My mum has put up with a lot from me over the years. Namely, that I pretty much never - regardless of it always being the correct option - take her advice on board.
The result of my reluctance to admit defeat, as well as my propensity to be as stubborn as a mule, is usually catastrophe for me. But despite my numerous failings, I never learn.
"That suitcase is too heavy, Zaineb," said she, on the eve of my flight over to Abu Dhabi at the beginning of this year. "I'm sure there's some stuff in there you can do without. Oh, and do us all a favour please and weigh it."
Rolling my eyes while scoffing at her worrisome nature, I naturally ignored every warning she threw my way. Sure, trying to lift said suitcase near enough pulled my arm out of its socket, but she couldn't be right. Could she?
Turning up at Glasgow airport later that night, with plenty of time to spend my cash on overpriced food, it was only natural, then, that my luggage was not only over the baggage allowance, but over it by a massive 14kg.
Sadly, no amount of fluttering my eyelashes or smiling until my mouth hurt was going to let me get away with that one. Having turned into that person at the airport everyone else looks pityingly upon, you know, the one putting extra layers of clothes on and trying desperately to add 14kg to her already bulging hand luggage, I later wondered what might have happened had I heeded the advice.
Suitcase-gate aside, there are some things my mum says that I will happily continue to ignore, safe in the knowledge that nothing bad will come of it. From my (supposed) inability to wear appropriate footwear in winter, all the way through to bringing - and using - my newly purchased, vintage suitcase back with me to the UAE.
So this one's for you mum. Your words will still go in one ear and straight out of the other, but I appreciate the advice, all the same.
