NewZealandCoach’s Weblog

Here’s a list of useful stuff I think everyone should have …

• a cellphone that does bluetooth so you can drive hands free. Why end up dead for the sake of a few dollars?
• a tape measure – preferably one that’s put back in the same place each time.
• a hammer.
• a stepladder. I never realised how useful these were until the Man About the House bought one.
• a Leatherman. Mine lives in my handbag, and it’s been used for so many bizarre things …
• a laptop computer. Makes work seem so much easier and you can work wherever you like!
• some sort of alarm on your cellphone (I’m assuming you carry a cellphone). Set it to remind you of things that slip your mind – when to get up (grin), five minutes before a meeting, all that.
• a really good set of kitchen knives, not the lightweight ones, but good solid steel. Preferably with a strong set of scissors.
• a Palm, or at the very least a notebook that stays in your bag, with pen attached. Get into the habit of writing things down, even if you’re sure you’ll remember. One of the first symptoms of stress is forgetting the silly things, let alone phone numbers and appointments.
• sunglasses – avoid headaches and eyestrain. Not to mention the long term effects on your eyesight.
• rechargable batteries and a battery recharger. I hate buying batteries.
• a small plastic bag containing the following – a few sticking plasters, a couple of panadeine, a couple of twist ties, a spare blister pack of medications you might be taking, girl essential things if you happen to be a girl, an emergency ten dollar note, a couple of rubber bands. Throw it in your handbag where it’s easy to get to.
• speaking of handbags (sorry guys!) make sure your everyday bag is serving your needs. I have one that’s distressed leather and *beautiful* but it’s too deep. Things go in there and vanish, never to be seen again. If you’re constantly scrabbling around in your bag, can’t find the things you need, and it’s driving you crazy look around for something more suited to your needs. Life is too short to lose stuff in a stupid bag. Or maybe wear cargo pants

Came back to add just two more things. Hand sanitizer. You can get it from the chemists in little bottles suitable for stashing when you’re out and about. Let’s face it, the everyday germs in your own house won’t hurt you – it’s the ‘foreign’ ones when you’re out that might do the damage. I work in a school. Believe me, those places are a hive of bacteria, and this stuff is great!   The second thing is dental floss.  It works for really strong sewing thread in an emergency, and it saves you from those social gaffes of having grotesque green things stuck in your teeth at inopportune moments!