this trip was cursed

got out of training, 35 mins late... course ran overtime.. and walked into the muggiest weather.. i could sense in me waters there was a storm a brewin.

standing at brisbane central railway waiting for the train... it was so hot and muggy sweat was just dripping off me like every pore had its own tap, and all of them were turned on full bore.

got to the airport, watching the ominous black clouds, heavy and pendulous, slowly covering the sky, creating this weird early darkness... or maybe it was just the daylight savings or lack there of.

anyway.. in queue to drop my bags off.. and they call my flight to come forward... made it with just 5 mins to spare... and dropped off the bags.

got up to the gate... boarding in 5 mins.. only to be told via this great voice rfom beyond.. our boarding is delayed by 5 mins.... and then 5 mins later, to be told that there is a storm overhead (there is? ) and that the airport is closing down and no flights will go in or out until the storm has passed.

then the storm begins and rain and lightening can be seen out the panoramic windows.

all of the sudden, all the airport terminal lights go out (like are they dimming the lights for some unfelt takeoff or landing??? ) giving us a wonderful view of the great disco going on in the sky (all those strobes!!!)

time marches on.. and im starting to get worried.. with the time difference in sydney, we have about an hour before it will be too late to leave brisbane as the sydney airport will be closed. thankfully after 40 mins of waiting... all of a sudden we are boarding. THANK GOD! i didnt relish the though of having to traipse back into town with my bags.. to find accommodation and spend another torturous journey to and from the airport in this heat.

the coupel next to me are an asian couple, and the guy is constantly spitting into the sick bag.. YUCK!

anyway.. about 15 mins after take off we start hitting the roughest turbulence ive been thru in about 30 years of flying. the plane is shaking and dropping.. the poor asian guy next to me is petrified. every air disaster scene i have ever scene flashes before my eyes... as i recall how the occupants of the impending crash are thrown around just like we are now. i try to remain calm..as i know its only the weather.

the guy next to me starts asking me if this is normal.. and tells me hes really scared... so i start to calm him down.. trying to sound confident and cheerful and try to keep a smile as the plane bucks about and drops lord knows how many feet. he keeps talking t me and i explain how much ive flown and how the planes are designed for it and how the pilot can see the rough weather of the radar and will aim for the safest route.. i deserve an academy award for my performance of calmness and comforting.

for the rest fo the bumpy flight, he continues to talk to me, and how scared he is and im doing all the comforting.. i feel sorry for the girlfriend who must aslo be a bit nervous and hes totally ignoring her in order to calm himself via me.

thank god we land.. thats all i can say.

got in 90 mins late.. im sure im cursed for flights at the moment.. this whole trip seems a bit behind the 8 balls from the word go.. cant wait to see how the next one goes.