I must send a 'thank you' to Leonie Dawson!
This weekend was supposed to be a retreat, learning about running a website as a business. I was very excited about this retreat and I can't explain to you how disappointed I was when it was cancelled a few weeks ago. *insert sad face here*
I must also send a 'thank you' to Adoring Husband .. who suggested that I still come to Canberra anyway, treat it as my own personal retreat and have some 'me' time. *insert happy face here*
I knew about the 'Health and Wellness Festival' which is held in the Convention Centre, but there are two big bonuses to add to that. There is also a Wine and Food Festival in the downstairs section of the Convention Centre AND The Canberra Multicultural Festival is being held in the centre of Canberra, which is just a block away from where I am staying!
Streets have been closed off and there are hundreds of stalls with food and products and crafts from so many different countries, it's impossible to describe. So much colour and music and dancing and happy positive energy ... even bigger than the Childers Multicultural Festival, but with the same vibe.
I'll have more time to take a better look tomorrow.
The strange thing is that even though I am alone here, I don't feel alone at all. When I walked through the entry of the health and wellness festival, I immediately felt like I was surrounded by friends. I felt safe and secure and welcome.
I felt no hesitation when I saw the stalls that I was interested in and I walked right up and asked for what I wanted. For the stalls that I didn't understand or wasn't familiar with their product, I satisfied my curiosity with questions - something that I would normally be too shy and afraid to do by myself prior to the Journey work that I did in Sydney the other week!
I had a psychic reading with a lovely lady named Jenny. I selected her from her photo and bio on a big poster with eleven other psychics.
I discovered, after I sat at her table, that her father has Parkinson's disease. I think the universe brought us together for that reason. Our 30 minutes together was more like a couple of friends catching up, than a psychic reading!
I had a whole body/health scan. It seems that I have Epstein Barre Virus, an overload of copper and lithium, hyperacidity, a minor infection in my intestines, arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries in my neck - but not around my heart or head), chronically low magnesium and an allergy to gluten, wheat, barley, rye, oats, egg yolk and buckwheat.
To fix these problems, I need to take digestive enzymes twice a day, a milk culture that I have to make myself, apple cider vinegar twice daily, magnesium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, vitamin C and Astragalus.
Using the magnesium bicarbonate and the milk culture, it will take 2 years to clear my arteries. It will take up to a year to reach the correct levels of magnesium and then I can stop taking the magnesium bicarbonate.
Funnily enough, when I had the palpitations last year, I started taking magnesium, so that and stopping caffeine was enough to stop the palpitations. I also have digestive enzymes in the cupboard at home.
Raw garlic cloves and shallots will also kill the bad bacteria in my stomach.
I can only eat Kimchi and Sauerkraut once a week because it is too acidic for my body.
So there you go. I am very happy with this outcome. Even with my healthy eating and lifestyle, I knew there was still something 'not right' and if this scan is correct, I will be the healthiest person on the planet very soon.
This gentleman (Phillippe - whose clinic is based in Double Bay) said that even though it seems like a lot, compared to most people, I am very strong and healthy. My problems are minor and easily fixed.
I feel like this last month has been so full of positive outcomes for me mentally, emotionally and physically and I still have two more events to attend in the next week, which will only add to my wellbeing.
Life is good.
I am happy.
Nite all.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Friday, February 17, 2017
I Think I'm Done!
OH-EM-GEE!!
What a day!
I had a 4am start because I needed to wash and blow dry my hair as well as get dressed, add my face and finish packing (just my toiletries and make up).
The sun was rising as we drove the fifteen minutes to the train station, which provided a very pretty sky to capture our admiration.
There were so many people waiting to catch the train, that the conductor asked if there was anybody left in Howard! Despite the numbers, my carriage was reasonably empty and I had two seats to myself.
It was the Tilt Train, it was on time and all was quiet and relaxed in the carriage.
Showing on the television screen was Andrew Denton interviewing Steve Irwin. Steve has been gone for ten years now and during the interview, he talked about Bindi being 5 yrs old, so the interview was historic and hilarious. The few people scattered throughout my carriage all giggled in unison as we watched the screens.
It was an easy and uneventful trip. One of the passengers was from NSW and I eavesdropped on his phone conversation declaring that Queensland trains 'had it all over' NSW trains. He loved how clean and comfortable they were. He loved the TV screens. He loved how quiet the other passengers were and how friendly the staff were. By the end of the call, he was strongly considering gaining employment with Queensland Rail!
We arrived at Roma Street Station about ten minutes late. It cost me $18 for the train ticket to the Domestic Air Terminal ($5 dearer than the equivalent train in Sydney).
Checking in at the Brisbane airport took about ten minutes - a whole lot LESS busy than Sydney!
I found a quiet corner where I made a couple of phone calls, drank half a coffee, played Words With Friends on my iPad with Tweedle Dee and then went in search of my departure gate, which, the check in staff told me was Gate 40B (it was even hand written on my luggage ticket).
When it was time to board, the announcement stated Gate 47, so I hightailed it to the other end of the terminal to gate 47. I needed the exercise anyway. pfft
The flight was on time. The plane was full. We had to take a detour around some severe storms in and around Sydney, which made the flight 10 minutes behind schedule. We flew over a massive bushfire .. so big that the pilot made an announcement that if we smelled smoke in the cabin, not to panic, and that it was only from the fire on the ground.
It was a bumpy landing .. though not anywhere near as bad as the landing in The Bay last week!
When we landed, they wouldn't allow us to alight through the rear doors because of the strong smell of smoke outside, so it took a while for everybody to get out through the front doors.
It took even longer for our bags to reach the conveyor belt in the baggage collection area.
My original plan was to catch the shuttle bus, but due to our delays, I would have to wait 45 minutes for the next bus, so I bit the bullet and caught a taxi instead.
My taxi driver could easily have competed in the Bathurst 1000 very competitively. He weaved in and out through the heavy afternoon traffic driving at 10kms over the speed limit and literally driving through two red lights.
The trip cost me $25 and five years from my life expectancy.
I checked into my hotel and was served by a very friendly and happy staff member. I found my room easily, closed the blinds, turned on the air conditioner, unpacked some stuff and even though I planned on searching out a nice restaurant, I decided instead to order room service.
I feasted on Wild Caught Tasmanian Salmon, with creamy potato bake and broccolini, followed by a dessert of Ice Cream Trio served with fresh berries and strawberry coulis. Full of sugar and dairy, but at least it was GF. I am sated!
I am now in my pyjamas, draped across my king sized bed and looking at the clock wondering if it's worth sleeping so early in the evening. It's just after 9.30pm (only 8.30 in QLD). I guess an early night, will mean an early start to the day tomorrow!
I'm done for the day. I've been on the go for 17 hours and my stress levels have been on a few mini rollercoaster rides throughout the day. It's time to rest.
Nite all.
What a day!
I had a 4am start because I needed to wash and blow dry my hair as well as get dressed, add my face and finish packing (just my toiletries and make up).
The sun was rising as we drove the fifteen minutes to the train station, which provided a very pretty sky to capture our admiration.
There were so many people waiting to catch the train, that the conductor asked if there was anybody left in Howard! Despite the numbers, my carriage was reasonably empty and I had two seats to myself.
It was the Tilt Train, it was on time and all was quiet and relaxed in the carriage.
Showing on the television screen was Andrew Denton interviewing Steve Irwin. Steve has been gone for ten years now and during the interview, he talked about Bindi being 5 yrs old, so the interview was historic and hilarious. The few people scattered throughout my carriage all giggled in unison as we watched the screens.
It was an easy and uneventful trip. One of the passengers was from NSW and I eavesdropped on his phone conversation declaring that Queensland trains 'had it all over' NSW trains. He loved how clean and comfortable they were. He loved the TV screens. He loved how quiet the other passengers were and how friendly the staff were. By the end of the call, he was strongly considering gaining employment with Queensland Rail!
We arrived at Roma Street Station about ten minutes late. It cost me $18 for the train ticket to the Domestic Air Terminal ($5 dearer than the equivalent train in Sydney).
Checking in at the Brisbane airport took about ten minutes - a whole lot LESS busy than Sydney!
I found a quiet corner where I made a couple of phone calls, drank half a coffee, played Words With Friends on my iPad with Tweedle Dee and then went in search of my departure gate, which, the check in staff told me was Gate 40B (it was even hand written on my luggage ticket).
When it was time to board, the announcement stated Gate 47, so I hightailed it to the other end of the terminal to gate 47. I needed the exercise anyway. pfft
The flight was on time. The plane was full. We had to take a detour around some severe storms in and around Sydney, which made the flight 10 minutes behind schedule. We flew over a massive bushfire .. so big that the pilot made an announcement that if we smelled smoke in the cabin, not to panic, and that it was only from the fire on the ground.
It was a bumpy landing .. though not anywhere near as bad as the landing in The Bay last week!
When we landed, they wouldn't allow us to alight through the rear doors because of the strong smell of smoke outside, so it took a while for everybody to get out through the front doors.
It took even longer for our bags to reach the conveyor belt in the baggage collection area.
My original plan was to catch the shuttle bus, but due to our delays, I would have to wait 45 minutes for the next bus, so I bit the bullet and caught a taxi instead.
My taxi driver could easily have competed in the Bathurst 1000 very competitively. He weaved in and out through the heavy afternoon traffic driving at 10kms over the speed limit and literally driving through two red lights.
The trip cost me $25 and five years from my life expectancy.
I checked into my hotel and was served by a very friendly and happy staff member. I found my room easily, closed the blinds, turned on the air conditioner, unpacked some stuff and even though I planned on searching out a nice restaurant, I decided instead to order room service.
I feasted on Wild Caught Tasmanian Salmon, with creamy potato bake and broccolini, followed by a dessert of Ice Cream Trio served with fresh berries and strawberry coulis. Full of sugar and dairy, but at least it was GF. I am sated!
I'm done for the day. I've been on the go for 17 hours and my stress levels have been on a few mini rollercoaster rides throughout the day. It's time to rest.
Nite all.
Thursday, February 16, 2017
One More Sleep
My four days at home have been very relaxing and rejuvenating and just what I needed before the next leg of fun and frivolity.
I have to be up bright and early to catch the stupid o'clock train tomorrow morning.
It will be a four hour journey to Brisbane by train, then I need to make my way to the airport for a two hour flight to Canberra. The shuttle bus will then transport me to my motel.
By the time I open my motel room door, I will have been travelling for twelve hours. I can only hope that the bed is welcoming and comfortable!
I'm almost packed and I have a checklist ready for tomorrow morning.
The heat got to me a bit today and I lay down for a nap before Adoring Husband turned on the air conditioner and cooled the house down considerably.
Obviously, I'll need an early night so that I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow.
One thing I know for sure. The temperature ranges in Canberra will be 27 on the hottest day down to 9 on the coolest night. Sydney will range from 24 down to 18. Byron Bay will be 29 down to 21. So much cooler than here.
This means that I need to pack accordingly, which might be tricky! Layer upon layer upon layer upon layer.
Ah well, I can always go shopping haha!
Nite all.
I have to be up bright and early to catch the stupid o'clock train tomorrow morning.
It will be a four hour journey to Brisbane by train, then I need to make my way to the airport for a two hour flight to Canberra. The shuttle bus will then transport me to my motel.
By the time I open my motel room door, I will have been travelling for twelve hours. I can only hope that the bed is welcoming and comfortable!
I'm almost packed and I have a checklist ready for tomorrow morning.
The heat got to me a bit today and I lay down for a nap before Adoring Husband turned on the air conditioner and cooled the house down considerably.
Obviously, I'll need an early night so that I can be bright eyed and bushy tailed tomorrow.
One thing I know for sure. The temperature ranges in Canberra will be 27 on the hottest day down to 9 on the coolest night. Sydney will range from 24 down to 18. Byron Bay will be 29 down to 21. So much cooler than here.
This means that I need to pack accordingly, which might be tricky! Layer upon layer upon layer upon layer.
Ah well, I can always go shopping haha!
Nite all.
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Date Day
I had two dates today!
Before my dates, I had to book my train ticket to Brisbane for Friday. ✓ check!
My first date was with Tweedle Dee for coffee this morning, and I had a thoroughly lovely time. Tweedle Dee has fabulous listening skills and I really enjoy spending time with her. We have some good laughs, but there was no snorting today!
She delivered, straight from her garden, this delicious Dragon Fruit!!
I also had my first coffee in more than six weeks!! I did not enjoy it, but it caused no adverse effects, so at least I know that once in a while, I can have a coffee in a social situation and not worry.
Adoring Husband picked me up from my coffee date and we headed into The Bay for some grocery shopping, to restock the chook food and to get supplies for the maintenance business.
We were hoping to eat lunch at the new 'Happy Days Diner' on The Esplanade in Scarness, but their kitchen is not finished yet. They only have coffee and slices available at the moment, but the diner looks amazing!
The staff wear authentic 50s/60s gear. There are the old fashioned booths to sit in and chequered tiles/lino on the floor. There is the back end of a car with it's bench seat, old vinyl record albums on show, chrome chairs with laminated tables.
It has a great feel about it and I was disappointed to find their kitchen not working yet. We will definitely return in a few weeks and review it!
We decided instead, to eat at Cafe Tapas and enjoyed lamb cutlets with pesto, pumpkin, spinach and pine nut salad, grilled calamari and prawns on skewers. It was just right.
There was no retail therapy today. No shoes. No clothes. No jewellery. No make-up. No journals! I did buy some cell food face cream and cell food drops for ingesting - does that count as retail therapy?? Nah.
We were home by 3.30pm and the psychotic dogs were happy to see us. The house was lovely and cool, due to the air conditioning .. we love our air conditioning! Although the weather has actually cooled down enough to turn it off tonight!
Tomorrow is packing day and it's now after 11pm, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
Before my dates, I had to book my train ticket to Brisbane for Friday. ✓ check!
My first date was with Tweedle Dee for coffee this morning, and I had a thoroughly lovely time. Tweedle Dee has fabulous listening skills and I really enjoy spending time with her. We have some good laughs, but there was no snorting today!
She delivered, straight from her garden, this delicious Dragon Fruit!!
I also had my first coffee in more than six weeks!! I did not enjoy it, but it caused no adverse effects, so at least I know that once in a while, I can have a coffee in a social situation and not worry.
Adoring Husband picked me up from my coffee date and we headed into The Bay for some grocery shopping, to restock the chook food and to get supplies for the maintenance business.
We were hoping to eat lunch at the new 'Happy Days Diner' on The Esplanade in Scarness, but their kitchen is not finished yet. They only have coffee and slices available at the moment, but the diner looks amazing!
The staff wear authentic 50s/60s gear. There are the old fashioned booths to sit in and chequered tiles/lino on the floor. There is the back end of a car with it's bench seat, old vinyl record albums on show, chrome chairs with laminated tables.
It has a great feel about it and I was disappointed to find their kitchen not working yet. We will definitely return in a few weeks and review it!
We decided instead, to eat at Cafe Tapas and enjoyed lamb cutlets with pesto, pumpkin, spinach and pine nut salad, grilled calamari and prawns on skewers. It was just right.
There was no retail therapy today. No shoes. No clothes. No jewellery. No make-up. No journals! I did buy some cell food face cream and cell food drops for ingesting - does that count as retail therapy?? Nah.
We were home by 3.30pm and the psychotic dogs were happy to see us. The house was lovely and cool, due to the air conditioning .. we love our air conditioning! Although the weather has actually cooled down enough to turn it off tonight!
Tomorrow is packing day and it's now after 11pm, so I'm off to bed.
Nite all.
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Another Day of Rest
On the way to coffee this morning, I stopped in at The Motivator's house to deliver her Valentine's Card to The Fisher King and also to pick up mine and Woman of Many Talent's Le Reve delivery. The Fisher King just happened to be on the phone with The Motivator when I arrived, so I had a quick chat with her before departing with my goods.
It was a nice morning to have coffee (or in my case, water) with The Blonde Bombshell and The Reality TV Queen.
The weather was warm but bearable and TRTVQ brought along Archie and Kara, two dogs that she is looking after while their Mum is in hospital. They are lovely and affectionate little things.
I returned home and sat on the couch for four hours, catching up on MKR, which Adoring Husband recorded for me while I was away.
That was such hard work, I had to go for a nap at 2.30pm and slept for more than two hours!
Dinner was easy. Grass fed rump with leftover roast vegetables and gravy from yesterday and some steamed broccoli. That took less than 30 minutes to prepare. Easy peasy.
As keen as I am to get back into my workspace and make some headway with my website, I only have four days with Adoring Husband before I head off again, so I'm trying to make the time count. It will probably be the end of March before I really get moving and make a serious go of it.
There is no point in making the site 'live' when I'm not going to be here for 3 of the next 5 weeks. I need to make a commitment to be here solidly for 6 months following it's launch because if it is as successful as I hope it to be, I am going to be busy!! Busy!! Busy!! Busy!!
I certainly can't rely on someone else to do my dirty work ... not just yet anyway haha.
I subscribed to Mayim Bialik's youtube channel this morning and watched half of her short videos, (around 4 minutes each) this being one of them ...
Too Emotional
Even after more than two hours sleep today, I am still going to have an early night.
Nite all.
It was a nice morning to have coffee (or in my case, water) with The Blonde Bombshell and The Reality TV Queen.
The weather was warm but bearable and TRTVQ brought along Archie and Kara, two dogs that she is looking after while their Mum is in hospital. They are lovely and affectionate little things.
I returned home and sat on the couch for four hours, catching up on MKR, which Adoring Husband recorded for me while I was away.
That was such hard work, I had to go for a nap at 2.30pm and slept for more than two hours!
Dinner was easy. Grass fed rump with leftover roast vegetables and gravy from yesterday and some steamed broccoli. That took less than 30 minutes to prepare. Easy peasy.
As keen as I am to get back into my workspace and make some headway with my website, I only have four days with Adoring Husband before I head off again, so I'm trying to make the time count. It will probably be the end of March before I really get moving and make a serious go of it.
There is no point in making the site 'live' when I'm not going to be here for 3 of the next 5 weeks. I need to make a commitment to be here solidly for 6 months following it's launch because if it is as successful as I hope it to be, I am going to be busy!! Busy!! Busy!! Busy!!
I certainly can't rely on someone else to do my dirty work ... not just yet anyway haha.
I subscribed to Mayim Bialik's youtube channel this morning and watched half of her short videos, (around 4 minutes each) this being one of them ...
Too Emotional
Even after more than two hours sleep today, I am still going to have an early night.
Nite all.
Monday, February 13, 2017
A Day of Rest
I didn't do much at all today.
I left the house this morning to feel the sauna-like heat hanging in the air.
I rode to the shops at about 8.45am and was surprised to see the boys still at the Seat of Knowledge, so I stopped for a quick chat with them.
I checked the mail to discover that the parcel I sent from Sydney on Friday morning, was here already (today is Monday)!
I bought up big on vegetables so that I could do a tray of roast vegetables with a leg of lamb and gravy. I made that for lunch and we had just a light dinner tonight.
I contacted Virgin Blue and changed my flight so that I could fly directly from Canberra to Sydney.
I confirmed my place on the Conscious Abundance workshop in Byron Bay.
I booked our accommodation in Byron Bay and got a good deal because the Manager had just had a run in with some nasty customers and she needed a shoulder to cry on ... I was happy to oblige and got a reduced rate for my troubles. She actually sounds really lovely.
I mixed together some essential oils to rub onto the pressure points of Adoring Husband's head to ease his headache.
I woke Adoring Husband from a sound sleep and sent him off to bed.
That's about it!
Happy birthday to my little possum, Chicklet. She is six today! How time flies. She is so grown up now and I can't wait to see her in March.
The original birthday plan was to attend Luna Park for the day, but they arrived to find it closed. Chicklet took it really well and instead they found a fabulous park with a flying fox and a trampoline and other fun parky things.
My gift for her, which was ordered on 29th January and supposedly shipped on 2nd February, still hasn't arrived. That was disappointing.
Chicklet had a good day.
Anyway, it's my bed time.
Nite all.
I left the house this morning to feel the sauna-like heat hanging in the air.
I rode to the shops at about 8.45am and was surprised to see the boys still at the Seat of Knowledge, so I stopped for a quick chat with them.
I checked the mail to discover that the parcel I sent from Sydney on Friday morning, was here already (today is Monday)!
I bought up big on vegetables so that I could do a tray of roast vegetables with a leg of lamb and gravy. I made that for lunch and we had just a light dinner tonight.
I contacted Virgin Blue and changed my flight so that I could fly directly from Canberra to Sydney.
I confirmed my place on the Conscious Abundance workshop in Byron Bay.
I booked our accommodation in Byron Bay and got a good deal because the Manager had just had a run in with some nasty customers and she needed a shoulder to cry on ... I was happy to oblige and got a reduced rate for my troubles. She actually sounds really lovely.
I mixed together some essential oils to rub onto the pressure points of Adoring Husband's head to ease his headache.
I woke Adoring Husband from a sound sleep and sent him off to bed.
That's about it!
Happy birthday to my little possum, Chicklet. She is six today! How time flies. She is so grown up now and I can't wait to see her in March.
The original birthday plan was to attend Luna Park for the day, but they arrived to find it closed. Chicklet took it really well and instead they found a fabulous park with a flying fox and a trampoline and other fun parky things.
My gift for her, which was ordered on 29th January and supposedly shipped on 2nd February, still hasn't arrived. That was disappointing.
Chicklet had a good day.
Anyway, it's my bed time.
Nite all.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Short but Sweet
That's me!! Short but sweet haha.
No, that was my visit to Gerringong.
Fourteen short hours.
Enough time to meet and chat with each member of a lovely family, sit at a huge table to share a meal, sing happy birthday, sit out a big storm while discussing all things that interest me with like-minded people and then sleep before the big train trip back to Sydney.
It was well after midnight by the time I got to sleep, but the bed was comfortable and I slept soundly until 4am and then dozed on and off until 5am. I cancelled the alarm before it went off and I was dressed, packed and ready to climb into the car twenty minutes later.
The Motivator was awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to drive the fifteen minutes to Kiama where I was catching the train. What a trouper.
A good portion of the train trip from Kiama to Sydney had beautiful ocean views and even included a pretty sunrise. The journey was supposed to take two hours and five minutes, but there was a brief hold up just before Wolli Creek, so we were on the train for an extra ten minutes, which meant I missed my planned connection to the Domestic Airport.
I had to wait another fifteen minutes for the next train.
I may have to practice some weight training. I struggled with my two pieces of luggage, especially having to lift them over the large gap between the trains and the platforms! I certainly made good use of the lifts at the stations.
After such a relaxing train trip, it was a rude shock to enter the airport and see the massive crowds of people waiting to check in!
The queue was to the door. I walked past the end of the queue and found a gap further along that I discreetly manoeuvred my way into, without being noticed. Very cheeky, I thought!
It still took thirty minutes to reach the bag drop off. At one stage, a stray piece of luggage had been left in the middle of the check in area, and we (the people in the queue and I) were concerned that an evacuation was in order, but a security guard came along and removed it.
As I reached the check in counter, I received a text from Virgin, telling me that my flight had been delayed by one hour. It was quite a relief because I was beginning to feel the pressure of time.
So I found a juice bar and ordered a 'stress less' which was strawberry, apple and ginger juice. It was very effective.
We finally boarded an hour later than expected and had a perfect flight home to The Bay, until the landing.
OMG
The first landing was abandoned when we were about twenty feet from the ground. It was a very turbulent descent and just as we thought we were home, the engines roared and the plane began a steep ascent back to the sky. The pilot blamed a change in wind direction.
The second attempt was abandoned much earlier. The pilot blamed 'traffic'.
The third (and successful) landing was almost a crash landing! It was turbulent all the way down and we landed with such a loud and back breaking thud, that there were audible screams, grunts, gasps and two women at the rear of the plane who laughed hysterically for a full two minutes. It can only be described as nervous laughter!
What a relief to survive that!
It was great to see Adoring Husband's smiling face there to greet me.
Even though I was very lucky with beds on this trip, I am still looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.
I need to regenerate and rejuvenate for the next four days, ready for the second leg of my February jaunt. I feel like we've been in Sydney for a month instead of just ten days!
Time to rest now.
Nite all.
No, that was my visit to Gerringong.
Fourteen short hours.
Enough time to meet and chat with each member of a lovely family, sit at a huge table to share a meal, sing happy birthday, sit out a big storm while discussing all things that interest me with like-minded people and then sleep before the big train trip back to Sydney.
The kitchen
The butler's pantry (I want one of those)
Looking inside from the deck
The view from the deck
Table for eleven
Some of our dinner
The Motivator was awake, bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to drive the fifteen minutes to Kiama where I was catching the train. What a trouper.
A good portion of the train trip from Kiama to Sydney had beautiful ocean views and even included a pretty sunrise. The journey was supposed to take two hours and five minutes, but there was a brief hold up just before Wolli Creek, so we were on the train for an extra ten minutes, which meant I missed my planned connection to the Domestic Airport.
I had to wait another fifteen minutes for the next train.
I may have to practice some weight training. I struggled with my two pieces of luggage, especially having to lift them over the large gap between the trains and the platforms! I certainly made good use of the lifts at the stations.
After such a relaxing train trip, it was a rude shock to enter the airport and see the massive crowds of people waiting to check in!
The queue was to the door. I walked past the end of the queue and found a gap further along that I discreetly manoeuvred my way into, without being noticed. Very cheeky, I thought!
It still took thirty minutes to reach the bag drop off. At one stage, a stray piece of luggage had been left in the middle of the check in area, and we (the people in the queue and I) were concerned that an evacuation was in order, but a security guard came along and removed it.
As I reached the check in counter, I received a text from Virgin, telling me that my flight had been delayed by one hour. It was quite a relief because I was beginning to feel the pressure of time.
So I found a juice bar and ordered a 'stress less' which was strawberry, apple and ginger juice. It was very effective.
We finally boarded an hour later than expected and had a perfect flight home to The Bay, until the landing.
OMG
The first landing was abandoned when we were about twenty feet from the ground. It was a very turbulent descent and just as we thought we were home, the engines roared and the plane began a steep ascent back to the sky. The pilot blamed a change in wind direction.
The second attempt was abandoned much earlier. The pilot blamed 'traffic'.
The third (and successful) landing was almost a crash landing! It was turbulent all the way down and we landed with such a loud and back breaking thud, that there were audible screams, grunts, gasps and two women at the rear of the plane who laughed hysterically for a full two minutes. It can only be described as nervous laughter!
What a relief to survive that!
It was great to see Adoring Husband's smiling face there to greet me.
Even though I was very lucky with beds on this trip, I am still looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tonight.
I need to regenerate and rejuvenate for the next four days, ready for the second leg of my February jaunt. I feel like we've been in Sydney for a month instead of just ten days!
Time to rest now.
Nite all.
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