h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I left you last, I was about to go to an AFL game…that’s the one with “no rules” according to outsiders, and “heaps of shit we’re not allowed to do any more” according to the players. Anyway, the people dressed as butchers no longer dress as butchers, and I managed to pick up the rules along the way as well…they’re not so difficult. I had my pie at half-time, and survived that, too. The game itself was quite exciting: the Blues went ahead, then the Doggies (who we supported) caught up and overhauled them by 20 points (it’s a high-scoring game) before the Blues rallied and managed to stay ahead until the end…’twas a close-run thing though, and well worth the admission. Note to people who watch feetball in the UK: the tickets cost AU$19.70, or about £8.50.

After that, I spent an evening in a hotel near Melbourne Airport, before catching a 7am flight up to Cairns. A 3 hour flight later I was in Cairns and finding a bus to my resort, Palm Cove. There in time for lunch, and the weather was warm and sunny. “This is great!” Thought I.

I booked to go on the skyrail http://www.skyrail.com.au the next day, which is a 5 mile cable car through the rainforest, and really . Luncheoned at Kuranda, then got the scenic rail home.

For much of the rest of my stay in Palm Cove the weather, whilst warm, was cloudy, so no sunbathing…just sitting poolside and relaxing. On my final night I went to my favourite restaurant, NuNu, and was there befriended by folk at the next table so we had a good night all together.

I flew back to Melbourne on Friday and caught a train up to Castlemaine for my last weekend. Over the weekend I went out for a wine-tasting event and also had a big, final party on the Sunday night, which was also enlivened by the arrival from ACT of my brother’s sister-in-law her and fiancé…so a big family dinner gathering was held.

On Monday, my brother drove me down to Melbourne Airport for the trip home. Should be easy, I’d left loads of time for my connection at Sydney…

WRONG.

The 1115 that I’d booked on Virgin Blue was cancelled. The next available flight to Sydney was at 1415, landing 1535. But this was a domestic flight, and I then needed to get on the international Qantas flight to Heathrow at 1700! I went to the Qantas desk at Melbourne, and they were able to alert Sydney of my quandary…

Got off the plane at Sydney (they’d helpfully placed me in row 2 so I’d be out of the plane quickly), got my suitcase off the carousel, then hotfooted it over to the Qantas domestic terminal to check in – they’d told me at Melbourne I’d be able to do this – and made the check-in deadline with a minute to spare! Then had to make my way to the international terminal, and arrived at the gate just as they were about to close it! So, a bit skin-of-the-teeth-ness!

The flight back was full on both legs, so no room to spread out and get any proper sleep. I arrived at Heathrow at 0700 and then had to battle my way home through rush-hour crowds on the Tube, and got home by about 0915…all set to start work for the day!

RF

...and this was...a holiday?

Welcome home

Sounds as if you had a fantastic time.

Yup, had a great time, thanks! Now back to reality with a bump.

Although, that said, London in the summertime is pretty too!

RF

Is it not too hot then? We had some sticky 31°C yesterday, and nearly as many today.

At the moment it's struggling to 20° or so...the weather's supposed to improve in early July, we may get some heat then! At the moment it's just comfortably warm.

RF

True, 20°C sounds good.

pity about the Butcher Blokes...

sounds like a great trip - even though you didn't get a tan. And you went straight to work??

Well Sho, I can't blame him if he prefered his work place to his psychedelic flat

oh come ON!
that is a work of art

oh, think he'd be interested in a German meet....

You should shoo him to your journal then.

*flaps hands at RF*

shoo shoo shooo...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/classic/F42904?thread=4288612&post=50086982#p50086982

I didn't dare posting that link

why?

since we're here though RF
more details about the pie please
and why no more butcher bloke outfits?
and do the "no rules" guys stil wear those ridiculous short shorts? (now we're getting to the point)

I've posted it to Toy Box, and a similar one in my journal. Somebody seems to think it's funny yikesing completely harmless posts (like this one) in my Yikes journal. Don't want to be accused of spamming.

for goodness sakes.
to phantom yiksers.

I never believed there really was something like a phantom Yikeser, but I had to change my mind.
One post, lil only said something that we had queer times in Europe or something similar - and it was yikesed. Ok, it came back, but it makes you wonder what's going on.