[Lindsay Wilson]

Thursday, November 4 - MEL/BNE

"What's that annoying buzzing sound", I wondered as I came into semi-consciousness and turned over to find the item of my displeasure....thankfully before I tossed it against the opposite wall, I realised it was my mobile telling me it was 6am. Time to get up and catch my flight home an to an important meeting..one I so look forward to every quarter :roll: [I am part of a family business, so soon I would be sitting around a table for hours with my father, mother, brother and my wife (as minutes secretary) discussing our Q3 results, Q4 plans and forward planning for 2005].

I jumped out of bed and straight into the shower...if I didn't do that, I'd have never left the bed. I was still tired from last night's efforts and all I wanted was to sit down with a cuppa and watch the flights coming in and out of Tullamarine....but not today.

Getting ready quickly, I re-packed my bag and hauled it into the corridor. PIcking up the complimentary paper and Express Check-Out envelope, I stashed the paper into my FF bag and continued down the hall. Plenty of time this morning...a far cry from yesterday afternoon.

By 6.30am, I was over in the departures level and checking in at the Business Class line. 5 people in front of me, all looking just like me (tired, yawning, unable to function this early). Thinking that it might be easier, I left the safety and security of the J line to try out the self check-in console next to us, as there was nobody checking in and a CSA sitting behind the desk waiting to help.

Within minutes, I was checked-in and my bags had disappeared down the chute, hopefully to re-appear at the other end. I moved through Security and turned right towards the MEL QP and up the escalator.

At that time of morning, I was surprised how busy the lounge was - it was 2/3rds full. I had barely enough time to put together a bowl of fruit and a yogurt before our flight was called. I grabbed my bags and started to the gate.

Airline & Flight Number: QF604 MEL/BNE
Rego: unknown (737-400)
Seat: 5C (Y cabin) Sequence: 94
SDT: 7.05am Pushback: 7.09am, ADT: 7.16am
Distance travelled: 851 miles

As could be expected, I spent much of this flight in silent contemplation of what lay ahead today and recalling what had happened over the past 3 days (okay, to be truthful, I slept most of the way!! :P ). My only waking moments were the 20 mins when breakfast was served and descent into BNE. I can't function on small hours of sleep...particularly not with the normal grilling that comes in our Board meeting about my financial planning divisions figures.

I'm sure the flight time wasn't 2hrs 5 mins, but that's what my watch said when I adjusted the time for daylight saving as we approached BNE. Arriving on time at 8.10am, I was thankful that my wife was waiting for me (I had sent her a text message as I walked up the gangway from the plane), rather than having to join the snaking line of people waiting for a taxi.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my TR. Now it's off to put together my next one....skiing in Queenstown (NZ).