Getting There....

Sunday Nov 29-Tuesday Dec 1 2009
Sunday, Nov 29 seems like eons ago. We left home, in Norfolk, at 1.50 arriving at Heathrow via Purple Parking at 5.30 - despite a slow M11 and M25 in heavy rain. Singapore Air check-in was empty so we had a speedy baggage check-in before the interminable customs clearance. As always, my knees set off the alarm as I walked through and I had the most thorough body check ever. First with hands and then a scanner. Pam just had to take her boots off because of the metal D rings.
The usual airport hang around before boarding and a late 10.40 p.m. take-off in an A380.Unfortunately we didn't get a window and aisle seat so no side locker to store items wanted on the journey. The 12 hour+ flight to Changi airport, Singapore was a trial. Comparing notes after arrival we found that both of us had had a near fainting spell with cold sweats running down our face. I think it was Nytol after pain killers which we'd both had. We've never had that reaction to Nytol before and that was the only difference.
Changi was largely closed during our only previous visit early in the morning. It was great to find this large, airy and most attractive airport shopping area fully open. We browsed the electronic goods shop where I bought a new Canon 500D SLR, drank a bottle of water and departed on the 9.10 p.m. flight to Brisbane. The changeover time was just long enough to shop, stretch our legs and have a drink. Excellent.
The Brisbane leg plane was much newer than before and I occupied myself surfing the in flight entertainment, failing to work out how to play a single game, listening to 60s music and mostly watching the plane travel across an ever-changing series of maps and statistics. We approached Western Australia across the Andaman Islands, day dawning as we crossed Northern Territory. Queensland brought a spectacular sunrise, a deep crimson band suffused with apricot at the top, gradually changing to orange. Our first ever approach to Brisbane in daylight brought more spectacular views. Approaching from the south, the whole of the Gold Coast with its fjord like indentations and then Stradbrooke Island, before the glide in over the Brisbane River mouth. All in glorious blue sky sunshine.
Baggage reclaim was successful as was the customs clearance. Having declared food we were directed around a bit, including to the sniffer dog, but the Sara-requested home made Christmas Pud got through with flying colours.....
The plane was 25 minutes early and we were through by 7.15 - and an anxious Sara was 15 mins late, stuck in traffic. Very illegally, she parked kerbside and phoned for us to come out immediately. We discovered later that she'd pleaded meeting elderly relations to stop them moving her on, and, in her own words, 'out came this sprightly pair'.
Sara had a 'meeting' scheduled for 12.00 (via the internet sitting outside on the patio). When she'd finished, we left Mike doing his afternoon work for Pareto and drove to Colleges Crossing for lunch overlooking the river, with a pleasant through breeze tempering the heat.
Home in time to greet two very excited boys in from school. They are both much taller, Josh very slim and full of energy. We had a display of his football skills before both boys and Mike had an hour in the pool, mainly shooting each other with water pistols.
After a very tasty burger meal, home made by Mike, we attempted to stay awake by sorting out our computers for internet access and I played Snap with Josh. Pam and I gave up at 8.00 and retired for the night at the same time as Josh! I think we both lay down and slept - until my phone woke us from a deep sleep at 1 a.m. Unidentified number so it was probably Vodafone. Damn them. I then slept until 5. We're now waiting for Abel cars to pick us up in order to collect ours from Roma Street. We found our way back last time.......