After our time in England we were all too soon making our way back to Australia.
The first leg, a 'mere' 3 hours from Manchester to Helsinki, seemed to pass by pretty quickly. It also had the best shaped cheese biscuits of any airline we have been on:
The first leg, a 'mere' 3 hours from Manchester to Helsinki, seemed to pass by pretty quickly. It also had the best shaped cheese biscuits of any airline we have been on:
Suffering from the final dregs of a bad cold I picked up halfway through our holiday, I can feel pretty confident I was not the most popular person in the cabin on the second leg of the journey, as I coughed and spluttered for the twelve hour flight from Helsinki to Singapore.
Tears streaming down my eyes as I struggled to contain the tickle in my throat, I then developed loud hiccups. With the overnight flight firmly underway, this could only add to my popularity. Hiccups subsiding back to the coughing, I shoved cough sweets down my throat, and the whole cabin was filled with the pungent smell of eucalyptus - and the continued coughing as the pastilles did nothing to help.
Tears streaming down my eyes as I struggled to contain the tickle in my throat, I then developed loud hiccups. With the overnight flight firmly underway, this could only add to my popularity. Hiccups subsiding back to the coughing, I shoved cough sweets down my throat, and the whole cabin was filled with the pungent smell of eucalyptus - and the continued coughing as the pastilles did nothing to help.
Thankfully the third and final, seven hour leg was more peaceful - for me and those around me. Although, on this flight there were other people full of colds typically - the last one I seemed to be the only one...
Unable to land in Sydney until after 5am, we had to wait on the tarmac for half an hour at Singapore, and then once in the vicinity of Sydney Kingsmith airport, had to do a slight detour so we could touch down at 5.01am.
Unable to land in Sydney until after 5am, we had to wait on the tarmac for half an hour at Singapore, and then once in the vicinity of Sydney Kingsmith airport, had to do a slight detour so we could touch down at 5.01am.
We got through baggage and customs quickly, and were out in the fresh fresh air (finally - after 27 hours!) within 45 minutes. We jumped in a taxi and headed for home.
The skies were blue and the air heavy with tropical scents. Together with the new light of the day, (and the lack of sleep) it felt like we were arriving for a holiday.
The skies were blue and the air heavy with tropical scents. Together with the new light of the day, (and the lack of sleep) it felt like we were arriving for a holiday.
Once home, we quickly changed into some fresh clothes and walked down to Balmoral, savouring every last drop of the fresh air in our lungs and on our skin.
Grabbing a couple of take away coffees and some banana bread, we sat on the wall in the warm sun, watching as Sydney life took hold around us.
Grabbing a couple of take away coffees and some banana bread, we sat on the wall in the warm sun, watching as Sydney life took hold around us.
Picking the boys up from their holiday we are always slightly worried about poor Albie after his quarantine- long flight from Canada experience, but he seemed fine. First thing was to inspect the bathroom sink, then go and stick his head under the balcony and see what was happening in the bird world. I have had cats who have sulked on my return from holiday, but not Albie and Ralph! They have been our two shadows all week, and have been literally jumping into our arms for a cuddle.
The birds appeared to have enjoyed our balcony whilst we were all away and were most indignant to see it in use again. The parrots soon got the message, but the noisy minor birds are still airing their disapproval, four days later. At least it keeps the cats occupied - Albie loves it, Ralph is still wary, especially when he finds himself surrounded by birds and there is no Albie in sight to back him up...!
Jet lag is much worse this direction!
Wondering if maybe we had cracked it as we had none when arriving in England (though not at all sure what we had done to achieve this), we have been making up for it this week, with some very early starts.
It is lovely seeing the sun come up, and sitting outside listening to the birds as they wake up, getting wafts of the scent of our heavily blossomed orange tree.
Wondering if maybe we had cracked it as we had none when arriving in England (though not at all sure what we had done to achieve this), we have been making up for it this week, with some very early starts.
It is lovely seeing the sun come up, and sitting outside listening to the birds as they wake up, getting wafts of the scent of our heavily blossomed orange tree.
There is something very special about walking before 6am.
And it is funny waking the cats up, rather than the other way around, and then Ralph sulking for the rest of the morning at his early start.
But this morning, it was 2am when we both woke up! Try as we might, sleep was not to come. So apologies for the fuzzy-brained post!
And it is funny waking the cats up, rather than the other way around, and then Ralph sulking for the rest of the morning at his early start.
But this morning, it was 2am when we both woke up! Try as we might, sleep was not to come. So apologies for the fuzzy-brained post!