Skipping back it is time to catch up on posts from our time in Australia. We’re starting with our flight – NY – Melbourne. Because they deserve it, I will review the plane meals in the next post.
On the day of our flight I left work at 1pm and picked up some Pret A Manger for us to have for a quick lunch. Car service was booked at 3. We would hopefully be checked in by 4. And then straight to the lounge to chill out.
We quickly set up house in the tv room of the BA lounge. We had a big screen tv, remote and snacks. No-one came in the tv room the whole time we were there so it was like we had our own little hotel room for 3 hours! It was fantastic and a lovely way to relax before the flights.
When we got on the actual plane, I ate dinner and watched It’s Complicated. I loved it! Exhausted from the lead up, I promptly fell asleep once the movie ended thus, breaking my rules for not sleeping on JFK – LAX. We were late leaving JFK and got to LAX just slightly late. We had enough time to hang out in the LAX lounge for another little while before reboarding. By this time it was about 2am NY time. We were sitting on the plane for a while when the captain announced that they had to get an ill passenger checked out before they could take ok. Fair enough right? After about 30 minutes we ended up leaving the gate, doing a taxi of the runway and then stopped again. They were turning back to take off the passenger and then of course, we had to wait for their bags to be taken off. Absolute mystery as to why they would even let the passenger check in, let alone board the plane in that state. So we ended up leaving at about 4am New York time. Argh!
I ate dinner, took a Simply Sleep tablet and fell asleep again!
I woke up and proceeded to get ready and freshen up before breakfast. Bill hadn’t slept for the whole flight but I was on another planet! In that delirious spot where you are looking at the flight map, thinking that when you open your eyes you only have 2 hours to go – except when you look, it is actually 7 hours.
After breakfast I was watching random TV shows when people started queueing down the aisle for the bathrooms. This guys backside was right near my face and I leant over and whispered to Bill “Oh dear god his bum STINKS!” I put my nose into Bill’s shirt to get rid of the smell. Nothing would! Bill tried to explain to me that he thought someone had been sick but I was definite – it was this guys bum and it was right in my face! Ugh! Before long, a steward came racing down the aisle. Bill was right. This poor little kid had thrown up all over the back of the plane. It was disgusting and people wouldn’t even move out of the way for the stewards. Like hello – let them do their job!!!! So they sprinkled this stuff on the ground like the sawdust they’d use at primary school and just threw a blanket down over it. What was particulary disgusting was that people kept walking down to go to the bathroom in their socks and BARE FEET and walking straight over the soggy blanket on the floor!! Arghghghhghg!! It was a nightmare. And the poor little sick boy proceeded to throw up all over the bathroom too and about 30 mins later his poor dad just carried him down the plane while he was all listless and grey. Bless all airline staff for what they have to deal with on those flights – they really are amazing!
The rest of the flight went to plan and we landed in Melbourne smoothly. I used the new ‘ticketing’ system for e-passports but honestly, it makes entering the country a bit of a non-event. It is no different to buying a metrocard – but it is very quick and you can basically skip lining up with lots of annoying people. Unfortunately, due to our delay the customs hall resembled a crazy house with a plethora of people with luggage going all over the place. While we had food declare we were ushered through without incidence. There was a whole flight from Asia that had just landed and it looked like would be stuck in customs for hours as the customs staff were going through each piece of luggage for each passenger. We walked through those big metal doors to find Ev and Mark waiting for us with a “Welcome Home” balloon and a big grin on their faces. Mum and dad were missing! Well they were in the airport but… at the currency exchange. Argh! I feel truly horrible because I think the first thing I said to Ev was “WHERE IS MUM AND DAD??!?” Ooops!! I was somewhat delirious when Ev proceeded to show me his new Blackberry – which I really thought was a crazy joke because he is my Apple brother!!! Within a couple of minutes mum and dad were there and we headed to the car – it was so strange to have Bill with me at Tullamarine.. just too strange!
By 11.30am mum had us down at Thornbury at the Psarakos Fruit Market to start picking up the fresh supplies for the party. This has become somewhat of an after flight routine and it is just wonderful (!) to be wandering around Thornbury after 22 hours of flying. But at this stage – you do just about anything to stay awake!
We also dropped in to see nana and then stopped at our favourite bakery and mum came out with steamed dim sims and a big M – GOOD TIMES HAD BEGUN!! Bill had his first dim sim sitting in a supermarket car park and I proceeded to burn my tongue and spill soy sauce over my pink top. Not cool!
By the time we got home, Bill really was out of his tree after not sleeping at all for what seems like four days so he got an hour or so of a nap while mum and I got a roast ready for dinner. It was just fantastic. Matthew came around for the roast as well and it was the best way to prepare for the party the next day. Before I knew it, it was 8.30 and I was tucked up in bed. Bill was already fast asleep (only to wake up at midnight!) but I happened to sleep right through and wake up at 7am ready to start cooking for the party. So that is twice now I have had a perfect night after landing in Melbourne so I think I have finally worked out how to deal with jet lag.