Travelling (too) light

I would like to consider myself a seasoned traveller. I have travelled en famille, with Sean, with friends and as a solo traveller. In fact one of the original thoughts I had for a title of this blog was 'An Idiot Abroad' as I knew I would inevitably have to recount some of my strange experiences and situations that I find myself in when I am let loose on the world.
Despite a well stamped passport and a long term love/hate relationship with Scotrail and East Coast Railways I have never mastered the art of packing. I belong firmly in the school of 'I might need this so I will pack it despite the fact I have never needed it before'traveller. This is not to say I always remember to pack everything that I do need. Most commonly I forget to pack my hairbrush and toothpaste but I have been known to completely miss out underwear. I tend to think that as long as I have my passport and tickets I can always pick up anything I have forgotten in a local shop when I reach my destination.
Sean, on the other hand, is an expert packer. He always says, 'Lay out all your clothes and money that you wish to take, then pack half the clothes and twice the money.' He got packing down to a fine art when he spent three years commuting between Aberdeen and The Hague. Each Monday he would leave for the airport with a carry on case and return on Fridays ready to do it all again the following week.
Recently we travelled down to Bridge of Allen for a wedding. We stayed overnight in the Adamo hotel where we had a wonderful evening meal before retiring to the bar and finally to bed in preparation for the forthcoming wedding. Given what I have stated above, imagine my shock when Sean's first words when he woke up in the morning were, 'I haven't packed my tie.'
This revelation, in normal circumstances, would not elicit the panic I felt just then. After all, suitable neck wear can be picked up in any gent's shop or department store. The problem was that we needed a Red Gordon tartan tie to match his kilt! However, not only were we still in Scotland (there would have been no possible solution in any other country!)but we were in Stirling so there simply had to be kilt shops aplenty in which to find, if not Red Gordon, then something suitable. Given that, it still took visits to two shops before he returned with a Red Gordon tie!
The wedding, despite the rain, was wonderful. The Bride, beautiful, the groom charming and the guests, witty. And Sean, well turned out and handsome!