I don't believe it - rise early to make sure that the last bit of work is done - chaos develops - get off the phone! - Mike! - its getting late! - just a minute - Mike its getting late! - concede - send the proposal off - dive for the shower - finalise the case packing - ready? - I think so - oh damn - the battery charger for the Audi has not been connected! - is the security camera on?- now it is - now are you ready? - I think so - have something to eat! - OK - there are Allan and Belinda! - too late for any last minute panics now! - We relax - how calm are we! - off to the station - Australian trains live up to their international ranking of zero - no train - A bus to Melbourne - never mind - comfortable - Bernie selects the sunny side - how relaxed are we?
Well not that relaxed! - off goes the phone - can you talk? - yes - A 30 minute phone conference - the conference finishes - the bus stops for a driver rest - I suspect the driver didn't really want to stop!- the phone rings again - this time an hour - Bernie seems to lack her usual smile! - hang up! - her smile returns.
The sun slowly softens - the light lessens - we approach Melbourne - start to relax again - the phone rings again - oh Dear! - It will soon be over - thank goodness for the finite life of phone batteries! - even the circle of death that consumes the iphone's display doesn't solve the problem - Bernie's phone rings - they have tracked me down! - another hour - more frowns from Bernie - the call finishes - the smile returns - Melbourne approaches.
Seamless transfers - arrive at the airport - navigate customs - seek out Café Vue - some dinner - fire up the tablet - finish the professional obligations - send off the final document - recharge the exhausted iPhone - mistake! - One last phone call - Sorry to have disturbed you today and have a great holiday! - turn off the lphone - enjoy another drink - really start to relax.
Enjoy another drink - now very relaxed - head for the boarding gate.
More Australian and Malaysian young ladies parade as airline officials in their emirates uniform - they look comical - the chiffon scarves that append from their pill box hats annoy them - when duty is not upon them they seem called to re-arrange their scarf - they fail to find a comfortable position - they adjust again - duty calls - they attend to the task at hand - immediately the scarf misbehaves - their duties are temporarily put on hold - they adjust again - ah! - what an employee is put through in the interests of "the brand" .
In spite of their preoccupations the airline staff deal with aplomb and efficiency with the anxious hordes lined up with desperate determination to be the first to board the Dubai board A380.
The flight? - good - the space? - more generous than we had remembered - the arrival? - not so great! - customs' computers clearly tired - neither they nor their masters want to be cooperative either with us or each other - the lines increase in length - thank goodness - it is not peak hour - eventually a compromise is reached between man and machine - we are pointed to the baggage claim.
Ok - lets look for our names on one of the boards being held up by a line of tired but enthusiastic drivers - no sign of us! - bloody Qantas! - the only thing booked through them fails to deliver a satisfactory outcome - grab a cab - resolve to deal with Qantas later.
