The fortnight and a bit, redux
- Home Based Learning Network trade fair. I won the first door prize
- Touring the frozen eastern states. Qantas cancels two of my flights due to maintenance issues, and books me on the earlier flight. Fortunately I am able to make it to the airport on time in both cases, although one of them involves eating my dinner in the car… One flight is on a plane flown up from Melbourne to replace the original aircraft. The new plane has a loose interior panel next to my seat, which the hostie kicks into place And the reading lights don’t work. Hopefully nothing else is wrong with it!
- I’m going to try a cut for those who like such things. Apologies if this doesn’t work on the syndicated feed.
- Sydney, being the cosmopolitan world city that it is, has a domestic airport that closes at 11pm. This is pretty annoying if you were hoping on hanging out in the Qantas Club until the 7am flight you are booked on departs. Fortunately Sydney has pubs with wireless internet that are open until 4am and a 24 hour McDonalds (I was desperate!) in which to while away the time until the airport opens again. Accommodation was filled up by pope-loving pilgrims in town for World Youth Day.
- At 4am, most people in McDonalds are tweenagers trying to hassle the manager. The strange realisation occurs that I’m the oldest person in the store, on both sides of the counter! Nothing particularly eventful occurs, although one of them is hungry or brave enough to try purchasing food with a dodgy credit card, but gets stopped at the door.
- Unlike many civilised places, NSW train stations are fairly open to the elements. No nice warm place to wait and get a bite to eat while waiting for your train.
- Two more friends are sprogging, which is good to see. One has probably even delivered by now.
- Catching up with some old and not so old friends over a casually prolonged brunch.
- Trading notes with a random Doctor Who fanboy I wind up sharing a house with. His dalek pyjamas give him away if nothing else
- Conference time. Time to hit the Sydney Apple Store. Lots of glass. Much sexier than the Telstra shop opposite. Brushed metal finish everywhere. Purchase random accessories.
- Conference. Add some more tools to the World Domination Toolkit. Some people buy iPhones on Friday.
- Conference dinner with an international cast. Anyone who gives up their glass of wine for me ranks exceedingly highly in my books. Once more we seem to have someone at our table who is always not there when the waitrons serve, but their food gets eaten anyway…
- Catching up with more friends over dinner. More people getting assimilated into the ‘plex.
- Last day of the conference. Flying out to for a friend’s birthday, which is a quiet one at home to counter his corporate out-dining lifestyle. House is nice, may even have a flair for decorating. Electronics workshop is squirreled away to avoid too-public scrutiny
- iChat video back home, during which Puggle requests a tour of the entire house, (and for some reason, closing of all the blinds) which involves wandering around with the laptop, including up a flight of stairs.
- Lunch, involving chicken parmigiana (They serve it with veges as an alternative to salad, and chips in both cases. It is getting too cold so we decamp back home via the aquarium shop.
- Dinner at a local diner. Followed by another video iChat and then after numerous video nursery rhyme readings it’s time for more adult pursuits like watching Top Gear’s race to the north pole.
- Time to relax whilst my host pursues a luncheon. Wander to the local shopping centre (sorry, “Fashion Capital”) for lunch in the food court and a Krispy Kreme.
- Catch up with friends for a cuppa to admire their collections and to fulfil my role as an intranational book and Playmobil courier.
- Time to get to the airport. Erk, 20 minutes to check in and clear security. Plane is delayed anyway. Forced to drink and eat more
- The problem with losing 10kg is that when you take your belt buckle off to clear security your pants will require you to hold them up. Along with gathering your laptop, laptop bag, jacket and carry on bag.
- Home to the beloved family. Bilby seems taller. Puggle seems even more boy. Cygnet is bigger.
- A week at work (the last before the boss returns)
- Weekend at Fairbridge. Christmas in July. Cold, but fun, with good company. Puggle and especially Bilby leave no puddles unstomped. Thanks to Sarah for organising it!
- Back home for a hopefully early night. This week, financial wrangling and car shopping!
Tags: fairbridge, qantas, sydney, world_youth_day
