Emergency on the other side of the world

[Justinf]

My mother died unexpectedly last night in Murchison, Victoria, Australia.
I am in London. I can't get home until tomorrow when my original booking was for anyway.
In between bouts of crying and silence, I was wondering whether anyone else has had this happen and what did they do? Getting drunk will only make things worse.

 

[Princess Fiona]

What a horrible thing to happen to you.
My deepest condolences and safe travels tomorrow.
I think you have to let the time pass however you can, safely and hopefully with someone with you or on the phone or Skype.
I flew back to the UK at short notice a few years ago when my grandfather died and the entire trip was a bit of a blur. The airline staff (EK) were fantastic.

Best Wishes
PF

 

[cove]

When my mother passed away all 3 sons were travelling with one in Europe,one in Hong Kong and one in the Australian bush.
My sister in law was great and started the funeral arrangements before any of us arrived home and we finalized these as soon as we got back to Perth.
The wonderful thing about the human mind is you carry all the good thoughts about your mother years later. All the funny bits and the family ways are remembered and form a lot of who you are into the future.
I wish you well in getting home safely and I hope your relatives are a tower of strength in helping you cope with your loss.
Make the funeral a celebration of your mother's life.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

I am very sorry to hear of your loss and the distance is not easy, hopefully you can use the travel time home in reflection of your Mum and have lots of happy memories. My very best wishes to you and your family

 

[suze2000]

I'm sorry to hear of your loss.

My father died suddenly a few years ago. I flew MEL-PER first thing the next day to make arrangements etc.

One thing that helped me a little (and it wasn't deliberate): I broke down in tears at the checkin desk and was forced to explain myself to the clerk. She kindly blocked the seat next to me off though she commented that there was no guarantee it would stay that way. As it wasn't a full flight, it did. I was very grateful. And I agree that alcohol is little help.

My condolences.

 

[spudseamus]

My mother died unexpectedly last night in Murchison, Victoria, Australia.
I am in London. I can't get home until tomorrow when my original booking was for anyway.
In between bouts of crying and silence, I was wondering whether anyone else has had this happen and what did they do? Getting drunk will only make things worse.

My deepest condolences on the passing of your mother . There is nothing anyone can say or do to lessen the pain and you are so right alcohol is no answer ! So my wish for you is a calm and peaceful return to Murch which I'm sure your mother would like you to do .
i lost my mother 18 months ago and was unable to go to her funeral in Ireland but we had talked about this over the years so I had reconciled that eventual fact . If I may I would like to post this part of her poem A Mothers Lament ,


So when I'm gone and life's no more,
No tears for me ,a smile,
For if life grew rough and the going got tough,
You made it all worth while.

 

[Justinf]

Thankyou everyone. Inappreciated your good wishes.mjust about to board.
I am just thankful i called her a fortnight ago to tell her that i loved her. Not sure what prompted me to do it, but it is eerily spooky how it turned out.

 

[Justinf]

I flew home all the way in J courtesy of the Etihad upgrade auction. If you can afford it, i'd say the extra privqcy of the EY J suites are brilliant, espeicially the ones right on the windows.
was all a bit of a blur, but if anyone who reads this and finds themselves in the same situation, here's what i did.
when i boarded, i immediately let the J Cabin supervisor know of my situation, not because i wanted special treatment or i wanted to be fussed over, but out of courtesy to him/her in case they saw a grown man blubbering in his seat at times during the flight. I felt they had a right to know why rather than have them think that i was possible some mentally unstable lunqtic who might try to open the door or something.
i must say the entire crew on both Etihad flights were tremendous. Not intrusive hut the right level of communication and they couldn't do enough for me, but then i found that anyway on my flight over. The service in the J cabin on Etihad is truly excellenet.
so my advice is to let the CSM know and then sit back and try to remember the good times. Easier said than done.
thanks for reading my spiel.

 

[spudseamus]

Justinf, thanks for taking the time to let us all know how you went , as someone said in here " sometimes we are just a big extended family". I do think that is true! . Life is just full of memories ,we collect them we forget them all it takes is a memento to trigger all those parked memories. I was able to get such a trigger from my mother before she passed ,it is a blessing .

​ A Mothers Lament
I hear a song,see some old thing,
And my thoughts to you they fly ;
When I was young ,the world was new,
And you were still " my Boy"


As I wander back down memory lane ,
The years roll away;
From baby,childhood,and your teens ,
To the man you are today.


From trike to bike ,from trains to planes,
To toys of this and that;
From "Santa" came a cowboy suit,
And a Davy Crocket hat!


Trips to the beach with buckets and spades,
Well armed just you and me;
Such happy days, the years rush on
And I'm back to reality.


Of course I'm proud of your success,
In that land so far away;
But Oh,if I could grow some wings,
I'd be with you today.


So when I'm gone and life's no more,
No tears for me ,a smile,
For if life grew rough and the going got tough,
You made it all worth while.

 

[prozac]

I am very sorry for your loss Justin.

I was on an oil rig in the Timor Sea when I needed to return home for a family death. It was a long, lonely flight home to SYD and as most say, a bit of a blur. I am glad airline staff made you feel comfortable on the flight home.

 

[legroom]

....thanks for reading my spiel.....

which all of us is willing to do to share (a little part of) your loss.

My condolences

 

[JohnK]

My condolences for your loss.

I think most people dread that moment even though it is inevitable.