Bye, Bye, Bye.

13/04/2012

The day had arrived, the time to say our goodbyes to Oz and to our loved ones .Our Emirate's flight was at 18.15, which facilitated being at the airport at 4.00pm. We had checked in online the night before and Ben was going to print the boarding passes off at work.

We were to meet Ben for lunch in Surry Hills so we decided to go for a little walk around the area and take in Moore Park. It was only a 10 minute walk from Ben and Anna's and with the weather, once again sunny and warm, we looked forward to a last sunbathe before the long flight back to the UK.

We went to the far end of the park and sat down in the sun near to the Sydney High School for Boys.

We watched a rugby training session on the playing fields, in front of the schools impressive colonial façade. The scene was of total inclusion in sport, no kid was left out, even if it was obvious that they were useless, some had trouble catching and moving at the same time. The Australian way is to encourage physical exercise  and at whatever level, some activity is better than none. I agree, it's something we should encourage in the U.K.

We wandered back towards Surry Hills and waited for our boy to arrive.

Ben had forgotten to print off our boarding cards at work, but we nipped in to the local library to use their computer suite, with Ben explaining, " I was going to become a member anyhow so now's a good time". Typical spin doctoring from him, but he doesn't fool us.

We headed down  onto Crown Street to find a place for lunch. He had suggested a little Irish establishment which was aptly named Mad Spud Cafe. Once again we were not disappointed. One thing the Irish know about is the potato.

   Good grub, with no frills and fresh produce, plus good service.

All too soon we had to depart for the airport, which was only a 25 minute drive away at the most from Surry Hills. Anna was meeting us, from work at he airport, to say our goodbyes. I was chattering, as always, on the journey to the airport, Pauline was a little quiet, but I  knew the reason why. We met Anna and had a cup of tea, all the time realising that our visit to Oz was coming to an end. Eventually we had to go through the gate to complete the security checks and to take our leave of them. I could make a joke about his, but I won't. It was a sad time

We are proud of them both and what they have achieved in the short time they have been together. They are a great couple and they certainly showed us so much of Australia and put up with us with humour and  good grace.

Yes, it was a wrench to leave them, and lets just say, if you can't show emotion to people you deeply love, then you have a heart of stone. Thanks to you two, for providing an experience of a lifetime.

The long trip home had begun from Sydney to Dubai via a stop for a hour in Bangkok and then the last leg from Dubai to Manchester.

The flights were fine, the service good and the ICE entertainment system first class. Emirate's operated the Boeing 777 long range model on the first leg, a little cramped, but we were sat in a set of two , so we were fine. The last leg was on the splendid Airbus 380, which is a massive improvement in economy air travel.

 

Plenty of room and a breathtaking size. England here we come !!!!....... bye, bye Australia it was great!