Sherri's Helpful Hints

TRAVELLING TIPS

Empty film canisters make excellent containers for travel toiletries such as shampoo, moisturizer etc. and take up less room.

If you don’t wear sunglasses for a couple of days after arrival it will help you adjust to daylight more quickly and get over the effects of jet lag.

Lemon is a natural antiseptic, therefore, lemon juice dabbed on insect bites will take away the itch, burn and help dry it out.

Before purchasing bottled water abroad, turn the bottle upside down, if it leaks it may have been filled with untreated water.

To keep luggage secure and avoid losing keys, thread a key ring through the zip ends instead of a lock.

Avoid unwashed salad and water melons. Locals have been known to pierce holes in the melons and put them into the river to absorb water. This makes them look fresh and juicy but they could be contaminated.

Hang clothes in the shower room, the steam will get the creases out.

Place a golf ball on the floor and roll bare foot over it while travelling. This helps circulation.

A light eau de cologne is an ideal refresher when travelling.

Pack dark color clothing to cut down on washing while away.

To avoid dehydration when visiting hot countries, drink sweet fizzy drinks and eat chips or salted nuts for salt content.

Photo copy passport and carry separately in case of loss.

Put feet in brown paper bags under inflight socks to prevent swelling.


CAMPING TIPS

On old (but broken) heavy base electric frypan with high-dome lid can be used as a camp oven by placing it firmly on a flat bed of coals or even heat beads. Provided the heat is evenly distributed it will do a great job of cooking lunch.

The plastic tags used to close bagel or bread wrappers can be used as clothes pins. About 50 of them stack into a 35 mm film canister.

Buy several individual cans of drinks such as Capri Sun or Minute Maid and put in freezer for at least a day prior to leaving. They make excellent substitutes for the messy ice cubes that melt in your cooler or those pesky igloo gel freeze packs. They are convenient, take up less room because as they melt inside their containers you still have a cold drink and your food stays cool at the same time.

Another similar tip is to fill a large plastic container with water and freeze until solid. As it melts, this can then provide fresh cold water gradually over a long period of time. Ideal when sailing etc.

To freshen up plastic water containers before use, place two denture cleaning tablets inside and fill up with water. Leave overnight, then discard water.

To keep boots dry and insect free, push sticks into ground and place boot over top of stick.

Radiator foil makes an ideal insulator under mattresses, or when sitting and kneeling on the ground.

Cut an orange in half and eat the flesh, leaving the peel complete. This can then be used to cook eggs in the ashes of a camp fire.

If you smear dishwashing liquid on the outside of pans it will prevent the smoke from staining the utensil.

For safety, when using a portable "Gas" stove, drill holes in the four "feet" so that you can put a tent peg through into the ground to fix securely.

Nothing worse than soggy toilet paper apart from no toilet paper at all! Cut down a large plastic drink bottle, put a slit in the side through which to pass the sheet of paper - and the paper stays dry.

To prevent soap from becoming slimy, put the soap bar into a stocking or one leg of a pair of tights and use through the material. This can then be hung up when not in use.

To keep shoes dry, take a wire coathanger and bend up about 2" at each end. Hang in the usual way and a shoe can be hooked over the ends.

To hang the wash without pins, take two pieces of cord, string or rope and twist them together. Make into a washing line by suspending between two appropriate places. Washing can then be "poked" between the two strands.

If sleeping on an air bed, place a blanket on top of the mattress, between the airbed and the sleeping bag, it will be much warmer.

Place loops over tent rails which can be used to hang things from without causing water seepage through the canvas.