A letter from a reader

I am 67, and three women asked about my little campervan bag before we had even put the kettle on in Dwellingup

The two sizes, the daisies, and what I told them by the cottage door.

Maggie Whitefield
Perth · October 2026

I almost did not post this. I am 67 and I am not one for putting things on Facebook. But three different women asked me about my weekend bag during a few days away in Dwellingup. We had barely got through the cottage door. The kettle had not even gone on.

Usually, the conversation at that point is about who has brought milk and whether anybody remembered the tea towels. This time it was about the little green and yellow campervan sitting beside my shoes. By the third question, keeping the answer to myself seemed a bit mean.

My name is Maggie Whitefield. I live in Perth, and my idea of packing well is being able to find my nightie without emptying everything onto somebody else's bed. I am not trying to become one of those women who travels with three matching cases. One sensible bag for a short visit is quite enough.

Three questions about a weekend bag, and we had not even put the kettle on.

HOW A SMALL TRIP BECOMES A LARGE PILE

It begins with two nights away. Then there is a change of clothes, a wash bag, something warmer for the evening, and the things you remember as you are walking out of the bedroom. Before long you are carrying your weekend in three separate bags.

I have done that often enough. One bag contains the clothes, another contains the things that would not fit, and a third seems to have appeared without anybody making a decision about it. You arrive looking as though you have come to stay until Christmas.

WHAT I HAD WRONG

For years I thought the sensible choice had to look rather dull. My old sports bag was perfectly capable of carrying clothes. It simply looked as though it would rather be left in the cupboard. Judith remembers it very well, unfortunately for me.

I was not looking for a reason to buy more luggage. I wanted something suited to the trips I actually take. A weekend with friends, an overnight visit, perhaps a few things for an ordinary outing. A cheerful design would be lovely, provided the practical details made sense as well.

THE BAG IS CALLED THE MEADOWVANA

It is from Perth Boutique, a small Australian boutique with a collection of bags for everyday outings and trips away. The full name is MEADOWVANA | QUILTED TRAVEL DUFFLE BAG. It is shaped like a cheerful little campervan, with a yellow roof, green panels and white daisies stitched into the design.

The quilting gives the surface its textured appearance. There is something rather pleasing about the contrast between that practical duffle shape and the little campervan details. It does not look like something made for somebody half my age, and it does not look like I have given up either.

The product description explains that it offers space for clothing, accessories and daily essentials, with a practical shape intended to make packing simple. That is the useful part to consider. The daisies may catch your eye, but the measurements should help you make the decision.

WHAT HAPPENED AT THE COTTAGE

I had mine beside the cottage door when Judith arrived. She looked at the daisies and said it was considerably more cheerful than my usual luggage. I have decided to take that as a compliment. She has known me long enough to remember quite a few things I would rather she forgot.

The questions were not complicated. Where did I find it? Was it a weekend bag? Did it come in another size? I told them what I knew, and then we finally dealt with the kettle. Nobody should have to wait indefinitely for tea because of a bag.

The next morning, there it was beside the chair while I had my tea, still looking rather pleased with itself. Something useful that you are also happy to leave in view is a small pleasure, but it is a pleasure all the same.

THREE THINGS I WOULD CHECK BEFORE CHOOSING

The smaller size. 40 × 20 × 20 cm, approximately 16 × 8 × 8 inches. The product description suggests it for an overnight stay, the gym or everyday essentials.

The larger size. 46 × 23 × 23 cm, approximately 18 × 9 × 9 inches. There is more room for a longer weekend and the extra things you like to take.

Your own packing habits. Lay out the clothes, wash bag and shoes you normally pack. Choose from those belongings rather than the word 'weekend'.

Two people can go away for the same number of nights and pack entirely different amounts. I know this because I have travelled with Judith. One cardigan is a sensible precaution. Whether three are necessary is a conversation we have agreed to postpone.

The smaller size is described as suitable for a change of clothes, a wash bag and essentials. The larger offers more space for a couple of outfits, shoes and a towel. Those are useful guides, rather than a promise that every combination of belongings will fit exactly the same way.

Think about bulk as well as the number of things. A thick jumper takes up more room than a light top. Your wash bag might be much larger than mine. Taking a moment to look at the measurements is far more useful than discovering the difference just before you leave.

ABOUT THE PRICE

The listed price is A$59.99, compared with A$119.99. There is a sale on at the moment. Check your chosen size and the current price before ordering; I cannot tell you how long the offer will stay that way.

The rating supplied for this collection is 4.3 out of 5 from 345 reviews. Other people's ratings can be useful context, but they cannot tell you how many cardigans you intend to take. I would still look at the measurements and the product details before choosing.

I would check delivery and returns at the same time. They are ordinary details, but they belong in the decision just as much as the colour or the price. If you plan to fly with it, compare its measurements with the baggage allowance for your particular booking.

WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU ON THE VERANDA

That is the rarest sort of bag. The one you can take away for a proper weekend, or pack for an ordinary overnight visit, and feel right either way. It is not something that needs an elaborate occasion before you are allowed to enjoy it.

If your own weekend bag has become the thing you apologise for as you put it by someone else's front door, this is where I would start. Look at the two sizes. Think about your usual trip. Choose the one that makes sense for you.

And if you do take it away with friends, perhaps put the kettle on before you explain where it came from. That is the one piece of advice I can offer from our arrival in Dwellingup.

Something useful, with a little cheerfulness stitched into it. That will do very nicely.

Maggie Whitefield

SALE · SAVE 50%

MEADOWVANA | QUILTED TRAVEL DUFFLE BAG

★★★★☆ 4.3 out of 5 from 345 reviews

$119.99 $59.99

• Green and yellow campervan design
• White daisy details
• Textured quilted finish
• Room for clothing and daily essentials
• Two sizes: 40 × 20 × 20 cm and 46 × 23 × 23 cm
• For weekend trips, gym visits and overnight stays

Shop The Quilted Weekend Bag Collection

Check your selected size, current price, delivery and returns.