When Cultures Collide

When Zorba the Greek meets Arnham Land...

Plane Troubles

After having a two day business trip to Melbourne, when it comes to getting home you really do wish to be able to teleport back…

Yesterday though I had “one of those days”…

• Booked on the 6pm flight, I miss the check in window by 4 minutes (I had luggage… if I didn’t I could have gotten on).
• Was rebooked into the 6:30pm flight and I go to the gate to wait…
• Boarding time was supposed to be at 6:10pm, but nothing seems to be happening.
• 6:40pm, I observe all the flight crew walk off the plane… not a good sign.
• 6:45pm… announcement that due to mechanical difficulties, the flight is CANCELLED. Please proceed to Gate 21 for re-ticketing… I join a stampede from Gate 24 to 21!
• I am booked into the 8:30pm flight and I head to the Qantas Club lounge… lounge is packed and I have to queue to get a bite to eat and a drink!
• Boarding was supposed to be 8:10pm… no word however.
• 8:30pm, we’re invited to go to the gate… Whilst we were told it was to be Gate 7, it has been moved to Gate 1. Confusion reigns.
• Get to Gate 1… it is closed. Nobody is boarding.
• 8:40pm… commence boarding, I am actually 3^rd person to board and get my seat.
• At this stage, I have finished the novel I bought on Sunday and now have nothing to read.
• 9pm, plane backs away from the gate… much apologising is taking place over the PA system.
• 9:15pm… we take off.
• 10:30pm… we land… seemed to be “descending” for ages. Flight time was announced to being 53mins but it clearly has taken longer.
• 10:45pm, after I had a window seat, it takes an age to get off and get to the baggage carousel. No bags…
• 11:00pm… My luggage isn’t there and after everyone goes, myself and about 10 other passengers are informed that our luggage is on the flight landing now… they split the 6:30 luggage over two flights.
• 11:30pm… I have my luggage… I am in a cab… at this time of night and the fact he is a speedy driver it only takes 45mins to get home… Cab fare $190.
• 12:30am… zzzzzz

Joy!

Flight Cancelled!

The powers of free WiFi access and a laptop running low on battery have enabled me to post this from the Qantas Club in Melbourne after my flight has been cancelled due to mechanical breakdown and I am now waiting for a flight two hours later!

 

Elan, if you read this, you are the Prophet of Doom...

 

 

Quick Line From Melbourne...

Hey, its after midnight and I am back in the hotel in Melbourne...

 

Niki came down with me on Sunday morning and we had a great day walking around Melbourne, shopping and browsing... it was great to feel like a couple again!

 

We went to dinner last night at Tutto Bene (sp?) in Southgate and it was a really great meal... had some nice wine and some of the specialty rissotto dishes and all within walking distance of the hotel.

 

Niki though left this morning and flew home while I have worked today and will do so again tomorrow in our Melbourne offices.  Tonight however I met up with 3 of my blood bowl friends and played two games of BB whilst having a BBQ and some beers at St Kilda.  A much more relaxing evening than having to entertain or be entertained at corporate dinners.

 

For the record, I drew with Elan 1-1 and smashed GnW 4-0.... :-)

 

So, checking emails here... off to bed!  What's news?

Odd Game of Cricket

Played cricket today... Day 1 of a two day game.

We won the toss, batted and yours truly played OK to score 19 before I nicked one to the keeper. What I didnt realise then that my score of 19 would be the sides highest score as we were bundled out for a paltry 89.

We're coming first playing the team running 5th and we bat horrendously!

But... we then bowled and had about 2 hrs left in the day and BAM! We rolled em for 68 and we took the last wicket in the last over of the day... we've taken first innings points and can look forward to some batting practice next week!

Rushing... Rushing...

Well, Xmas has hit with a vengeance.  One last week of work, I have to go to Melbourne, the Xmas lights are not up yet, the kids need photos with Santa, the lawn mower is ready to be picked up and I only have Saturday morning as a window of opportunity to mow the lawn – which is at record high levels due to the rain – and guess what…

 

The doctor believes I have torn my “meniscus cartilage” and I am booked in to see the orthopaedic surgeon for an initial consultation in January.  The Doc feels that they will send me for an MRI and then probably “trim” the offending flap of torn cartilage.  Joy Oh Joy.

 

Because I am spending Mon / Tues / Wed in Melbourne, I am flying down on Sunday morning and taking Niki with me as well… I’ll take her shopping on Sunday afternoon and then dinner on Sunday night, but she’ll be flying back on her own (her first solo flight!) on Monday.  I am looking forward to that very much as we haven’t been out to dinner alone since our anniversary in June!!

 

But when I get back, I have a Xmas drinks on the Thursday and then the last day of work on the Friday will apparently be basically a lunch and not much else…

 

Also, yesterday, at the office we were debating the merits of sending a delegation of people to Spain to deal with our recalcitrant contractor who is based in Ferrol… given we’re talking about January and its mid-December now, this sudden trip is extremely very sudden!

 

Talk about rushed!

Concert Success

The concert last night went extremely well… the girls danced very well and made us all very proud.  They had to spend the whole night backstage so we had to sit through the Drama group’s rendition of “Oliver” before we could see them but then they were able to go onstage and take their bows and Kate could see us up the back and was waving hugely.

Then when it was all over, despite being told to wait for Niki to pick them up from backstage, they had run up the aisles to us and both were bouncing around very excitedly.  Brookie especially was jumping around in her Jester’s costume and couldn’t stop giving hugs and kisses to everyone.

Poor Niki though was worked to the ground after she had spent a considerable amount of build up time (weeks!) either doing costumes herself or ferrying other kids around who’s mums were also doing costumes and then spent all of last Saturday and Sunday at rehearsals and the photography sessions and then yesterday at Panthers for 12 hours solid for more rehearsals and then the big show itself… Mum of the Year in my mind!

Thanks to Mum & Dad and my mother in law Beryl and niece Lizzie for coming out to see the girls too… they really appreciate it!