Earlier on in the year, I had cause to reflect on the things I value and try to always pack when I’m on the road.  I’m trying to look beyond the obvious suspects of passport, pocket knife, and the eternally popular pashmina.  In the last few months, I’ve had one item which has been enormously valuable, although I didn’t bring it with me – I got it here.

The international calling card has been more valuable than I could have anticipated.  When I went to Australia in 1999, I relied on these and regularly bought a $20 card for calling home, to supplement my sporadic but lengthy emails.  Although more than 10 years have passed, they still have a use.  I’ve successfully skyped family and friends from the comfort of a hostel room or the living room of the flat, but there are always occasions when things go awry and technology lets you down.  I also had a torrid few weeks of hamster decline and eventual demise which necessitated a number of calls, not only to Auntie Melanie and Uncle Edd the hamster sitters, but also to flight companies, banks and various other UK-based folks.  The call charges on this particular specimen are very reasonable (about 3 cents a minute to a UK landline, making it feasible for $10 to last for ages), it’s available from the 7-11 (which isn’t open 7 til 11 – go figure!) and it can be used from any landline, by calling a freephone number.  No need to hunt for change, insert a credit card into a dodgy phone box or plead for understanding from the landline owner.  Bonanza.