Hmmm, that might be the name of my book! Haha.

With this length of trip, I knew some things were bound to go wrong. I thought leaving my passport at the currency exchange on Thursday was enough for Sydney, but no. Checking out of the hotel yesterday morning I clearly must have put my handbag down to drop off my keys. I had my rucksack on my back, my suitcase and a small hold on on top of my bag and somehow, managed to walk right past my bag. This is my bag. I know what you are thinking “how can you forget a bag like that”!

Unfortunately it is not as good as Mary Poppins’ bag, otherwise I’d not need to keep paying excess baggage fees haha.

It was not until I had gotten to the train station, tried to check in my baggage (too heavy…) and then went to buy a coffee I realised I should have had four bags not three!

It could drive me mad at times when I was going away that Keith would ask me if I had my purse, my keys, passport etc – I guess I need to work on running through that checklist in my head by myself now!

I was quite impressed with myself though that I didn’t freak out. A few swear words later and I was telephoning the hotel. What is pretty cool is that in Sydney, I’m not sure if it is all over Oz, but there are still loads of public telephones and calls within Australia are free! Thankfully yes, I had left my bag, they did find it and I was on the tram only minutes after coming off the phone to the hotel! I was back at the station 20 minutes before the train was due and so the fact the trin was then delayed for another 30 meant I had loads of time!! I really need to get my luggage down so I only need my rucksack and my suitcase…watch this space!

Time with friends has really worked out this first 10 days in Oz. Maria and her family and then my friend Debbie from back in my SFC days in Edinburgh. We haven’t seen each other for quite a few years, but it was just like old times meeting up! I had met Debbie’s father before, but not her son & sister, I just felt like part of the family!

Today was a most exciting day – I saw a wombat! Debbie’s sister lives near a nature reserve called Black Butts which has a varied of native Australian animals. Okay, the wombat was sleeping, but I still saw it!

I was due to fly to Brisbane tonight at 6pm and clearly got a wee bit ahead of myself fir those who saw my post on Facebook. The flight was cancelled, folk huffed, puffed and swore, but I just think would you rather take the risk of flying eb somethibg isn’t quite right on the runway, or woukd you rather wait until it is safe to fly. Seems a pretty simple decision to me! So my arrival into Brisbane will be delayed by about 13 hours. I returned to The Lucky Hotel where I spent last night, it’s definitely rightly named for me anyway!