WHAT TO TAKE

• CASH: Don't leave home without it.

• A GUIDE BOOK suited to your lifestyle. I took "The Lonely Planet's Western Europe, on a Shoestring".

• PRESENTS FOR PEOPLE YOU VISIT: If you are representing an organisation thank some publications and merchandise from the organisation to give to your visitors. I took ACS magazines and monogrammed ties (provided by the ACS National Office ).

• BACKUP MEDIUM OR COMPUTER: "Back on air in Strasbourg, France"

• MODEM ACOUSTIC COUPLER: Not only are the phone sockets different to Australia and between each country, but some countries use several different types. Most handsets do not use US style RJ-11 jacks. Most hotel phones have wired-in cables (no sockets). Some hotels don't have phones in the rooms. Only one room had a phone with an RJ-11 socket. I have now purchased a "Konexx Koupler Model 203" Acoustic Coupler from Banksia Technology (about $AU300), which appears to work well).

• POWER ADAPTORS: Not as bad as phone sockets. The UK and Europe generally use the same voltage as Australia, but different power sockets (which I forgot). Buy an adaptor before you go, as they are difficult to buy for Australian sockets in Europe (which I discovered). There are three types of power plugs: the "European", "UK" and all the peculiar ones. One place in Italy had different power sockets in different rooms. Buy an adaptor in Australia before you go It is also worth having equipment which can run on common disposable batteries.

• TELEPHONE CALLING CARD: Telephone calls are expensive from Europe. They are even more expensive from hotel rooms. Get a telephone account card and call using their toll-free number. If your data network provider has local dial-in lines use them. In its article "Don't leave home with it" Choice Magazine May 1994 warns about using telephones which take credit cards, particularly at airports; these can be very expensive.

• FAX-MODEM OR FAX-EMAIL FOR PRINTING: Its not worth carrying a printer around. Just fax your documents to the hotel fax machine, from your room.

• YOUR ID: Take the identity card of any organisation you belong to. This will help you talk your way into other people's computer centres (worked for me).

• YOUR ADDRESS BOOK: You are going to have to contact people while away, even if just to send them post cards, so take their addresses with you.

• A BLACK DOUBLE-BREASTED SUIT: This can pass for a dinner suit or a lounge suit. You can wear it to a conference dinner, a cocktail party or a wedding (I did).