February 18-20: UK again

Well, just when it looked like an aeroplane free month was looming after the deferment of some duty travels in unsettled parts of Africa I find myself  en route to the UK. An early morning start from Vienna on the first BA  flight of the day on a very cold and misty morning. The flight left a little bit late due to ATC constraints but we arrived  more or less on time  at a slightly warmer and  less misty London.  A bit of a wait for the Hertz bus and then off to collect the car and set out for the Arundel area to catch up with my sister and her husband and my father. The usual round of chat and crosswords before lunch and the watching of birds on the feeding table next to Daddy's window.
After lunch it was off for a spot of  shopping before checking in to the hotel. Some leisure time and a steak dinner then bed.
Saturday was a rather misty start but the day went well with a good hotel breakfast and then the drive back to see Daddy again then lunch with sister Ali and husband Tim and Clare arrived. Then after lunch it was off to the cinema in Chichester.The movie as "The King's Speech" and it was wonderful. Then dinnner back at the hotel.
Sunday was another breakfast and a session with Daddy again before we all had to set off for  our various destinations. For me it was the drive ti Heathrow an then the BA flight back to Vienna at the end of the day.

January 6-26: An Australian walkabout, OK jetabout

On 6 January I departed from a  cold and snowy Vienna  on  a British Airways flight to London where I picked up the over night QANTAS Airbus 380 to Singapore. Courtesy of a fair number of my Frequent Flyer points I was able to upgrade to First Class and so get a really good sleep on the flight. The cabin was not full as on my previous flight so the service was even better than usual. The change of flight in Singapore was no problem and I arrived in Sydney  on Saturday morning with  enough time to make the transfer to the local flight up to Armidale. On the transfer across Sydney airport I saw  a sign of the A380 problem - this aircraft parked away in a corner minus the two inboard engines, the cowlings are open but there is nothing inside!...

Arrival in Armidale was  a solitary affair as Michael was away working and had left me the ute - all I had to do was find the house - and I had no street address.  Still I managed it after two attempts and dropped off my bags before making a tour of the area and making sure I was back at the airport in time to greet M when he landed.

A cheery wave from the cockpit

Then it was back to the house for the start of  a few days of  DIY and shopping and helping to set a few things up; buying furniture was one item high on the list as there was no bed in the guest room! The weather was mixed....... Michael had to work some days so we were often up at the hanger and saw a range of weather

A sunny takeoff

A wet return..................

The company was pretty busy - in fact it turned out to be a very busy month, maybe a record... Here I managed to get two Edwards Aviation planes  one landing and one taking off, M is flying the jet that is just landing while another pilot waits for the runway to clear so he can fly off in the Beechcraft Baron.

The days passed quickly but we had a lot of fun, even if we seemed to be eating meals at odd times, apart from breakfast which was habitually in a street cafe in the main mall.

All too soon the time was up and I was off to Sydney. A few days there enabled me to meet up with old Friends; Kate and Jeremy Eccles one night and then Doreen and James Pettifer another evening - two great dinners with very dear friends. Also some shopping as there was time to enjoy just wandering through the streets and arcades.

Then off to Darwin to stay with good friends Chris and Shirley at their place overlooking the golf course in town.   Of course this was the wet season so the weather was  very much on the damp side...

typical wet season monsoon rains with short sharp, heavy showers and then drizzle and over cast.  Actually it is good weather just so long as you know what to expect and are prepared with a waterproof and an umbrella.

Also caught up with other old friends ans saw my house and went to the old office.  All very good fun.

 Darwin golf course in the rain.................

Darwin Golf Course shortly before the rain.

And that is how the weather was for a week - on and off  like a shower.

Of course, Saturday in Darwin means the Parap Markets and a chance to eat Asian food, have great cold drinks and meet old mates just wandering around.  

Another entertainment was the corellas that have taken to perching on the balcony at the flat and provide an inpromptu show most days....

Again time flew by and it was all too soon back at the airport  and back to Sydney and a brief stop for a spot of shopping (again) and a check on some work and then a final evening with Kate and  Jeremy at an outdoor movie show for the Sydney Festival. Sadly the wind blew up and became so strong the screen had to  be lowered so we never saw the movie!

Then it was back to the airport and the start of the trek back to Vienna via Singapore and London - more points used for the longer journey and the  joys of First Class again from SIN-LHR.

All too soon back in Vienna - arriving on Australia Day and back to work again.

A time of holiday for sure but pretty busy.  Travel plans for work are being discussed so I am guessing i will be back in the air before too long.