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Sunday 27 June 2010

Leaving on a jet plane


Ten more days and I’ll be winging my way to Kununurra to see our friends. I’m really looking forward to seeing them and to seeing the place. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the trip, though. The truth is I hate flying. Well, no, the actual flying is okay. I love being up there above the clouds. It’s the going up and coming down I hate. To make it worse, it’s not a straight-through flight. We have to land in Broome and wait for an hour before taking off again. Shudder. That’s four take offs and four landings I have to go through.

It’s not really a phobia. I’m not likely to start screaming or have a panic attack or generally make a fool of myself. It’s a quiet hatred, like going to the dentist. I’ll just grip the armrests, grit my teeth and smile at Dynamo with as much courage as I can muster. Then, when that little bell goes to say we can undo our seat belts, I’ll let out a sigh of relief and relax until we start to descend.

Unless there’s turbulence!

When we went to Seoul to pick up Dynamo in 1999, we had to fly back via Hong Kong. The first leg was fine, but we really had to race through Hong Kong airport to catch our connection. It’s a very BIG airport. You have to catch a train to get from one end to the other. But we managed to board just in time. Then we sat. And sat. Two hours later we were informed that we had an engine problem and we would have to change planes. So back through the airport we stumbled (Dynamo was a very heavy baby!) and onto a new plane…where we sat for another hour and a half. The back-up air conditioner wasn’t working.

We did take off at last, but had to take a detour to avoid a cyclone over Burma. I don’t think we diverted far enough for my liking. It was awfully bumpy. Then there was a storm over Perth and we bucked our way down to the ground, like a paper aeroplane in the wind. I’ve never been so glad to get my feet on solid earth.

So no, I don’t like flying. But I am looking forward to being in Kununurra. I’d drive, but it would take the whole holiday to get there.

Beam me up, Scotty?

7 comments:

joanne fox said...

I hate flying too. I will make myself do it when I absolutely have to, but I always prefer to find some other way to get where I want to go.

Your flight from Seoul sounds horrendous! Well, you survived that one, so hopefully your upcoming trip cannot be anywhere near that bad. Have a great holiday.

Kate said...

No, it certainly wasn't the best way to start life with our new son. But we survived!

Clare said...

My OH used to have a fear of flying but a fascination with planes. Got him a trial flying lesson for his 40th birthday and he was hooked - the fear is gone!
Hope the anticipation of the flights don't spoil the trip for you - it sounds awesome. (Given that you're going to Broome you could always try an alternate mode of flying transport!)
Safe journeying!

jenny wilson said...

I the picture!
I am the opposite i absolutly love fying.
Hoe ypu ave a great timex

Meg McKinlay said...

Travel well, Kate! I love the northwest. You'll have a great time once you're there. And then, of course, you'll have to turn around and come back again (sorry!).

Christina Farley said...

I hope you are having a great trip with NO turbulance! It doesn't usually bother me but if it's too bumpy then I get sick to my stomach. Haven't thrown up yet, thank goodness.

Kate said...

Thanks everyone, especially Meg - I really needed reminding of that! :(