Cruise control

When Pat and the MOTH head off on an adventure, the kids write a to-do list to be checked twice!

- PAT MCDERMOTT

I used to find travelling easy. I'd hop out of bed, throw a few things in a suitcase and arrive at the airport just in time to see my flight depart.

However, a long-awaited cruise to Japan with the MOTH (Man of the House) required more planning than a moon launch, starting with what clothes to take. My black and white polka dot coat was a must. It's the only way to find me in a crowd. And for drinks with the captain it has to be the purple dress I wore to Ruff Red's wedding.

Our girls offered to help me pack. "I don't want to look 'over the top' but not too casual either. So glamorous but low-key. Do you know what I mean?"

They didn't.

We looked at the bed where I'd dumped dresses, a coat, shoes, fancy pants, not so fancy pants, new jeans, old jeans and a pair of very high heels.

"Mum," Flynn warned, "you haven't worn heels since the night you went out to dinner and fell over a cat. You might fall overboard!"