Only days away · The Wildlife Lens

Only days away

There’s always that tiny flutter of panic when you head off on a long expedition. You can be as seasoned as a cast‑iron skillet, but the moment you close the front door your brain starts whispering, “Did you pack everything? Did you actually pack everything? What about the pets? The family? The socks?”

And then come the classics: the “what if I leave something behind?” and its equally charming cousin, “what if I lose something important?” These thoughts are universal. No amount of resilience or experience seems to grant immunity from the last‑minute gremlins.

Over the years, I’ve managed quite the highlight reel: leaving my luggage at home, leaving my wallet at home, picking up the wrong passport, booking a hotel for the wrong day, and—my personal favourite—turning up at the airport bright and early… twelve hours early. Morning instead of evening. A bold choice.

And all of this despite having everything written down, planned out, and checked twice like a nervous Santa. It’s astonishing how one tiny, unrelated hiccup can trigger a domino run of chaos that ends up far bigger than the original problem.

But that’s travel for you: equal parts adventure, preparation, and sheer comedic timing.

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