The First Leg

 

After so much planning and saving with a slow but steady building of excitement the day finally came when I headed off to Christchurch airport to catch my flight for the first leg of my all too short trip to join the ‘Nutters’ in Tasmania on their ‘Lets Get Stitched’ retreat. 

Arriving by car after a 3 1/2 hour drive a good strong coffee was definitely what we needed however when it came time for an early night in order to be up and ready by 3 a.m. the strong coffee had kicked in and sleep just didn’t want to join either DH nor me.  So when the alarm went at 3 both of us were more than a bit too tired, I had told DH –“just get me to the airport by 4 and go back to bed in the hotel” – for once he did as I said – amazing!

Arriving in Brisbane I kind of got my second wind and went on the hunt for Joy.  Joy and I had never met face to face but had spoken regularly ‘on-line’.  So when I saw this blond woman that looked something like the picture I had seen of Joy on-line I decided to do the stalking thing and call her name.  No response, oh heck!  Within minutes this blonde lady and her attentive man were lined up at a coffee shop and as many a story goes – our eyes met – really it was just like in the movies, we both called out each others name and before I knew it we were sitting chatting easily like long lost friends.  I don’t think I will ever forget that moment as it kind of set the whole tone for the entire weekend.

About half an hour later Marilyn joined us and we made our way towards our flight for Hobart, Tasmania.  I didn’t know it then but this quietly spoken woman Marilyn was to be my roomy and how lucky I was to have her to – thanks honey.

Our flight was nothing special, Joy, her husband Daryl and Marilyn were seated 2 rows in front of me and every now and then Joy would turn around to check on me. During this leg of my trip I found myself sitting next to a young couple with a two year old daughter.  Now I have travelled with young children and accept that they can and do on occasion cry during the flight, but this child screamed and screamed and even the flight crew seemed at a loss as what to do.  Joy had turned around to see where this child was and showed a huge amount of sympathy when she realised it was next to me – oh well, thank goodness it wasn’t a long flight. 

Hobart was within our sight and the retreat was about to begin but I’ll save that for the next instalment.

Have a great week

hugs