Lower levels:

Navigation:

This picture requires Macromedia Flash 5!

Outward bound

July 1st 2001

So here it is… d-day.

I've just waved a tearful goodbye to my parents Pam and Steve who kindly drove all the way from Knackershole Barn in Somerset to see me to the airport, and my lovely lady Isobel who I hope will follow sometime in October.

I sit in Business class – oh yes.  Bypassing the endless queue of two-weekers who form an orderly line to have their stubs ripped by a BA sumo wrestler I make my way to the fast track line.  Within minutes I’m on board and in seat 61A – a recliner with four buttons of movement.  Its twilight outside and I’m feeling quite strange… a mixture of apprehensive and melancholy has descended as I think of the months ahead and those behind.

My fellow passengers shuffle on, 61B is now occupied by a chap with the shiniest black Chelsea boot this side of the shiny boot side of Chelsea. He’s reading a paper – the sports pages which declare that the Lions were rampant in the first test.  We grunt our hello’s.  61B is removing the shiny Chelseas and I suddenly wish I’d travelled cattle class as the all pervading aroma of gorgonzola envelops the upper deck – it going to be a long flight unless… the first leg (to Bangkok), I sleep.

At Bangkok we disembark for half an hour to stretch and walk around – or rather run around as the re-embankment takes place on the upper floor via the obligatory baggage scanners, which are going crazy with each of the 30,000 passengers in the queue.  Our takeoff is delayed for 20 minutes as passengers are herded through a priority channel.

My neighbour has changed – Peter, a cardiologist and his two sons are now in the seats beside me.  We agree to meet, when they return from a week in New Zealand visiting relatives, for a beer and to discuss the remainder of the Lions tour.  The lights dim, the cabin temperature is raised again – we sleep the second leg.

Arrival

July 3rd 2001

Sydney is in darkness – its 5.40am and mid-winter here.  Its around 12C outside and its easy clearing customs and getting a taxi as there are no other flights in.  I arrive at the Renaissance hotel around 6.30am and am rapidly checked in and given a room overlooking the opera house – on the way here our route missed all the sights and the first impression on pulling back the curtain is breathtaking. 

Dawn is just breaking and I watch for an hour as the sun gracefully lifts over a harbour that seems to have fingers everywhere.  It’s going to be a great day.

Isobel has arranged a bottle of Champagne (Laurent Perrier of course!) and calls shortly after its arrival, its great to hear her familiar voice as the realisation that I am now in Australia for numerous months is beginning to hit home.

Navigation: