I'm in Brisbane now. There was lots of space in my bag when I left Sydney and I only had carry on luggage so I was feeling pretty pleased with myself.

Turns out I didn't pack at least 2 things I meant to. Fortunately neither of those things were connections for camera / computer / phone etc. Now I'm at Fiona's house and it is apparent that every spare space in my bag will be filled with a book. Kev's helping - he's reviewed Fiona's library and decided to get a "how-to" book for me - it's how to recognise evil people! So that's another book. We won't get bored then. Fiona's even packed a reading light. Probaby in case the pressure is on and we aren't meeting the quota some time in the second week.

What I haven't bought is any of my books on textiles. They are all too heavy.

We've sorted out the shoe dilemma. We were advised to bring "good walking shoes" - now to me that means something you could conceivably walk 10 or 20 kms in and might otherwise be called hiking boots. Turns out that it has to be something you could wear to walk 2 miles around rice paddies. That would be just normal shoes then.

We leave in the morning and get to Denpasar at the very civilised time of 2.30 in the afternoon.

I know I should be checking travel details like: Do we need Malaria tablets? What do I do for money? Can I find my walking shoes? And what about the fact my backpack needs replacing?

But I am most concerned about what and how many books I & Eleri need for two weeks travelling. As a bookseller this is always my first concern and one I share with booksellers the world over. The fear of running out of books or having the 'wrong' books is palpable and needs it's own medical term.

I have to consider size, genre, pleasure, and the fact that Eleri usually reads 'how to manuals'. She did make the offer that she likes books about bikes & cyclists. She also hates books with adjectives.

Choosing to disregard any of Eleri's suggestions these are the books on the shorlist:

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. It's a hefty tome that has had my fellow booksellers raving. It's a contemporary family & political saga and promises to be as compelling as The Corrections. I just hope those 562 pages don't include too many adjectives.

The Old School by P.M Newton. About to make a big splash on the crime writing scene this thriller is set in Bankstown and features the Australian-Vietnamese female detective Nhu 'Ned' Kelly. Buried bodies, dark family mysteries, ICAC and the infamous Roger Rogerson should appeal to Eleri. I think I'll also choose it for my "It's a Bloody Crime! Bookclub" which meets once a month and supports my secret crime addiction.

Started Early, Took My Dog is the strangely titled new book by Kate Atkinson and continues the story of sometime detective Jackson Brodie. Atkinson is one of those authors who straddles the fence of genre writing and literary fiction. While obviously uncomfortable for her the last three Jackson Brodie novels are seductively compelling such that this will be my plane book.

Booksellers across Australia have been badgering me to read Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. A coming of age story set in a country town I've managed to avoid this award winning novel but my time has come. Hopefully it's not too 'emotional' for Eleri.

I also really want to take In the Company of Angels by Thomas E. Kennedy. A novel about poetry, torture under Pinochet's regime, passion and pain. I've read this first four short chapters and I'm hooked.

But I better go look for my sandshoes, find my passport and maybe just check this shortlist one more time.

Fiona

Just 5 more sleeps

We leave in 5 days for our excellent adventure to Indonesia to investigate traditional weaving and find out stuff we don't know. That basket weaving course we did 15 years ago ... well, that was a long time ago and there's only so far that pine needles and banana trash can take you.

Fiona is in charge of care factor stuff - health, mozzie control and of course putting together a small library to take with us. I'm trusting a whole 2 weeks of reading and entertainment to her. I'm guessing she isn't packing any "how-to" books though so that will be a change from my usual reading fare.

I'm in charge of pretty much anything that needs to plug in to a power point and all comms. We might even be able to video skype home but we'll see how we go with finding a fast enough connection when we get there. I'm thinking West Timor is a bit remote but we should be OK in Bali.

Here's the website of the NGO who will be our hosts on the tour, Threads of Life.