Post 32: Journey home

It started out with a quick breakfast followed by slow traffic to Heathrow- just over 6 miles in 55 minutes.

It gave me a chance to look at the trees again, many still bare skeletons,







































others green, and some flowering.

Once we pass the Airman I know we must be closing in, but it is still another 15 minutes driving around to the city that is Heathrow.

Once there, my passage is smooth. Qantas is open for business. All I have to do is hand over my bag, find the lounge and respond to Veronica's texts.


The flight is comfortable, slightly shorter than the westward journey because of the winds - about 16 hours 45 minutes. I manage to sleep for about five and a half hours from what is 4pm in London and about 2.30 am in Adelaide. I figure this is moving me in the right direction.
Somewhere
over the Indian Ocean I see what I think is a sunrise.






It turns out to be the moon.

Very difficult to photograph the moon.

I managed to read a whole George Bellairs book in the time I was awake, and do a little zenbroidery..

We arrive in Perth on time - even a little early. The transition is smooth. I declared the wool roving that Nicola gave us each as a gift. It was washed and carded and in a cellophane bag, but did not pass muster. The quarantine official was uncertain, but erred on the side of caution. I was sorry - but I know the importance of our quarantine laws and don't quibble. Too much at stake.

The flight from Perth to Adelaide was a little late leaving, but expected to make up the time. About an hour out of Perth, an hour and a half from Adelaide, in the middle of the meal being served, there was a medical emergency on the flight. The crew asked for help from any medical personnel on board and rushed to the back of the plane with the physician's kit. After 5 minutes or so, we were advised that medical advice was to get the passenger to a hospital urgently and we were diverting to Kalgoorlie - about 25 minutes away.

All meal service was suspended, we veered north, landed at Kalgoorlie, where paramedics efficiently removed the patient through the back of the plane. It took about half an hour to refuel, remove the patient's luggage and get a new flight plan. We stayed on the plane, which then took off smoothly.




I was one of the lucky ones who had been served a meal before the emergency. The hot food could not, for health reasons, be reheated, so about half the plane missed their meal. They got cheese and biscuits, almonds and free drinks.



We arrived in Adelaide at 9.10 pm instead of 7.35. The crew did a remarkable job. Everyone seemed understanding and tolerant. The strangest thing was the the continuous queue - of mostly men - to use the toilet. It started in Kalgoorlie, before the free alcohol, but was continuous to Adelaide. There were more men than women on the flight, so maybe it was representational. Perhaps it is a reaction to stress. Odd, I thought.

My transport was waiting for me at Adelaide - having adjusted to the flight change. It is a pleasantly warm evening in Adelaide and I have the balcony doors open to air the place a little before I go to bed. Plantar fasciitis in my right foot has been a small bother while I've been away. It doesn't like long flights.

On the flight from Perth I managed more zenbroidery. Perhaps this will be called Kalgoorlie Zen.
I will post the finishes of my three England projects - Jenny's Hill Top construction (when I get the box), Nicola's Herdwick Sheep and Becky Hogg's Metalwork Fox  to my embroidery blog, https://jillian-alwaysstitching.blogspot.com/ when finished. Perhaps I will just post a note here when that is done, so followers know to look.

Thanks for following along. I'm a bit sad, really, to be finishing - but there are new stories and journeys to be had.

Post One - heading off in 37C

My balcony pot plants are sitting in plastic bins of water, the curtains are drawn against the heat and I began this at Adelaide airport, suitcase checked through, hand luggage in tow and cool drink in front of me. As I wrote this I realised I forgot at least two things. I did not pack my spiky ball as my physio instructed, and I didn't empty the last of the milk from the fridge.

I tried to finish the Zenbroidery design I was working on before I left home, but didn't quite make it. I have a few tiny bits to finish - but not enough to bring it with me. I had a new one to start on the plane.

I have now arrived in Perth. I made a start on the new Zenbroidery, in between the three-course meal - duck salad, a big bowl of pumpkin soup and a Maggie Beare icecream. I limited myself to a glass and a half of Sauvignon Blanc. 

I do not intend to keep writing about food. I have a Protestant streak which finds writing about and photographing food barely distinguishable from playing with one's food.  I have, however,  promised to take some photos on the Dreamliner and post about it - not my usual habit, but a couple of friends are very curious. They have specific questions about the drink-holders and layout. I'm  rolling  my eyes, but I don't often get requests so will comply.  I suspect there will be more food as soon as we take off from Perth, so this is by way of explanation of why I will not be eating much. I am also resisting the chicken kebabs being distributed in the Qantas club as I write this.

I must say that the transition from domestic flight to international here in Perth was the easiest I have experienced anywhere. We also left Adelaide half an hour late and arrived only 10 minutes after our scheduled time. It is a very short walk and a most efficient security and customs check. lots of helpful people. My new passport works! It took a few minutes in Adelaide for the Qantas computer to recognise it and the check-in officer was worried. It has, however, worked nicely since.

I also managed to download the remaining Bruce Beckham DI Skelgill books to my Kindle before I left. They are set in the Lakes District and I read 5 of them last year on the Spring Retreat. I have made o good start on No. 6!

This is by way of a test blog - just to let you ( and me!) know it is working. For those who get it by email, I will be two thirds of the way to London when it arrives in your inbox.