jet at Heathrow, stopping at Geneva, Tel Aviv,Delhi, Rangoon, Singapore, Darwin, Sydney and finally Auckland, and it took 24 hours. An overnight run to Wellington. We got a wee rest before embarking on the M.V. Moari for an overnight sail to Christchurch. Early next morning a train to Christchurch Railway Station where we were met by another Gov. Officer, to get as on our way to Invercargill. This would entail another 10 hour train journey which would not leave for another 6 hours! I asked if I could hire a car a young lady appeared to take us to the Car hire, where I collected a car , My old UK license with the permission to drive a heavy and light Locomotive. made it easy for me to convince them that it was an International one. When we returned 3 years later on the Italian Ship M.V.Fairsky. It took about 5 weeks and we had 3 wooden crates in its hold
