A very early morning start was required, and we left Faye and Bill's (where we stayed overnight) before 5 a.m. We did not get off to a good start. Beth locked the house, only to discover that she had brought out our computer rather than her small backpack. Bill was no doubt delighted to be woken up and let Beth back in to do the necessary exchange. Not a good start.
Arriving at the airport three hours before our flight we discovered the first leg was domestic, so we didn't have to be there so early. This, despite the fact that I had checked on the net. Clearly I needed to look more carefully. Oops.
We checked out bags, and concerned was raised that we would not make the international terminal in Sydney on time, so we were bumped up to an earlier flight at 7.00am. Good thing I stuffed up in the first place. Maybe someone else knows best.
Meanwhile Sarah was waiting for us for breakfast at MacDonald's - in the Macca's outside the airport complex. Duh!
Eventually we met up IN the terminal and had breakfast with Chez, Sez and Paul. Kylie had work, so we understand why she didn't make the trip to Tulla to see us off.
The morning for us had its challenges, but in the background (and sometimes the foreground) of our conversation was the bushfires. The tragedy of these days just seems to increase, and as we were fleeing Melbourne others were still being warned to prepare to flee their homes. As we talked over breakfast the death toll was in the 80's. As we waited at the Sydney terminal numbers were over one hundred, and we awoke this morning in Johannesburg to hear of 173 dead, with more expected. Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved - those who have lost loved ones - children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives and parents. As we left the country it was all a little surreal. We in our comfort heading off, others going about the business of their lives, while thousands are engaged in fighting these fires and others in battling for their lives.
Our flight was long but uneventful - and a 3.30 pm arrival in Johannesburg was after midnight Melbourne time. It was a long day, and we were glad to find our accommodation, stretch out a little and actually be able to get some sleep.
This morning we awoke to a pleasant 20 degrees or so at the Emerald Guest House in Johannesburg, have enjoyed a freshly cooked breakfast and are ready for the next step in our journey to Dar Es Salaam.
Arriving at the airport three hours before our flight we discovered the first leg was domestic, so we didn't have to be there so early. This, despite the fact that I had checked on the net. Clearly I needed to look more carefully. Oops.
We checked out bags, and concerned was raised that we would not make the international terminal in Sydney on time, so we were bumped up to an earlier flight at 7.00am. Good thing I stuffed up in the first place. Maybe someone else knows best.
Meanwhile Sarah was waiting for us for breakfast at MacDonald's - in the Macca's outside the airport complex. Duh!
Eventually we met up IN the terminal and had breakfast with Chez, Sez and Paul. Kylie had work, so we understand why she didn't make the trip to Tulla to see us off.
The morning for us had its challenges, but in the background (and sometimes the foreground) of our conversation was the bushfires. The tragedy of these days just seems to increase, and as we were fleeing Melbourne others were still being warned to prepare to flee their homes. As we talked over breakfast the death toll was in the 80's. As we waited at the Sydney terminal numbers were over one hundred, and we awoke this morning in Johannesburg to hear of 173 dead, with more expected. Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved - those who have lost loved ones - children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives and parents. As we left the country it was all a little surreal. We in our comfort heading off, others going about the business of their lives, while thousands are engaged in fighting these fires and others in battling for their lives.
Our flight was long but uneventful - and a 3.30 pm arrival in Johannesburg was after midnight Melbourne time. It was a long day, and we were glad to find our accommodation, stretch out a little and actually be able to get some sleep.
This morning we awoke to a pleasant 20 degrees or so at the Emerald Guest House in Johannesburg, have enjoyed a freshly cooked breakfast and are ready for the next step in our journey to Dar Es Salaam.
1 comment:
I was amused to hear about Sarah's miscommunication. The whole event was typical Roberts family style. Keeping time is not our thing :) Glad to hear you got off okay.
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