Cured!

When does one consider oneself cured of an affliction? Is pure absence of symptoms enough? Can we say that the epileptic, asthmatic, or liberal voter is cured simply because they haven't experienced their defining characteristics for a while? I don't know, but what I do know is that I just spent over 24 hours in the air without the slightest twitch, shake or stifled gasp of weak kneedness - CURED!

In fact, I really enjoyed it! I enjoyed the fact that I had two seats to myself from Syd to Tokyo. I enjoyed the faux Japanese food. I loved the Britishy types working on the BA flight, I loved it that the films on offer included All the Presidents Men and The Candidate (surely one of the best political campaign movies ever made - or only...) and I loved the space age beauty of the environmentally destructive Terminal 5 - phew

But I'm getting ahead of myself lets start at the start. I didn't leave Sydney on Tuesday night. Yes I was dropped at the Airport by Mr Bolwell stiffling our tears in manly fashion I waved adieu and strode through the doors to my new life - six hours later I joined 150 other grumpy passengers for an unscheduled night at the Novotel Brighton (nice beds) due to maintenance problems. I was less than chuffed as you can see here ...


As you can see I remained positive and in fact it was only 5 hours before we were all back on the bus heading for the airport and were processed in record time and were soon airborne.

Having missed my connection in Tokyo I got the treat of a night in Narita Nikko Airport hotel the highlight of which was my first experience of wearing a nightshirt..

I now find myself 24 hours later typing this entry watching the clouds trundle low over the slate roofs of North London whilst the dulcet tones of Test Match Special describe the 'action' at Lords as 'splendid' and 'quite marvelous' - and I am happy.

Tonight I go to Brighton to meet old friends and maybe have a pint or two - marvelous!