Step 1 complete. I made it to the plane... Thank god. What an experience! Let's start at the start given I'm 1 movie, 2.5 hours down and 11 hours to go!
So we arrived at Sydney International with a few speed bumps aka couldn't find parking! Eventually found parking and made our way to check in. Stayed in the check in line for nearly 1.5 hours! After finally getting to the desk Jennifer (lovely lady, evidently loved her job... Not) told me that I didn't have a seat and she would have to wait for clearance. Okay... No biggie there is still time. She then proceeds to print out my boarding pass and it says my baggage is only going to Abu Dhabi, incorrect. So we ask what's going to happen and with a 'let me do my job' response continues to ask a colleague. As it was Jennifer's time to go home she then passed me over to Jaz. Within a matter of seconds Jaz had sorted out my baggage and made sure it was on its way to London. During this time she had also informed me that boarding had begun for my flight.. AHH! My one thought was of all the times I've travelled with mum and dad, of course something had to go wrong the first time I'm on my own. Thankfully everything got sorted and I got my boarding pass to Abu Dhabi and Jaz informed me that I'd pick up the other pass at the gate. So after a quick photo and a few tears* I waved bye to mum and dad and proceeded around the corner to start my adventure! Because of all the issues, Jaz gave me an express pass to get through customs and security which was great as I got through within about 5 minutes! So as I grab my belongings from the bag scanner I make my way to gate 61, which can I point out according to the signs is a 10 minute walk! Now, when you're already late for your first solo flight and you've already heard numerous 'final boarding call for Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi', seeing that the gate is a 10 minute walk away nearly gave me heart palpitations! I walked as quick as my damned little legs could go (even added in a little run when I heard yet another final call). After a good 5 minutes I had made it to gate 61 and in half the time the signs had said! I handed over my boarding pass and made it very clear that I needed to pick up my boarding pass for Abu Dhabi to London. After yet another small mishap of the lady telling me that she could not find the connecting flight she eventually found it and I was walking down the corridor towards the plane. Mind you breathing was a little tight and I was sweating like a ... (Finish that line 😂) but I made it to the plane! Hallelujah! Now, Jaz at checkin had informed me that I was sitting in an exit row with extra leg room, sweet! Now I'm not complaining because I have stacks of leg room but there is no where to put anything! So I've sacrificed storage for leg room (which I'm sure the 6ft guy next to me is cheering about!). Thankfully as I'm writing this, I've just had dinner which was wonderful given I had half a bowl of rice bubbles at 8:30 this morning and nothing else due to the minor speedhumps I encountered!
Anyway, as I said, I am currently 1 movie down - it was called the intern with Robert deNiro and Anne Hathaway, not bad! I also have about 11 hours to go and some very heavy eyelids. I will check back in when our 'time to destination' time has decreased!
Update! 11hrs down, 2:40 to go! Watched another movie, this one was called the Vacation, mum and dad were telling me about it in the car, very funny! I've managed to have some sleep maybe 2-3 hrs but it's been very broken because of where I'm sitting. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get more sleep on the next leg and that the A380 has more room. It's been quite a good flight though, very little turbulence (touch wood!). 2:35hrs to go now!
*by a few I think mum has stopped crying now 😉**
** as have I!!
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