And we are off

With the fights booked on 29 July 2013 this day seemed a long way off, but the 27 March 2014 arrived in a hurry towards the end. The run up to the to the trip was the usual chaotic time with the last minute panics etc, however we set off at 4.26 p.m. from Glendo and Andy's 4 minutes early.

Good day for a trip to Oz!!

The journey to Birmingham airport featured driving rain, sleet and busy M1 & M42. Andy stated he knew exactly where to park but a last minute distraction from the sat nav meant we found ourselves in a car park a good walk from the departure terminal, still we had plenty of time.... Check-in was the easiest ever - Trudy having skilfully accomplished the on-line check-in process. With the bags dumped it was time for a coffee (Fosters for Simon) then through to security for departures. Glenbo tried to be brave for our final farewell's but wasn't convincing anyone!! 

In front of us in the security queue was a family with a screaming brat and we all said under our breaths that we hoped they weren't sitting anywhere near us.  We flew by Emirates on a Boeing 777-300ER which has 49 rows of seats, so not much chance of hearing the brat again... guess what....... they were on the row behind us!!!! 

Trudy was her usual nervous flyer wreck, which the steward on the gate immediately recognised and ushered us through the business class entry into the plane - hopes of an upgrade were quickly dashed as we were lead through business class to our pre-booked seats in economy but there was the consolation of a bottle of water and some peanuts which were dispensed. 

During the flight Trudy was very brave and only passed out once, but the stewards administered some oxygen and checked her blood pressure and her sats were 99% so she was fit to carry on.... Jodie on the other hand announced she was about to be sick, and before an appropriate receptacle could be found she was unable to hold it any longer and was sick over Jenny and Simon. For the next 18 hours Jodie hugged her sick bags, in anticipation for the next episode. 

Despite the health issues the flights, Birmingham to Dubai (6hrs 45mins) and Dubai to Perth (10hrs 45 mins), with Emirates were great, with good food, service and entertainment. During the fights we saw a sunset and a sunrise which was a first.

We finally landed in Perth at 1.30 local time, and after a lengthy immigration we finally found Biz with a Trafford sign and arrived at "Hotel Anscombe" at 3.00 a.m. a door to door trip of 26hrs 34mins

We were found

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