The Famous Grouse Index

By | May 29, 2011
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The Big Mac index is an index that was published for the first time in the magazine The Economist on September 6th, 1986 and gives an indication of the price level in a country. The index is built around the fact that a McDonald’s Big Mac hamburger is a product that is available all over the world, is globally uniform and at the same time domestically produced. By dividing the cost of a Big Mac in the USA with the cost of a Big Mac in any other country converted to US dollars you get an indication of whether that country’s currency is over or under valued towards the dollar.

In much the same way, the Famous Grouse whiskey is a globally available and uniform product and it’s price converted to cost per liter in Euros gives a (strong) indication of the general price level at the airport tax free store you are currently in. €10 is the index. Above that = expensive. Below that = go ahead!


Bacon Wrapped Halloumi

By | May 14, 2011
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This fabolous side dish is a given on any grill occasion in that it is both delicious and easy-to-make at the same time. You need 200 g of real Cyprus Halloumi cheese (available at your lokal deli) and eight slices of bacon (one pack). Cut the cheese in half and repeat until you have eight equally sized cuts. Place on a towel or napkin and let it dry off for a minute or two. Wrap one slice of bacon around each cut. Put on high heat on the grill for four minutes (turn 90 degrees after one minute to avoid sticking – you’ll get the famous grill grid as a bonus). Done! Delicious! A guaranteed winner! (If you don’t like this you probably like over-boiled-British-style-cauliflower; may God have mercy on your soul)

In Sweden, we call this Moomin meat… 😉

Fearless change

By | March 16, 2011
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Long overdue, I finally picked up reading this book given to me by a friend several years ago and now I just can’t put it down. Brutally honest in the description of the natural born unwillingness to change that we recognize with so many people we meet in our everyday encounters. This is how you tackle that unwillingness. A given gotta read!

Fearless Change : Patterns for Introducing New Ideas by Mary Lynn Manns and Linda Rising (2004). Addison-Wesley. ISBN 9780201741575.

Puddle jumping

By | March 8, 2011
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The art of properly managing a short trip lies in packing. Packing smart is everything. Lasting only one or two days, the shorthaul is when you try to avoid checking your luggage. Think carry-on. Airline allowances for domestic US flights are two carry-ons per person while in EU it’s only one (and yes, your briefcase counts as one). As if this injustice is not enough, the maximum weight and dimensions of a US carry-on are bigger. But then again. in America everything is bigger…

To leverage this injustice, why not buy a US sized carry-on the next time you are in the US and use it in the EU? Chances are it will pass as a legitimate carry-on most of the time. Look for one that you like but that also comes with wheels (turns out pulling something on wheels is much easier than carrying the same amount of weight) and that expands – i.e. there is a zipper around the bag that if used expands the height of the bag with 5-10cm. This allows you to use the bag as carry-on in one direction and as checked luggage in the other. Black may be as boring as it is common and it does require that extra attention at baggage claim, but black is also discreet and does not draw much attention. Just what you need.

Puddle jumping is nice as the distances are shorter and therefore more convenient, but you have to plan your packing even harder. Essentially every item you bring has to be used at least once, or you should seriously consider not bringing it. The exception to this rule (there are always exceptions) is an umbrella. You should always bring an umbrella, especially if your journey takes you anywhere near Britain, but you of course hope you won’t have to use it.

Things of multiple use come in handy here, such as a reversible belt. Brown on one side, black on the other and with two buckles. Very neat. Saves space. Travel size toiletry bag, travel size contact lens liquid bottle, travel size toothbrush, travel size toothpaste, travel size everything. Can’t find the stuff you need in travel sizes? Make your own. I usually bring hair wax in an empty contact lens case, cut in half. Be creative! Don’t be afraid of buying the things you need either at the airport or at the destination. Why pack a deodorant if you plan to buy one soon anyway? Buy it at the airport instead. After security.

Being the prick that keeps the flight from departing on time is just not cool anymore. It probably never was. Be reasonably on time. Not too early but not late either. Use the airlines’ smartphone apps – they’ll keep you posted on any delays or gate changes that concern you.


Longhauls

By | February 3, 2011
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A longhaul flight is when you travel across continents, which at least in the normal case means that you are gone for 4-5 days or more. While there are still people to be found who will consider packing for such a trip in a carry-on, most people realize that the implications of that (such as wearing the same clothes several days in a row) are not that attractive. So think suitcase. Or suitcases. This is when you really take advantage of airline baggage allowances and significant commodity price differences between origin and destination. Buy stuff abroad? This is the time. Traveling from Sweden to the USA, your baggage going THERE should contain nothing but your passport, toothbrush, toothpaste and a credit card while going HOME is a completely different story.

There are longhauls and then there are longhauls. There is a difference between a morning flight from EU to the US and an evening flight from Hong Kong to EU. Why? Because in the first scenario you will more or less start your day fresh on an airplane full with people you don’t know, hopefully with access to a power outlet and wifi but stripped of possibilities to use your phone or be disturbed by your colleagues. I.e. chances are very high that this can make your top ten list of most productive days at work. Ever. And fresh coffee is served just a button press away… But an evening flight out of Chek Lap Kok bound for EU is more about trying to catch as many hours of sleep as possible. Especially if your employer insists on hauling you around in coach. So plan your journey accordingly.

Direction matters! Flying longer distances west is more merciful on your beauty sleep than flying east. You will find that an eastbound longhaul will more often give you jetlag as you skip hours by setting your clock forward while your body remains on CET, and that the effect of a westbound longhaul is more like staying up later than usual on a Saturday night. If you expect to function as a civilized human being you obviously need to adapt to your new time zone immediately. In order to achieve that you may need to consume excessive amounts of coffee and stay up just a little bit longer, even if your body cries Sleep! Sleep! Sleep! Plan this ahead to avoid surprises.

So what this boils down to in terms of traveling is that how and what you pack depends on what kind of longhaul you are in for. Westbound daytrip? Expect to stay awake most of the flight time and plan/pack to get some work done and to manage time difference as part of the post-flight procedures. Eastbound nighttrip? This is when toothbrush and toothpaste appear far more relevant than your laptop.

Stuff you check in:

  • iPhone/iPad charger
  • Toiletry bag (consider all the liquids you can bring!)
  • Pocket knife
  • Clothes for the full length of the stay
  • Dress shoes (as you of course travel in sneakers)
  • Gym clothes

Stuff you don’t check in:

  • Your passport and tickets
  • Your electronics essentials: iPhone, iPad, laptop
  • Your Ray Bans
  • Your noise cancelling headphones
  • Your toiletry travel kit (nighttrips only)
  • A bottle of water (buy after security)

The toiletry travel kit you bring onboard contains toothpaste, deodorant, a sample size EdT and contact lens liquid (all in an airline approved one liter sealable transparent plastic bag and all in travel sizes) along with toothbrush, contact lens case, earplugs, shades, an inflatable neck cushin and your prescription eyeglasses.