A quick update half way from SYD to JNB while I await a mid flight snack to be prepared.
Boarding was delayed 20 minutes with actual departure delayed about an hour. When you're travelling for leisure and in J it somehow doesn't seem to you as much. We are seated in 1J and 1K in a refubished 3 class 747. We've sat in these seats before (well actually 1A and 1B) to and from Hong Kong last year so knew what to expect. I'm quite a fan of them mainly due to the privacy they afford and lack of food traffic. Getting food and drinks first doesn't detract either.
Pre-departure champagne was the Charles Heidsieck and my left favourite of the four on offer. Of course, I still enjoy it. Not long after take-off amenity bags and pyjamas were handed out.
Then the food service begins and it's bag to pretzels and nuts in a little bag. I much preferred both the presentation and nuts provided in the little bowl in domestic J. I had the meal I ordered (duck noodle starter and kingfish ceviche as the main). They were both excellent. Really fresh flavours and hit the spot.
Soon most people had the shades down and went to sleep. This seemed bizarre given the day had just commenced. I can sleep during the day and don’t plan (ie no chance of falling asleep) to on this flight. Sitting on the starboard side of the aircraft by the window, I have my shades up with the sun streaming onto me. Perfect while reading the paper and a book. I do feel slightly guilty that I'm letting light into the cabin, but then think people have eye masks.
Both on this flight and yesterdays, the crew really have had an excellent, can do attitude.
Unfortunately the furthest south we are heading today is about 50 degrees. Way too far north for a glimpse of Antarctica. I'm told that you need to be about 60 degrees south to see anything. Lousy strong head winds down there.
For some reason I decided to give the massage function on the skybed a go, even though I've thought you could barely feel anything. This one was much better. I could actually feel it pushing and prodding my back. Not that I couldn't feel the others, but they just seemed so timid. Perhaps this is the first seat where it works properly? Either way, it isn't that amazing and just a bit of a marketing gimmick I think.
On a tangent, I bought myself some new headphones prior to this trip. I previously used Audio Technica ATH-ANC7b noise cancelling headphones. These are over the ear, closed domes. I've had them about 5 years and been really happy with them. Excellent value for money. Pretty comfortable, excellent sound quality and should the AAA battery run down, still work. The downside for me was their bulk. They come in a carry case but they don't fold up. I decided I wanted something smaller.
I eventually decided on the Sennheiser CXC-700 in ear noise cancelling headphones. They retail for about $300 in Australia. Luckily my brother happened to be heading to the US for work and managed to buy some, delivered to his hotel for just over US$100. Add on another US$12 to post to me, I had a bargain.
I love how small the little pouch is. They are comfortable to wear and do pretty good effort at noise cancellation. Sound quality is pretty good too. Overall, the Audio Technica ones probably provide slightly better noise isolation and sound, I'm likely to stick with these due to how compact they are.
. Anyway we better not go too off topic on this thread - I am a chronic offender. 
All good...I'm pretty sure our paths will cross in Sydney.
