Can't keep a good Dame down. Encore trip on the QM2.

[LadyC]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[Pushka]

Two days to departure and last night Adelaide security screeners said they would take strike action at the airport Wednesday.

 

[love_the_life]

Noooooo

 

[Pushka]

Noooooo

There doesnt seem to be anything new out this morning and I am hoping its a bully boy tactic as they were in cohoots with bus drivers and who got an agreement through the state Govt last night. It is only South Australia so its up to SA Govt to fix - and would be a great embarrassment to them if it happened.

 

[ellen10]

Signing on for the next adventure

 

[love_the_life]

Ok, so T-26 (or thereabouts). Run through the packing checklist.
The important things - passport - check, make up (not yet - better not forget it or it's a bit like Bride of Frankenstein:shock, underwear - check, jammies - check (don't want to scar Pushka for life as we are sharing hotel rooms ), glamorous evening gowns - check (no, really, it's just the body in them that's the problem ) lots of trousers and t-shirts - check, shoes - check, check, check, check.
Have I forgotten anything?

Oh, hang on, I can't finalise the luggage yet as I am still wearing some things. My wardrobe is not that expansive.

Dame Y on the other hand reports she is done and dusted and all ready to go. Probably just left the stuff in the case from her recent frequent jaunts across to Melbourne so she had a head start on her more elderly travel partner.

 

[Pushka]

I just realised it is exactly T-24 right now.

Just completed the last of the financials for the companies, the ATO BAS log in portal worked this time so two BAS statements sorted, Invoicing done (thank goodness there is a few quiet days around Easter while we are away) and today is Prep Pushka day. Hair cut, nails (have to cover up manky black toenail); replace kitty litter trays (Sir Cat likes to select one of 3 trays for his business ); organise last minute supplies for family staying put, charge phone, ipad and kindle, and then - somehow sleep!

You did book your car didnt you from Changi? We have decided to go "Sex and the City 2" style - oh wait wait wait, that just means we are having a limo each to take us from the airport to the Hotel. Phew. That movie did have scenes from Emirates F (rebadged of course) but it probably isnt the best of films to watch on an Emirates flight. I do have it on my ipad though.

MrP already left for Melbourne. No further mention of security strike at the airport.

 

[Denali]

..... Notice, this is not a cruise. You do not cruise on the QM2, you have a voyage..........

Was the QM2 in Sydney a couple of months ago? I ask because I remember driving past it and saying to my husband, "When you compare the QM2 to other cruise liners these days, theres no comparison. Shes all class, isnt she."

Have a wonderful time - looking forward to you checking in with pics and stories.

 

[love_the_life]

I just realised it is exactly T-24 right now.


You did book your car didnt you from Changi?

Of course; was that a rhetorical question or a Dorothy Dixer like parliamentary question time?

Was the QM2 in Sydney a couple of months ago? I ask because I remember driving past it and saying to my husband, "When you compare the QM2 to other cruise liners these days, theres no comparison. Shes all class, isnt she."

Have a wonderful time - looking forward to you checking in with pics and stories.

There were 2 Queens in Sydney in early March (from memory) - QM2 and QV. QM2 was in late Feb as well on the way to Tasmania and back before she picked up passengers in Sydney for the Hong Kong leg of the world cruise.

 

[Pushka]

Of course; was that a rhetorical question or a Dorothy Dixer like parliamentary question time?

More like my memory sucks these days. And you must admit we have made and cancelled a few things along the way. So my booking for Marina Bay and you cancelled yours? Luxury Escapes pre paid for Dubai. Somewhere. I can't remember where.

Received another phone call from Emirates Chauffeur last night. This change in the domestic leg has caused so many issues. But I'm happy they are checking rather than assuming.

 

[love_the_life]

More like my memory sucks these days. And you must admit we have made and cancelled a few things along the way. So my booking for Marina Bay and you cancelled yours? Luxury Escapes pre paid for Dubai. Somewhere. I can't remember where.

Received another phone call from Emirates Chauffeur last night. This change in the domestic leg has caused so many issues. But I'm happy they are checking rather than assuming.

Yes, yes and yes. (but just to be sure I went and checked....again)

And it's the Conrad hotel in Dubai. Did I not send you the booking confirmation?

 

[Pushka]

Yes, yes and yes. (but just to be sure I went and checked....again)

And it's the Conrad hotel in Dubai. Did I not send you the booking confirmation?

Probably. Or maybe it was just the initial offer. Got it now

We should do a poll on how many times people check they have their passport before they head off. I'd say - I'm up to five.
Hairdresser - right now. Takes a while to fix the potions.

 

[yld200]

Sounds very exciting! I think it's cool when there are multiple AFFers on the same TR

Did Dame Y and Dame O meet through AFF?

 

[Pushka]

Sounds very exciting! I think it's cool when there are multiple AFFers on the same TR

Did Dame Y and Dame O meet through AFF?

We met through Cruise Critic I think where love_the_life has more of an AFF name! Go figure as they say. We met on our first QM2 journey in 2102 where I took my mother and Dame O her husband. Next trip we ditched them and went as solos. And three years later doing it all again. I was a pain in the neck gym junkie last time but that will not happen again. I think it was Dame O who made the connection on AFF? I don't remember. I have the same name on both.

 

[love_the_life]

So while you have been out beautifying yourself Dame Y, what have I been doing? Mop the floors, washing, ironing, my bathroom clean, clean the range hood and the microwave and the fridge. It was a bit like the nesting instinct you get just before you go into labour :shock:
Have a music lecture to attend this afternoon and then I can fall in a heap!

 

[Pushka]

So while you have been out beautifying yourself Dame Y, what have I been doing? Mop the floors, washing, ironing, my bathroom clean, clean the range hood and the microwave and the fridge. It was a bit like the nesting instinct you get just before you go into labour :shock:
Have a music lecture to attend this afternoon and then I can fall in a heap!

Oh seriously. I did ALL that before I left. Well, not the range hood. I always get in cleaning frenzy before I go away.

 

[love_the_life]

I knew you would have! I was just being a bad old lady

And one sleep to go....

 

[Pushka]

An early night last night as I'd not slept well and I don't do bad sleeping nights well these days. Took a mersyndol to wipe off the edgy feeling of excitement and slept until around 3am. Then spent an hour or so wakeful but then off to sleep.

Does anyone else have weird dreams of flying before they leave? I've had dreams where the plane lands on a road and to make up time it has to taxi along the road to get to the airport. Last night was a doozy. It seems the plane has movable seats. And was full of kids. The kids were moving the seats all around the plane. But mostly to the front. There was also a door that you could open that would take you onto the wing where you could stand while the plane is flying. I didn't realise and opened this hatch only to find I had balance issues and was dead scared of falling over the edge. Hardly surprising. And there was MrP in the coughpit yelling at me to get off the wing. I had to crawl on all fours trying to grasp these metal bolty things on the wing. Then he said not to worry as we were just about to land - which we did - on the water and everyone just jumped off the plane and into the water to exit.

But worst of all? Emirates said they were no longer serving champagne as a cost cutting exercise. THAT woke me up.

Anyways. Just whiling the time until the car arrives. Showered and then fed the cat. Then wiped what I though twas water but was actually fish water from the cat food, all over my cheek. Yuk.

Have new luggage and in the midst of last nights wakefulness I realised I would forget what it looked like at well after midnight after a day of flying and well, probably more to do the alcohol that may be consumed. . EMIRATES - are you listening? So grey ribbon installed on both bright orange suitcases because orange is the new black.

Passport. Check.

 

[Pushka]

Did I mention I bought a jeep?

 

[Anna]

I always get in cleaning frenzy before I go away.

Thank goodness it's not just me. I especially have to vacuum the house and empty the inside bins before I leave

Does anyone else have weird dreams of flying before they leave?

I regularly have dreams about flying, not usually with any anxiety attached, just 'here I am on a plane again, how exciting, where am I going this time?' And then weird things happen like the pilot decides to drive along the roads from ADL to MEL instead of flying, or something like that. But we arrive in due course and I'm usually comfortable on board in a nice seat :shock:

No psychoanalysis please (amateur or professional ).

Enjoy the cruise. I'm particularly looking forward to Ms Manners and gripe of the day