DON’T FORGET

The prospect of a holiday sometimes makes you want to hit the road so quickly that you completely forget about a few essentials. The little list below should help you unyoke with ease.

START IN GOOD TIME

There are a few things that you need to address beforehand. If official documents are lacking or an uncommon spare part needs to be ordered from the big city, you’re not going to get things sorted during a single lunch break.

Get the paperwork sorted Make sure that both your medical aid and insurance cover is in order. You don’t want to be stranded next to desert highway with a wrecked car and a broken arm, and then have to debate an operator in some call centre.

Fatten the piggy Ensure that there is sufficient funds in your bank account so that your debit orders can be paid and your electricity and water won’t be cut off during your time away from home.

Before you head off If you’re planning to travel far, it’s advisable to have your towing vehicle as well as the caravan serviced before you leave home. You should at least have the wheel bearings, lights, spare wheels and brakes tested.

Is everything up to date? Make sure that neither your driver’s or vehicle licence will expire while you are on holiday – or else you’ll incur fines before you get back home.

Get a comprehensive road map Get the most recent and best map of the areas you’ll be passing through. Make sure your GPS (if you have one) is updated with the latest mapset.

Remember your pills There’s only one ointment that works for your chilblained toes or fingers, but what’s it called again? It will be a tall order to find it in an unfamiliar town’s pharmacy! Also remember to start taking malaria prophylactics early enough if you’re travelling to an affected area.

Remember your first-aid kit Include all the basics – your GP or travel clinic should be able to advise you on what needs to be included.

Get that chronic meds If someone in your family uses chronic medication, arrange a double prescription with your doctor or pharmacist beforehand so that the meds will last until you return home.

KEEP THE BADDIES OUT

Crime has become a national pastime – so do what you can to prevent your home from becoming a criminal’s playground. Test your home alarm a number of times before your departure to allow sufficient time for repairs, if necessary. Leave a key and the alarm’s deactivation code with a neighbour, friend or a family member who lives nearby. Also provide them with a copy of your itinerary and the contact details of the places where you’ll be camping – in case a geyser bursts or Amadeus, the next-door dachshund, consumes your beloved, rare, prize-winning budgerigars.

Inform your security company Most of them will be prepared to pay a visit to your property more frequently during your absence. Your security company should also have the contact details of whoever has your house keys, should the alarm be triggered and the guards need access to your property.

Cancel the paper(s) Cancel all newspaper deliveries for the duration of your absence and also arrange for someone to empty your mailbox once in a while.

Don’t be an easy target Don’t announce to the entire world that you’re going away on holiday. Load the car up in the garage and don’t leave any messages on your answering machine announcing that you’ll be away for a while. It’s like an open invitation...

They know all the tricks Never leave a key in its lock on the inside of a door. If a burglar notices it through a window, he’ll do anything to reach it.

Don’t encourage thieves Garden tools lying around make dirty work easy for opportunistic burglars or anyone who is up to mischief. Rather lock away the ladder, spades and even the hosepipe in your garage. Who knows, perhaps that mischievous little rascal from next door decides to flood your house just for fun while you’re away....

I’M ALWAYS AROUND...

A little bit of movement and changes in and around the house will create the illusion that there is someone at home.

Would you like to phone a friend? If you use a house sitter, the person must know how your alarm system works. Also give them the phone numbers of neighbours or friends who they can call if there’s a problem.

Fewer possible problems Switch off all unneccessary electrical appliances if the house sitter won’t be needing them.