Thursday (the day before)
My suitcase is empty. What do I need to pack? I need this,
this and this. I pack and then ask Mrs C, “What do I need to take with me?” Then I pack again. Then I say, “What don’t I
need to take with me?” Then I unpack my suitcase and pack again.
I need to take what I forgot last time. What was that? I
can’t remember what I forgot last time. I know it was something.
Friday
Wake; press the microwave; watch it turn; remove heated porridge;
wait 45 mins for lift to airport; watch
TV. The host is wearing a Bulldog’s scarf.
He holds up a newspaper with the headline “Every Dog has its Day.”
In the lounge at the airport I am worried. What about? About
the food here and on the plane. There will be no escape. Junk will be all
around me. On the plane the menu glares at me from the pocket in front of me.
Behind me are two miniature adults. Wearing head phones and
belts. They are transfixed by their screens. Staring motionless at their
screens. They don’t hear the inflight
announcements. I can envisage comments about how well behaved they are.
A stewardess pushes a trolley into our area. She bends and
tells me about drinks. A background hum becomes louder when she talks and stops
me from understanding her. Where did that noise come from? It’s now everywhere.
As she slowly pushes her trolley down the aisle I think about the last film we
saw. About an airplane crash and called Sully.
In the film the stewardesses saved people’s lives. They controlled them and
helped excavate them from a floating plane.
They looked after the sick. Their moment had arrived. They were needed and they responded. Not
here. Here their main concern is how to arrange their hair and how much to
charge for a coffee and muffin. I wonder if they have seen the film and if they
admit they are jealous of the stewardesses who had the ultimate plane trip.
We fly on and the plane shudders. Turbulence. I look out the
window. Is the turbulence going or coming? We fly through it and onwards. The
turbulence disappears. The children are oblivious. They have all flown before.
Nothing is exciting to them. Nothing is new. I remember the corn thins in my
bag. Relief. Now I can enjoy the flight.
Food is no longer an issue. I don’t have any concerns. If I close my eyes I
will try to wake in Sydney. I will try
and make time disappear. How do I do that?
Time is dragging very slowly. The terminal is far away. The
only way is not to think about Sydney airport. Not to think about landing. To
enjoy the moment. To live in the present. I spend my time looking at the backs
of heads, listening to the noises, smelling the plane. And we suddenly arrive
in Sydney.
At the train station people are striding towards their
future. Pass the cabinets selling water, soft drinks, chips and chocolates. We protect
our suitcases while waiting for the right platform and the right train.
We are on the train to Katoomba. The train smoothly glides
up the hills. Hillier and greener. At Katoomba we cross the gap and walk
towards our hire car. Pulling our suitcase and thanking the man who put wheels
on the suitcases. We pull our suitcases up and down the hilly streets. Along
smooth footpaths, bumpy footpaths and grassy pavements. No straight flat roads that give you a distant
view.
The hire car is a minivan.
I sit back and somebody else drives and navigates. Up and down and around the hills; always
thinking there must have been a better way. A more direct way. But there often
isn’t a direct way. The shortest way is often indirect and scenic. With views
of cliffs and mountains and valleys.
We arrive at Fairmont Resort. They are doing wine tasting in
the lobby. A man is pleased as he says, “You can buy them.”
I see a couple of kids who think they have died and gone to
heaven. There are multiple games rooms for children. Electronic or not. And outside are pony
rides, a merry go round and other children activities. There is a very hot pool,
chockers with children and their parents.
I have never seen a place where so much space and money was spent on
organized structured activities for children. And outside if we wander away
from this resort we will come across some spectacular bush walking trails. At
times in the bush you can find peace quiet solitude and enjoy the natural
wonders. In the resort you can put money in a slot and win a game.
Dinner is a large dining room accompanied by the ominous instructions,
“All you can eat.” I approach with
trepidation and are surprised. Food is tasty, healthy and everybody is happy.
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