27 May 2010

We should be so lucky.... lucky lucky lucky

On the way to the airport this morning, we were flying along just under the speed limit (my dad, Col was driving) and we spent a lot of time talking about road rules and who should give way to who when merging onto the freeway etc.... when all of a sudden the group of cars in front of us were about to all experience near death experiences. One car in the left lane tried to move to the right where a car was already sitting (possibly in his blind spot, so didn't see her). She swerved to the right and then hard to the left and because the roads were wet, she luckily slid (rather than rolled) behind the group of cars and off the freeway into the scrub on the side.

Col had to put a bit of pressure on the brakes and the Good Samaritan that he is, pulled over to see if they were ok...... he was the only person to do so. Not even the moron who caused it all showed any concern - possibly didn't even notice anything had happened!

The little lady in the car was visibly shaken. I watched through the windscreen as Col got out and administered a little bit of advice and 'you'll be right' roadside care. What a hero!

Then we went on our merry way and listened as Col discussed the safety features of wing mirrors and where they should be placed for best use.

Thank Goodness we're finally at the airport - in the Qantas lounge - sipping champas.

xxx

Bon Jour Madam

When we first learned that my gorgeous sister, Jode was going to join us on the adventure - we both searched gay Paris for an appropriate hotel. Jode, being sort of bilingual (partially speaking Italian) thought she would write an enquiry to the hotel in French! Now, Jode speaks about as much French as I do and let's just say both our Italian is far superior. So it was curious, but really no surprise when she didn't receive a reply. Next, I had a turn and emailed from my address (in English) and they wrote back almost immediately. So from then on all correspondence was done by me.

Because Jode and myself live on the other side of Australia from our lovely mum, it was difficult to make joint decisions about places to stay etc.... so it was decided that Jen and I would do it whilst together in Perth before the trip and I would ask Jode's opinion about things here and there. Jode, wanting to be involved took a lead from an email I had sent her about a West End Show in London that I was thinking of having my friend, Tans (who lives in London) book tickets for and emailed the hotel. 'Which hotel?' you might be asking yourselves? Well, she emailed the hotel in Paris (and used my name and email address) asking them the best way to book tickets to see this show. We weren't surprised when they didn't answer - as the show is on in a completely different country! Hey! - She was only trying to help.

Jode has now been banned from booking anything else.

xxx

It was us all the time!

Here I am thinking that we were going to come across random people who were weird and kooky and did stupid things to make us laugh (as is the norm). However, it appears that we might actually be a part of 'that' lot as well. I speak more of Jen than of myself at this point - who, let me clarify, is normally very organised and immaculately tidy.... and not at all forgetful! So it came as a great concern when on the eve of our departure Jen announced that her credit cards were missing. Now I'll admit that I had them for a brief moment to check the numbers, and I was sure that I had returned them to her. I could even recite the conversation we were having at the time. She on the other hand had no memory of me giving them back to her and you can imagine the song and dance that ensued thereafter. We searched through everything and I mean everything - even in rooms nobody had set foot in for months! Books were flipped through, chairs were checked under, accusations were tossed around and bins were emptied, upstairs, downstairs - all in vain. This worrying jig went on for about 40 minutes, everyone becoming more and more frantic as the minutes ticked by when Jen finally and simply lifted a pair of bras from a chair and there they lay - the show was over. Drama 1 of our prejourney had ended.

26 May 2010

It was the night before ........

It is the eve before the big trip that I am taking with my lovely mother, Jen and my gorgeous sister, Jode. We are partially packed, emotionally exhausted from thinking of things to take and do before we leave and - to top it off, it is pouring with rain outside which lends itself to converstaions of..... "oh I hope there's no lightening tomorrow", "Will the pilot take off in this sort of weather?", "He just wouldn't take off, would he?" etc.... We are all very excited and I can, at the moment, only imagine the relief we are going to feel once we step foot on the Qantas plane and are handed our first glass of champas. All I will say at that point is "bring it on".

I must mention one absolute trouper in this whole trip and she my lovely cousin/gorgeous friend/talented and patient travel agent. She has worked tirelessly to sort it all out. To her we are eternally grateful and will endeavour to purchase her the biggest fridge magnet the world has ever seen just to show our gratitude.

I hope that I will able to do this trip and the places we visit justice in the way I describe them so that you can visit vicariously with/through me - the more the merrier hey?

Bon Voyage

xxx