Monday, 27 January 2020

Unaccustomed traveller

I'm the Good Cheer Pixie and I am NOT a frequent flyer. The fact is that until I met Tall I didn't have a passport, I had never been on an aeroplane. Over the first five years we flew five times. Once Tall was told he was ill we flew no more.

It is over ten years since I last flew with Tall by my side and now I am about to plan the biggest journey of my life, a flight to Australia. I have to confess I am "scared" of so many things. I was scared of getting to Heathrow Airport until I found out I can travel from Birmingham and only have to wait an extra hour at Dubai to get the connecting flight, I am scared of getting lost at the stopover airport and missing that connecting flight though. 

All the things that we organised together, the sharing of the responsibility, the packing and checking and double checking, that all falls on my shoulders. I am researching what I can, I have applied for my visa and looked at a hotel for when I arrive, it would be unreasonable of me to expect my hosts to drive to collect me at the ungodly hour I arrive, I don't have a clue how long customs will take. But, then I worry about getting to the hotel, will I be ripped off by the taxi driver who will know instantly I'm a foreigner, or am I being unfair judging all taxi drivers the same way? I am trying my hardest to be logical and calm, I am actually really excited at the prospect of visiting Australia, even if it is a teeny weeny part of it. The fact is, I know if I can do this, I can do anything, go anywhere (well obviously there are places I wouldn't go as a lone female).  

I worry that my hosts will get fed up of my endless silly questions about what to do before / during /after the flight, (they are far more experienced but as yet haven't emailed them a list of my silly questions).  Tall would have just known. I'm not sure whether he was:
           a) the font of all knowledge
           b) a good internet researcher
           c) blessed with the gift of the gab.
I just know he seemed to know EVERYTHING. How I miss that bravado and confidence. 
My answer to it all is lists. Endless lists of what I need to do, what I need to pack, a carefully orchestrated timetable with contingency plans. Well that's my plan, I just haven't started it yet!!

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