Saturday, May 23, 2009

Airing My Dirty Linen

My Laundry Travelled Seven Thousand Kilometres

Photographs copyright: DAVID McMAHON


Did I ever tell you about the day my laundry went overseas? Yup, that's right. Overseas. As in, from one country to another. And then back again. The incident has never been forgotten by my closest friends, who still hassle me about it, quite understandably.

So please allow me to set the record straight. I was in my early twenties and was spending a ten-day break in a city that was a couple of hours' flying time away from where I lived. I was visiting my girlfriend at the time and, because I was well brought up and lived a disciplined life during my boarding school years, I had my priorities right.

One of those priorities was getting my laundry done. You know what it’s like when you’re on holiday, right? So there I was, doing the right thing and getting all my dirty clothes together, when my girlfriend told me not to worry.

You see, she was a flight attendant with an international airline and was about to fly out for a couple of days. She said all I had to do was bundle my dirty clothes into a plastic garbage bag, put it into her suitcase, and she would take it on her trip and bring it back, freshly laundered.

Sounded good to me. So I did as I was told, sealed the bag and put it into the suitcase. Two days later, my girlfriend returned from her quick trip and, hey presto, I had freshly pressed shirts, jeans, you name it.

My closest friends were very impressed. Not just because my girlfriend had broken new ground, but because my clothes – and there is no subtle way to put this – had gone overseas dirty and come back clean.

PS: Did my girlfriend and I get married? Of course we did. She's the very beautiful, very intelligent and very resourceful Mrs Authorblog.


Visit TNChick's Photo Hunt. Today's theme: "Plastic''.

53 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

That's a cute story! Yes, she is very resourceful. If I could send all the laundry from WM overseas, I would do it in a heartbeat! ;^)

Sandi K said...

That's what I call love! Cute post :)

Anonymous said...

LOL. great story! and thanks for answering the burning question..hehe

have a great holiday weekend!
-Tracie

Jazz said...

And does she still take your laundry on the plane?

Unknown said...

And you could say those clothes were well traveled as I suspect you did!

Did the laundry have to go 'abroad' becuase there was no facilities where you were? Just asking.

Hilary said...

Nothing hampered your laundry day, eh? ;)

Craig Glenn said...

Great story David,
But inquiring minds want to know.
Just where did your laundry go? Were the pressed in France?
Just where were your pants?
Were they folded in London?
Is that where the fun's done?
Did she take 'em to Jamaca?
Or starch 'em in Calcuta?
Inquiring minds want to know!
Just where did your boxers GO?!?

Craig Glenn

Sandi McBride said...

Ah, I would have been disappointed had you not married this very resourceful young lady! She wrapped you up in a nice package, didn't she? Light starch...
Sandi

Cheffie-Mom said...

Awwwwwwwwww, what a sweet story, laundry and all! Have a great weekend!

Jinksy said...

When my Bro was at Uni in Reading, his laundry used to travel up and down via British Rail, in a cleverly constructed, leatherette, zipped 'pochette' is the best way I can describe it - looked like a flat kind of briefcase - and they only lost it once! But the compensated was enough for him to buy replacements, once they money came through. Lazy little so and so, wasn't he? Now, I'm glad to say, he's a dab hand with a washing machine - and an iron - and a cooking stove, among other things!

aims said...

Truly romantic David.

On the Mrs. Authorblog's part - she must have been in love to do your laundry when dating. Some gals would have handed you a box of detergent and said go to it. ;0)

Some.

Anonymous said...

Aw, that's really sweet!

I can see why you kept her ;-)

Mrs. O said...

Now that's true love. What a sweet story.

Shelley said...

Now that is love! Mrs. Autorblog is a kind woman!! So what country did they go to to be laundered?
:-0

Chele76 said...

oh that's WONDERFUL! I love it!

Anonymous said...

I refer you to all the question posed by Craig Glenn. Great post David...I'm a sucker for a love story.

Sylvia K said...

Great story, David! Just the smile needed on this Friday morning! Have to admit I have some of the same questions that Craig Glen asked! Talk about international garments!

Have a great weekend!

Shadow said...

impressive! that would've been too girl a girl to pass up on, certainly!

Charles Gramlich said...

If it had happened to me I'd have to say my laundry was better traveled than I was.

Maggie May said...

David, that was a really lovely story. However, I hope it wasn't just for the laundry that you married her!!!!! LOL

Unknown said...

That was such a sweet memory. Travel, laundry, romance...Bravo..

Smiles,
Sonia ;)

Anonymous said...

Hahaha!!! What an awesome trip! :) Definitely impressive!

Sniffles and Smiles said...

What a lovely story!!!! She's a fabulous, and amazing lady!!!! Love it! Janine

Ananda girl said...

I love this story... good thing you married her instead of letting her get away. A prize to be sure!

2sweetnsaxy said...

How could you not marry a girl like that!? Great story. :-)

Grace Albaugh said...

Well, that's one of the more bizar things I've read and I can see why you kept her.

Gaelyn said...

Great story. I wish my dirty laundry would fly away and return clean. You choose a good woman.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

You lucky thing getting your laundry back. When I did a lot of international travel, British Airways was notorious for losing luggage. I once che ked my luggage in at London Heathrow, went for a business trip to the USA, had to buy emergency clothes to see me over the business trip - three days - and returned to the UK only to get my luggage delivered to me the day after I returned. Had I know that my luggage was to be a tourist in another country I wouldn't have bothered my backside packing the effing thing in the first place!

Thank you so much for the POTD again. It is always an honour to have you do this for my posts.

imac said...

Flying P ants.

SandyCarlson said...

You were a smart young man to recognized a keeper! What a great story.

Rikkij said...

I think maybe "pressed" is the key. that's above and beyond the call of duty. Nice story, David-Thanks for the recognition for my post. Greatly appreciated! ~rick

Eddie Bluelights said...

Great story, Mr Darcy - I mean David. That confused you, didn't it? Time will tell. ~ Eddie

Unknown said...

Nice shot for the theme. Cut posting :)
Happy Weekend.

Natalie said...

She is a keeper for sure. :D

Kathleen said...

Now that's a post I'd story for Post of the Day!

Kathleen said...

Let's try that again, with my eyes open: Now that's a story I'd nominate for Post of the Day!!!

Lew said...

Now that is a long range plastic story! Only you could make a garbage bag interesting!

fullonmommy said...

Wow, what a concept!
that would win the prize for most un environmentally friendly laundry of all time!

but somehow i love that.

LadyFi said...

What a wonderfully bizarre story!

Do you still take your dirty laundry on holiday with you?

Merisi said...

Gives a whole new meaning to being taken for a ride, er, flight (forget about garbage in, garbage out!).

(Funny, my Word Verification today is "angst" - hellllooo, it's not my laundry in that garbage bag!)

ZB said...

lol, THAT WAS LOVELY. AND WITH A HAPPY ENDING, I AM HAPPY TOO.TC:)))

Tara R. said...

Loved the backstory on this shot. Fun photo for this week's theme.

Patricia said...

What creative use of the "plastic" theme and a fun and delightful post!

Blessings!

marcia@joyismygoal said...

What a fun story

just jody said...

nice! did it alert the bomb sniffing dogs?

i beati said...

hilarious

Corey~living and loving said...

THAT is an interesting story. Never heard the like of it. :)

have a great day.

srp said...

Did she do the laundry herself? Hopefully she had a way to get it done in her overseas city... she is a gem indeed. Mine is up here.

RJ Flamingo said...

Great story! Hubs & I have also sent our laundry home ahead of us (although it did not return to us clean!). On our honeymoon, we made the mistake of buying a number of books in San Francisco, outbound to Australia. Once in Sydney a week later - and not wanting to do laundry on our honeymoon - we packed up all the books and dirty laundry and shipped it home to ourselves in Miami, surface mail (the cheapest). It arrived 2 months later, our having completely forgotten all about it!

Daryl said...

I am so loving this .. what a woman... me? I'd have shown you the nearest laundramat

spacedlaw said...

That is a most incredible story, David!

Anonymous said...

I love this story! How smart of you to marry her! :)

Sandra

Katney said...

What fun! There are so many interesting ways folks meet and get together. I met my other half when he horned in on a date with another guy. Well, a sort of date, anyway. I skipped photohunt this week in favor of the first mountain camping trip of the year. With him, of course.