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skyringIt's been a fantastic trip, but I'm glad it's over and I'm back home, sleeping in my own bed, all my stuff around me, a cat to pat etc.
Monday morning and I walked down to Teotakuu's hostel. I lugged her case downstairs and wheeled it a few blocks to our hostel, where Kerri was waiting with our baggage. A very uncomfortable few blocks to Earls Court. My big bag is wheeled and though it looks huge, it's a lamb on the level. My backpack isn't too bad, but when I load my big yellow BookCrossing tote bag full of books, it gets very heavy after a while.
Luckily Earls Court has ramps and lifts down to platform level, and it was then a pleasant 40 minutes to Heathrow, chatting away. We got Teotakuu checked in, then went down to the Qantas counter. We could have had five bags between us; 160 kilos total, but we were not even half that. My big bag was just on 32 kgs.
The Terraces lounge was closed and I'm only allowed one guest in First, so we had to trudge to the far end of terminal 4 to get a seat and eat. All too soon it was time to hug Teotakuu and set her off on the long walk to her gate. We had a half hour and it was our turn, though our gate wasn't far. All told it was quite some time before we boarded and longer yet before takeoff. Like about two hours in total.
Our seats weren't bad, view wise. 65J and K - window seat for me without a wing in the way. Kerri had the middle of the three row, and we were hoping the aisle seat would remain empty - the flight didn't look that full. Unfortunately the rest of the row right across the plane filled up with some young men who all knew each other. Maybe belonged to a sports team. They were loud and rowdy and you knew that as soon as the drinks came out, they'd be heavily into the grog.
Then, one of the perks of Platinum, a Flight Attendant came to greet us, and suggested that there were a couple of spare seats in the first row of Economy, would we like those? Kerri jumped for joy. I wasn't entirely happy, but anything to get away from what would be a noisy bit of the bus. Bulkhead seats in the middle. Probably my last choice, apart from middle bulkheads further back. No window and no carry-on luggage handy at my feet. SIGH.
However, Kerri was happy, and that's worth a lot.
One benefit of the extra room of a bulkhead seat is easy access to the aisle, which is important on a long flight, otherwise fluids management becomes critical. Not a bad sector, and we would have flown into darkness somewhere over Iran, I guess, but still I would have liked that window. Grabbed a bit of sleep, but very patchy. Mostly read and watched a movie or two. Help! - a very silly Beatles flick. After a while I fastforwarded through the plot breaks and just enjoyed the song bits.
Singapore, and my wife of little faith didn't think I could get to the lounge, have a shower and be back in time for the onwards leg. She staid at the gate. As it was, I had a shower and time for coffee and a little internet. Not a long break, but I do like a shower and shave after a long sector.
Sydney was the next hop, and we were back in our row 65 seats, with the rowdy young men gone. More s;leep, more movies, and a good view of the late afternoon desert. Red sand dunes, eroded nubs of mountains. We flew right over Pine Gap - a row of huge satellite domes a dead giveaway of the US spy base.
A quiclk transfer across to domestic - first time I've ever taken that bus and not had to wait for it - and then an hour in the lounge. Night flight to Canberra almost empty. Got an exit row, which is nice for the legroom, but right over the wing. I'll knock back any further offers of exit row seats, I guess.
DS and DD snuck up on us in the baggage claim. DS drove us home. House was pretty much what you'd expect with a couple of young adults living in it for two months, but not too bad. Heaven knows it's rarely pristine when we're all home.
Washing machine is broken - major inconvenience - and one of the cars is acting up. I've arranged for a repairman tomorrow and a service next week.
Birthday dinner tonight at a Japanese restaurant. Tasty. Torch relay through Canberra tomorrow. Massive security bill and traffic disruptions. I'm back driving tomorrow, but the crush should have cleared by then. I'll be driving a regular cab for three nights, and back to Silver Service next week. The owner is buying a couple of Taragos, which will be interesting. I can carry more passengers, which means a higher rate. Personally, I prefer my Fairlane TX 112, but I'm happy to drive what I'm given.
I need to be earning some money to pay for the holiday. And then start saving for next year.
Getting chilly in Canberra now. Leaves are turning. House next door has been demolished and construction sounds beginning. That will make daytime sleep problematic through the winter...
Got a lot of catchup to do. Need to get my computer repaired, for one thing. Then upload pix, write missing LJ entries. write some articles and submit them around.
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Date: 2008-04-23 11:56 am (UTC)Cheers!
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Date: 2008-04-23 12:21 pm (UTC)I have finished your book and am just catching up here while Deenbat is making the breakfast pot of tea.
Hugs to you and Kerri, mwah*********
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Date: 2008-04-23 12:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-23 01:06 pm (UTC)My son is in Canberra now (or was a couple of days ago). Maybe he'll ask you for a ride in your cab.
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Date: 2008-04-23 01:20 pm (UTC)I ma really enjoyng being here andrelaxing a little
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Date: 2008-04-23 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-24 05:58 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-24 06:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-04-24 10:19 am (UTC)I was watching the torch thing on tv this morning and thinking about you - didn't realise that you would already be back.
Hugs to you both.