The totally off-topic thread

[Pushka]

Stupid facebook. Telling me about a dinner from a month ago.

It's a memory Facebook maybe?

 

[Steady]

I also have some very bad news from the penegal clan.

My grandmother and the matriarch of our family passed away yesterday, aged 97.

We obviously knew it was coming, but I'm still extremely upset. (There may have been tears on a flight today).

Fortunately it seemed to be relatively quick and painless. She was sitting up in the chair watching the evening news and took an awkward breath, then it was all over. She had been suffering a chest infection for the past week, but it did seem to be stabilising.

She lived in her own house to the end. Outlived her husband by 25 years, and two of her children. Worked in a factory in the war, and married a sailor during the war (my grandfather - Pop actually lied about his age to enlist early and serve his country... Try finding a young person with that kind of patriotism in this day and age).

She was a fiercely independent, proud, strong woman with great love and generosity for her family. She will be dearly missed.

Sorry to hear penegal, my condolences to you and your family.

I hope your employer is generous with granting time off so you can support and be supported by family

 

[straitman]

Condolences BB & penegal. Our thoughts are with you.

 

[straitman]

Well today had to take the cake as the worst travel day we have ever had.

The signs were there yesterday afternoon when we checked in to HSW. All the old car park is closed and now you must use a section of the new car park in the construction area with overflow into the DFO car park. After dropping people and bags at HSW I headed for the car park. First problem is that the left turn into the car park is almost impossible and my car turns tighter than many. Then I had to go through to the overflow park.

While sitting having drinks in the HSW lounge I had a thought that as my car was effectively in the DFO park and DFO was now closed I might have an issue getting it out at 7am. I decided to go and check as we could not afford the delays in the morning. Sure enough when I went to get the car and take it somewhere more useful, the link to the overflow had been closed off which meant no exit. After some stuffing around I found a small unmarked exit out. No barriers so easy exit but also nowhere near where I wanted to be. So off driving past Jeff's Shed, up Spencer St, into Flinders St, over the bridge and back to the car park entrance. A couple of klms to cover the blocked off 50 metres.

Wonderful:!:

This morning I went to get the car and no issues other than several big bird poops on two doors. (Cleaned with difficulty when trying to hurry) Off to the airport and the traffic light cycle just out from the Hilton was not working properly so a delay there. Out to drop off the car and there was a delay with the van to the airport but we eventually got there and checked in just before 8:30 for a 9:30 flight. Originally our connection time in SYD was 2hr 50min.

As there was bad weather in Sydney we got put on an earlier flight. So now we are moved from QF 420 to QF418 so no lounge time and straight to the gate. Sorry folks flight is delayed which later becomes flight is cancelled. We are now moved to QF422 at 10:00 as we cannot get back onto QF420 but onto QF422 which was a little late as it arrived late. Eventually we are all on board and then got a further delay whilst a nose wheel was changed. Finally we taxied about an hour late. Unfortunately MEL was on single runway ops and we were #6 for departure behind 2 X 737, 2 X A330 and 1 X A380 so about another 10-15 min delay.

Finally we departed and headed to SYD. Approaching SYD we were delayed again as an a/c ahead had an emergency of some sort. (Timing was about right for the a/c that lost the propeller.) On landing in SYD our 2hr 50min connection that should have become 3hr 20min was now down to 50 min. We then wait 10 min for the transfer bus but eventually get going to International. Using the express lanes was a waste of effort as there was nobody much around. We started to think things were finally getting better. Wrong! Security were working in pedantic mode and reexamining nearly every second bag. Sue had some perfectly legal knitting equipment confiscated and they refused to even discuss it. The security manager even refused to show me his ID card.

Anyway moving on and we go straight to gate 58 and get on board. The aircraft pushed back a few min early and arrived in Nadi about 10 min late. The flight was good except for being totally surrounded by screaming kids and I had one who kicked my seat back for the whole trip. On arrival we were off the aircraft quickly to beat the crowd and through immigration without issue.

There are three of us travelling and we had one checked bag each and one with clothing and other goodies for a village. After waiting what felt like forever the village bag arrived soaking wet and a bit later my bag which was dry. They were amongst the last to arrive. The bags for Sue and our friend Di have not arrived so hopefully tomorrow morning for them before we need to set off to Pacific Harbour.

I/we don't need too many more travel days like this thanks. it sort of spoils the fun. All in all a very frustrating start to the holiday.

That's the end of my rant and I now feel a little better.

 

[amaroo]

Just like the song .... At Last!

What an absolute waste of public funds and time. Pity someone doesn't have to pay... other than tax payers!

Administration worker Cindy Prior has dropped legal proceedings against the Queensland University of Technology a fortnight after she was denied leave to appeal over a racial discrimination case against three students.

 

[JohnK]

So, JK, I am 17 minutes out of ATL, after a visit to Nicosia, and you are talking about a dodgy carburettor !!

Actually turns out to be much more serious that that.

Car has not had any issues. Arrived back yesterday morning with wife and daughter back from Thailand. Go through immigration and called dad to come and get us. Bad traffic and dad is a little late. Put everything in car and now car won't start. Battery? Go and borrow a portable battery charger from Pronto Valet. Car still won't start. Call NRMA. Explained situation. Car starts first time with booster leads. Have started car another 15-20 times without issue.

Cost $24.50 to exit express pickup. :shock:

Is this one those Murphy law moments? Or should that be one of those JohnK moments? And Sydney weather a little unseasonal.

Feel better now.

 

[JessicaTam]

Yikes straitman. Things can only get better. Right?

 

[Hvr]

Sounds like a JohnK experience there straitman.

Hopefully, the rest of the trip is easier.

 

[blackcat20]

Stupid facebook. Telling me about a dinner from a month ago.

Two months ago

 

[drron]

For those who like to laugh at the right-

.

And for those who still come here for aviation topics-
Did WestJet Have A "Near Miss" In St. Maarten Last Week? - One Mile at a Time

 

[whatmeworry]

For those who like to laugh at the right-

.

And for those who still come here for aviation topics-
Did WestJet Have A "Near Miss" In St. Maarten Last Week? - One Mile at a Time

Well Trump does like it it to trickle down...

 

[straitman]

Yikes straitman. Things can only get better. Right?

Went back to Fiji Airways at the airport today before we left Nadi and was advised the missing bags are/were on tonights flight and they would be sent straight to our accommodation at pacific Harbour. It's now 10:00pm and they will get here at any time in theory.

The girls are both asleep and I can last about another hour so here's hoping. (I really think I am kidding myself)

 

[penegal]

Thank you all for your kind words here and privately. It is appreciated.

 

[penegal]

straitman - that sounds horrible. The joys of travel.

I hate to say it, but I would give up waiting and get some sleep

 

[JohnM]

Condolences, BB/MrBB and Penegal.

 

[Denali]

So Little Richard just said good morning to me.

And for once, I didn't have phone with me!

 

[straitman]

straitman - that sounds horrible. The joys of travel.

I hate to say it, but I would give up waiting and get some sleep

You were right penegal. I waited until midnight and wasted a whole bunch of sleep time.

Went back to Fiji Airways at the airport today before we left Nadi and was advised the missing bags are/were on tonights flight and they would be sent straight to our accommodation at pacific Harbour. It's now 10:00pm and they will get here at any time in theory.

The girls are both asleep and I can last about another hour so here's hoping. (I really think I am kidding myself)

I was kidding myself.

Still no bags :!:

 

[Pushka]

I was kidding myself.

Still no bags :!:

It got worse then. Bummer.

 

[Foreigner]

R&R legend Chuck Berry, 90, passes away

 

[PLANT]

This might ment to be in travel resources but posting here for answer...... My Chromecast had stopped showing up on laptop to cast to TV?
I have the icon and works from phone and tablet at home via WiFi but not showing Chromecast as source on laptop?????