Finally after only an extra hour on the tarmac in Rome we are up in the sky. Firstly before take off I go to get in my seat (I was the last to get on the plane) I see that there are three free seats opposite so I say to the couple don’t worry about moving I’ll sit here. But my plans were foiled as there were another nine people coming on the last bus so I moved into the window seat beside the couple.
I started a conversation with the lovely couple next to me. Jean and Brian. They were so nice. We exchanged some stories and then they were given their pre purchased meals.
I interrupt my blog here to tell you a story that I told them. Not sure that I should as it does label me as a bit of a loop but I know it made them both laugh. I guess it was kind of appropriate as it was to do with planes and airports.
I explained than many years ago (I was around 34) as a family we were driving past a regional airport. My husband (at the time) had mentioned “it must be really really windy”. I said how can you tell, then he said “look at the windsock “. I looked puzzled at him. And he said “what did you think it was”.
Ok…. so this is the part that makes me look a tad silly. And in my defence I’d never thought about these things because I ‘knew’ that when I was little (Say 4-5) I’d been at the railway station when they used to throw out the mail into a big pointy bag. So I’d just assumed that the ones at the airport were for airmail!
Ok ok. Laugh away!!!
But as it’s suddenly dawning on me that this wasn’t the case, I began to think of the absurdity, I mean how good an aim would they need to be and how would they open the windows anyway to throw it out?!?!Meanwhile my children and their dad were simply killing themselves laughing!! Needless to say my travel buddies next to me were laughing too and said they will never be able to see a windsock without thinking of me! Ok you can stop laughing now!
I hadn’t ordered a meal and was lucky enough to get the last chilli meal, but it didn’t come straight away. (I must add here that the air hostess had to ‘sign’ down the plane for this meal. She put one finger up (for one)and then clutched her arms as if she were cold (chilly)) 😂 – I opened one of the miniature bottles of scotch I’d purchased and began to have a drink. After about ten mins I called the waitress and asked about the meal. She said it was in the oven and would be ten minutes. After another fifteen mins I asked again about it. This girl said it was on its way. Then the lady beside me went to the loo and asked the hostess again and yes, apparently it was on its way to me. (Still) Eventually I said could I just have some crisps as I was really peckish. She said she was really sorry for the wait and would I like a complimentary drink. I asked for an other Pepsi (duh?). She said it would be here in ten mins. Ok it was. But I had to swig down the second drink and scoff my food as we were commencing the landing. Omg. It had taken over an hour to get to me. No wonder when I got off the plane they were all apologetic for the time the meal took. 😂
Then when I turned on my mobile it was almost flat. And I needed to contact my friends who were picking me up. It was down to 8%. Oh dear. So once I’d found the carousel for the luggage I headed outside to T1 which is where we had agreed to meet. I text all the info I could including a picture of the intersection. 3% Eventually I had a phone call. 1% left. But thankfully there was just enough power left to let me know to go back to the exit. And voila there they were and 0%. 😅 phew
Bags in car and off we went on our way to Conwy in Wales. Wet, misty and not so warm, it took around two hours to navigate our way there. Finally finding the street, then the allocated parking spot a couple of streets away, then going to a local pub to pick up the house keys and with just those few little minor instructions we were in the cottage. Simple! My room is lovely.
It’s really gorgeous, atmospheric and very welcoming. Once we’d brought the luggage inside we sorted ourselves and headed off to the pub two doors away (in the rain) and settled in for three Sunday roasts. Mm m yummy. As I was ordering the young girl who took my card asked was I from Australia and I said yes. She said she was from Melbourne. I said I’m from Frankston. She said really she lived in st Kilda but originally she was from the country. Probably I wouldn’t know she said, a place called Traralgon. Omg. Not only did I know it I used to live there for the first 21 years of my life. Omg what a coincidence!!
I was wondering if I’d know anyone at the Rome airport but instead I meet someone in Wales serving in a pub two doors away who was born right near where I was born in Australia. Who would think!
Two weeks ago I had aperol spritzers (for the first time) with my art teacher in Malta. On the last night in Tuscany we had aperol spritzers and tonight there’s a sign on the bar in Wales that the drink of the month is an aperol spritzer! Ooo things are getting spookier and spookier all round.
We purchased some alcohol at the local newsagent (?) and he got talking to my friends. He told them his son was studying art in Newcastle-after hearing that my friends were from Newcastle and I’d just finished two art weeks. What the??
That’s about all the coincidences I can muster today.
With a little log fire burning and watching an old Jason Statham movie we concluded a pretty hectic day.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings……
Lady Boomer 