Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Mabel Too

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Mon 11 Jan 2016 23:57

Beez Neez to Mabel Too

Up we jumped, full of excitement, close down chores, tick. Went to turn toilet off and found Bear’s ‘lost’ sandals in the tiny cupboard where the valve is Oh, is that where they were. Clearly and indeed, we’ve only been searching for them for three days............ Beds and pillow packed, tick. ‘Farewell’ and kiss Bernie, the best looking bear in the world, just love the way he wears his Peruvian jumper – off the shoulder. Kiss Bobby, the most loyal bear in the world and Claude, the biggest scamp. Bye Bye Beez and all the rest of the gang, see you in three weeks.

Farewell to Nerida in the office who called Brett to take us in the launch over to Tunks Park [really didn’t want to lug our cases up the 109 steps, but we will bring them down on the way back as gravity will help]. Michael, our taxi driver was pulling up as we said ‘farewell’ and thank you to Brett.

To get to Sydney airport is one or two buses and one or two trains. Bear and Jane [in the office] worked out that a taxi is the same cost, if not a few dollars cheaper and far less hassle. Michael dropped us twenty minutes later at the Domestic Terminal and on the weigh-on scales both our cases were 19.9 kilograms of the 20 kilogram allowance. Mine was 16.2, that means you’ve been tucking things in......... Well, just a few essential bits and bobs. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well........

Check in was easy and we found a spot for a cup of tea and to eat our picnic of bacon sandwiches. We enjoyed watching the comings and goings of Virgin and a few we didn’t know. A little bimble around the shops and off to find Gate 54.

Our gate - the gap between the two Jetstar ladies.

Our flight was delayed as the plane came in late, now meaning we would land at a quarter to four and the Apollo office closes at four thirty. Talk about tight timing a rapid call to tell them to please, please wait for us. Soon enough we were taxiing past Port Botany, explored in our little hire car just before Christmas. On the opposite runway a chap was getting ready for take off. We had to wait for a slot as we had lost ours and now hoped to be in the camper van shop by a quarter past four, eyes lift heavenward...........

Pity there was mist between the inner and outer space between the windows, but we watched a plane coming in, then we were up and leaving Botany Bay.

The in-flight magazine had a wonderful article on Peanuts. To celebrate the film release, one of the Jetstar fleet has had a makeover, must look out for this particular bird. There was also an article about the man who built the Lego Icons exhibition we saw in the Museum of Sydney the other day, [it will get its own blog].

An hour and a half later we were coming in over Tasmania to land at Hobart.

Not the first thing you expect to see on the luggage claim carousel.........cute eyes, though.

Meanwhile, a working girl was neatly tramping and sniffing. Our cases appeared, a quick dash to the taxis, five minute journey and we walk in to be greeted by Nigel at four twenty five. All apologetic to be so close to closing time but as we are old hands because of our time in New Zealand with Mabel, checking in was a breeze. Nigel, Dirk and Trev were delighted with us being “nice” – they had just had two and a half hours with the family from hell complete with two screaming, obnoxious tearaways.

Happily bundled off with two extra duvets, to go under our sheets to make the perfect nest. Hugs all round, all done by five thirty.

The smiling says it all. Off we went across the causeway to find the nearest Coles to stock up.

Target - to shop, sneak a KFC [well it was next door to the supermarket], be on site, unpacked, nest built and showered by ten o’clock. Shopping done, two piece meal with three hot wings between us and on site by eight. Bear unpacked while I sorted the shopping. Bear showered while I unpacked and then we both built our nest, Bear outside dealing with the foot end, me inside at the head end. All done and dusted by seven minutes to ten. Smashing. All ready for a good nights sleep and keen to leap up in the morning to be tourists in Mabel and begin exploring Tasmania. Marvelous. Who would have thought that when we booked and paid for this trip six months ago, that I would be flying the very first day post-op that the airline allows, and the trip is now all about getting fit with a bit of convalescing.........