As readers may know I’ve lost my luggage…the worst nightmare of travelers. It leaves you feeling dirty, wearing old clothes and socks, and generally unclean. Fortunately quality hotels offer shaving kits and toothbrushes for personal hygiene. That’s a consolation at least. The Wrest Hotel where I’m staying in Hobart, Tasmania offered such an amenity for which I’m grateful.
I’d also like to say that everyone I’m met in Tasmania has been very kind, and even went out of their way to offer me amenities last night to help me through my travel troubles. I declined with thanks knowing I’d be able to get a shaving kit at the hotel.
It does add insult to injury though when you discover that whatever corporate person chose the shaving kit did so on the basis of cost alone. I discovered with a soap laden face that the shaving kit gave a new meaning to the term “safety razor”. It is so safe in fact, that it does not cut whiskers! Truly a design of the orient made at rock bottom prices.
I suggested to the concierge that the person that made this purchase decision should try shaving with it himself. He replied “yes sir, I know they are terrible”. There were no other options, the hotel store was closed, and none within quick walking distance.
Combine that with the fact that they block outgoing SMTP for email on their Internet service ($10 per hour!) and I’m one really unhappy camper.
So I’m going to leave this up until the Wrest Hotel shows me their new shaving kit. Leave a comment. After all shouldn’t the paying customer be king?
I want to reiterate that Alan, Garth, Bruce, Beth, and many others here have been gracious and my visit was otherwise splendid. Hobart is a great town of beauty and of warmth. I just despise corporate weasels trying to save a nickel where it really is important to provide a basic courtesy for the distressed traveler. At least I can help future travelers left in this situation get a clean shave.
So if anyone sees a smelly, disheveled, unshaven man wandering through airports in AU today muttering about blacklists and weather stations, please come up and say hello. 😉
UPDATE: Some people didn’t see the humor and satire in the headline or in the body. Chill folks. I found the whole thing silly because the razor was 100% nonfunctional, and the concierge agreed with me. Sometimes management needs a prod, and this prod done with some humor might help the next guy that needs help. Besides, you haven’t heard half of my inconvenient travel adventures. 😉
BTW I did catch up with my luggage in Adelaide…so now if you’ll all excuse me, I need to shave. -A
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You must be having some kind of positive effect.
Kevin Rudd just got rolled by his caucus – was it the ETS? Was it backing down on the ETS?
I’m crediting Anthony,…
The Tasmanian Times ran a less than supportive press release:
http://tasmaniantimes.com/index.php?/weblog/pr-article/climate-activists-urge-people-to-pay-attention-to-the-science-not-the-clima/show_comments
“Community members speak out in response to the news that “Watts Up with the Climate? Australian Tour” speakers Anthony Watts and David Archibald are coming to Hobart to spread misinformation about the climate at the Stanley Burbury Lecture Theatre, UTAS, Hobart, 6.30 pm on Wednesday 23rd June.
“While we believe in freedom of speech, we call on the public, the media and other organisations not to get hoodwinked into believing the climate deniers. Real science is conducted through peerreviewed publications in respected journals”, said Phil Harrington from Climate Action Hobart. “If these people had any credible science to present, they would be presenting it through such a journal as well as going on a national speaking tour.””
Not exactly rolling out the red carpet, I wonder if Phil also works in baggage handling… 🙂
United Breaks Guitars.
Jeff, it is that kind of humor that gives my wife headaches from rolling her eyes. And it is that kind of humor that gives me trouble when I have to explain why I am laughing out loud while reading a climate blog, then upon explanation cue the eye rolling and headaches.
I attended last night and very much enjoyed the talks. I knew that there were problems with the weather stations but I never guessed how ridiculous some of the sites were – next to incinerators, aircon outlets, car parks etc. Little surprises me anymore but some of those picture were real eye openers!
Great work everyone involved.
I am sure that a new set of clothes will be a mere trifle to someone with all those petro-dollars.
Got time to spare -go by air. Luggage? No problem-we’ll check it for you. Late arrival? Just go to the ticket counter and a friendly agent will help you. I’m from the government-I’m here to help you! Yada Yada!
Sorry Anthony, from now on carry a small duffle with all your goodies in it.
Geez Anthony … you’ve only been in the country a week and you’ve already managed to oust our prime minister! Nice work. We now have our first female PM and she’s a “ranga” too!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Headlines galore… at least this will mean the death of the mining tax (RSPT).
“LED headtorch
Writing case
Space blanket
12oz inflatable mattress
Empty water bottle
Snacks including dried fruit nuts boiled sweets etc
polythene bags
foldaway umbrella
Socks and briefs
travel plug and charger
mosquito headnet
small first aid kit
lighter
Teabags (its a Brit thing)
Hat
Small towel”
Uhmm……you get abandoned on an island as a child? I couldn’t possibly get all that stuff in a “carry on”! But I do carry a change of clothes with me. But, wow. Sorry, Tallbloke, just poking a little fun. I thought I was anal.
Commiserations, Anthony. Hang in there!
Lost luggage and in Tasmania could make a person become one of these: http://images.friendster.com/images/widgetDirectory/widgetThumbs/3a60b3764791f2d9434092cc82dcabec_71202.jpeg
Bulldust said: June 23, 2010 at 5:19 pm
“Geez Anthony … you’ve only been in the country a week and you’ve already managed to oust our prime minister! Nice work. We now have our first female PM and she’s a “ranga” too!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Headlines galore… at least this will mean the death of the mining tax (RSPT).”
You misspelt RIP 😉
Your beef with this hotel over the crappy razor is so utterly petty that it reflects very poorly on you.
Have you compared what other hotels provide, or are you holding the Wrest Hotel to some undefined standard.
They gave you a free shaving kit because you lost yours, and you complain it’s not up to your standard. Take a good look at yourself, and stop this pointless and petty vendetta.
Too bad I’m not in Hobart. I’d love to heckle you for this.
REPLY: My issue is that the razor is 100% nonfunctional, and its all tongue in cheek. I guess you missed that…note the title. -A
I might add, I am a dedicated reader of your bog, which is why your pettiness in this matter is so annoying.
@ur momisugly DirkH says:
June 23, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Sweet! Had a Taylor once. Held it’s tone quite well, and had a really nice sound. Burnt with my house about 4 years ago. I wrote a song with it once, but could never put words to it. Played the ditty around the campfire with friends and family often(we do that a few times every summer) and asked for words for it. Never got them. I heard a song on the radio the other day that sounded good so I endeavored to learn it. A little quicker pace, but same chords, same chord progression, slightly different melody (one different note). I’m not saying they stole it, because it’s a simple song and country music isn’t as complex as say jazz, so it is easy to run parallel to other people’s inclination, but dang it! As the old boxer said, “I could’ve been a contender.” Oh, the song I heard on the radio, is a ditty called “Toes”.
I’ve a Johnson now, it holds it tone quite well, too, but it isn’t the same. And, no, I don’t let anyone play with my Johnson.
Pompous Git says:
June 23, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Science News had an article about the declining population of skates off the new England coast many years ago. They attributed it to an example of by-catch having an effect on fisheries, but then got a couple letters, one from someone who’s first job in a New England restaurant was to make “scallops” from skates.
Apparently skate wing pseudoscallops are common.
Google scallop skate for more than you can read. Or, charge you up for the next trip to the Revolting Restaurant.
Now, Mr Sock Puppet, let’s not be petty about pettiness. Surely, you understand about being a long way from home and every thing that you’ve brought with you has vanished. It makes for a grumpy person. Even the most rational of people, when out of their element and fall victim of happenstance and negligence can lash out from time to time. Sometimes, it’s best to just let people vent. I’m told its healthy.
Cheers
Mr sock
You sir are an %##-****
I hate when I lose suitcases full of oil money.
And BP is cutting back now that the government, having federalized the cleanup, in an act of naked aggression, is shaking them (and therefore the employees and the consumers) down for 20 billion dollars. Your next BP suitcase will include:
LED headtorch
Writing case
Space blanket
12oz inflatable mattress
Empty water bottle
Snacks including dried fruit nuts boiled sweets etc
polythene bags
foldaway umbrella
Socks and briefs
travel plug and charger
mosquito headnet
small first aid kit
lighter
Teabags (its a Brit thing)
Hat
Small towel
Perhaps you could purchase one of those khaki Aussie outfits with the alligator fighting hats as a souvenir.* That’d be good.
*Having consulted SWMBO.
Not just lost luggage, but lost letters…
My sister was visiting hobart a few weeks ago, for two weeks, with her two daughters and husband. Three birthday cards to my father, for his 80th birthday, were put into the mail. There was three containers, or mail boxes to choose from so it was decided to try each mail box with one birthday card each.
On June 14th the first card arrived here, a city near Vancouver, Canada.
On june 22nd the second card arrived.
The third one has not shown up yet.
James Sexton,
Vent away I say. But the vendetta is pathetic.
jack morrow,
Calling some “sir” doesn’t excuse your infantile rudeness.
[snip]
contact number 5 heathrow airport thay say thay have 7000 lost bags in storage tell them your bag is black with a red ribbon .
I’m picturing Anthony with Einstein hair and Tolstoy whiskers…
*snicker snicker*
I trust you will be sartorially elegant in Adelaide tonight
I will be attending but will not shave today, just to make you feel more comfortable.
I’ll bet that Al Gore never loses his luggage…flying via private jet and all.