Frequent Flyer Support Group Anonymous - well sort of!

[Matt_01]

My take:

• time changes –I am fortunate as I do not normally suffer from excessive jetlag.
• the currency changes – A travel wallet with all sorts of small denominations, rarely converted back to AUD and mainly use a CC.
• the family dramas at home –Not something I often have to worry about, I am not normally at home I hear about dramas after the event and have been resolved.
• the side of the road on which to drive – I trust the driver knows what side he/ she needs to be on.
• the lack of support network – I get support from my mates called Johnny, Jack, Stolly, Hendirck and another bloke, a pillar of society in fact 4 pillars.
• the relationships developed – I am one of those types like Tony Hancock mentioned, I am not eloquent so in my words I generally have little tolerance for others.
• Good NC headphones - have several sets, not for the music I just do not want to listen to others and I like quiet.
• I love people – Not here.
• I love new and different experiences – I like routine, see below.
• I've found that ensuring +1's also travel as frequently as the budget allows is positive – I find travelling with MrsM and MissM is challenging as they upset my routines e.g. staying in F lounges for as long as possible, love hotel lounges, and are not early rises.
• I've found that giving my FFer rewards to +1's is also a positive – MrsM gets my comp QF WP status that keeps the 3 of us in OW F lounges. They also like spending my points on pointy end seats and I have justify usage should I dare to use points for myself. MrsM did not get the VA companion SG, it would have been wasted so it went to someone here.

All jokes aside and the last 2 points above, travelling with the family is one of the times I actually enjoy being stuck in F lounges, hotel lounges, relaxing and not starting work before the sun rises, a first world problem.

I know that there are many different FF types my advice is stay relaxed, don’t let others get under your skin and also think of your actions on others. I consider flying to be just like any other form of public transport except you are in the air and when you do encounter those inconsiderate people the next stop to get off could still be 12 hours away. My greatest annoyance when travelling and I do care who I care upset are those who complain about kids in J or F or the noisy types who use facetime or on speaker when in lounges, get with the program.

I have very set routines and cough retentive behaviours i.e. 5 jocks = 5 singlets = 5 pairs of socks and a set ratios of shirts, pants and shoes depending on travel and time of year. At work I do not like discussing status with others, here (AFF) it is a little different as some understand how much travel is involved in retaining, WP1, VA WP and *AG year on year.

Status has its perks and MrsM and MissM like those perks, however on the flip side I have missed many things as MissM has grown up and watching a recording of a recital on the computer is not the same as being there.

My rose coloured glasses became jaded a few yews back.

 

[TonyHancock]

Hmmm. I'm beginning to think that alcohol plays quite a role in a FFer's life.

It would certainly pay a larger role in mine if BA, or for that matter QF, offered a Dry Martini in F.

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm. I'm beginning to think that alcohol plays quite a role in a FFer's life.

Not all. I try to drink as little as possible while flying.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Not all. I try to drink as little as possible while flying.

It's not just about being in the air. I was originally intending for the discussion to be about coping with travel away from home (and family/friends) generally and to be honest, the alcohol bit surprises me somewhat. Of course everyone will be different and AFF has a number of non-drinkers, but it does seem to have been mentioned most frequently in the posts so far.

 

[oz_mark]

Hmmm. I'm beginning to think that alcohol plays quite a role in a FFer's life.

It's more a cultural thing in this country. Seems to be a big part of just about any group. Just look at social functions for just about any group of people you can thing of - FFers, IT Folk, Journalists, whatever - alcohol is always there.

 

[JohnK]

Of course everyone will be different and AFF has a number of non-drinkers, but it does seem to have been mentioned most frequently in the posts so far.

Of course you are right. We are all different.

With a young daughter I made the choice not to drink in Australia and to try and lose weight which isn't working.

When I'm on holidays though I drink everyday. And probably drink to excess. Not a good thing but for now holidays are my release to try and cope with the nearly 10 year commute.

 

[juddles]

My take:.....

My rose coloured glasses became jaded a few yews back.

Matt, I agree with all your post. Somehow the simple "agree" button was insufficient for me to express just how much

 

[juddles]

I love this song, and think it may be understood by those who miss so much time with their loved ones.

 

[ICUDr]

Alcohol:
So easy to get to your hotel or home away from home and have a glass. Then have another, because wine goes off if you don’t drink it all right.? When you realised you are drinking almost every day. Not a problem unless it affects your health.

Health:
- I take Omega 3 every day. In my experience Patients that take Omega 3 supplements tend to bleed a bit more post op. It “thins” the blood a little bit. We, FF, are a higher risk of DVTs. Specially in J. Most people in Y have to get up more often.
- Sleep studies have found my best and worse sleeping habits. This has helped dramatically. Your GP can refer you to an sleep specialist or get a Fitbit and track your sleep.

Family/Friends:
- I have started to get closer to my best friends. None of them are in Australia anymore but watsapp helps a lot with this. Social support is important
- Local friends and family have understood that I’m away for work so they don’t give me the “you are away all the time” excuse as much. I have a pretty predictable roster and they try to organise events around my days off.
- Which is hard because when at home my 2 kids (6&19) jump at me like police dogs. One on each arm. So I bought a BBQ and host meals and gatherings at home.
- Someone said here that your FF status is inversely proportionate to the amount of time you spend with your loved ones. So I arrived to the airport with just enough time to have a coffee and go to the gate.

Good headphones, YouTube Red, Netflix, Audible (audio books), Spotify and Soundcloud keep me busy. Same as Juddles I can’t sleep. Few moths back I finished a 24hrs shift in NTL and then flew BNE-SIN-JKT. Without sleeping!

I also have a routine well set up and have 1 of everything at each home so I can travel as light as possible. Plus 2 carry on bags depending of the length of the trips are also ready all with the basics there.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Yes, I forgot about the double up's. In my case it's triple of everything and that makes it far easier for not carrying excess stuff and forgetting things. My carry on stays packed and everything in it has a place to make it easy to find. Someone mentioned habits (juddles, I think) and I do exactly the same with the passport right down to holding the travel wallet open in my left hand and putting the passport back immediately and then placing the travel wallet back where it lives in my man-bag (carry-on). My HP Spectre was purchased specifically to fit as well, not to mention it's reasonably light. My +1 tends to get the irrits with my checked case staying in the lounge room at home. Pretty sad when living out of a suitcase tends to continue when I'm home! I pretty much always take a checked case as I take food back with me. I take a lot of tinned salmon, deodorants (I give those to my team, to make things, shall we say more palatable to the nostrils ) and chocolates and lollies, which I also give away. I was having an issue with the maids (haus meri's) "losing" my clothes (selling them to the villagers), so I've found that leaving two Cadbury Favourites out on the dresser for them each day fixed the problem, although I'm not quite sure if that might breach my companies strict bribery and corruption policy!

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Only in the last two or so years have I managed to start sleeping well on board, before then no amount of comfortable bed would help. It was ironic that the best two sleeps I *did* have were in Economy (LHR-SIN and HNL-SYD) although these were late night departures which I'm sure did help.

Even though the sleeping has improved when i now arrive in London from Australia I am still a zombie for the first 48-72 hours, not managing to last much past 5pm local time.

Family/Friends:
- [...]So I bought a BBQ and host meals and gatherings at home.

I do the same on weekends and have the wood oven going all day: pizzas, lasagne and maybe a roast. Enjoying food and wine with friends at home is a non-travel highlight of my diary.

 

[Cult of one]

• 
  
• the currency changes; Credit card everything and away you go. The smartphone helps to convert and have a basic formula in your head. I find a standard thing like the cost of a beer, coffee, gum and when I see something that is 1,000 whatevers I just say in my head is that worth the equivalent of 6 lattes? yep or nope
• the family dramas at home; Face time and imessage the kids and Mrs Cult of one all the time all happy, super supportive people. I take lots of pics and text them as to what I am doing, seeing etc.
• the cultural differences; Love it. Always learn
• the side of the road on which to drive; I struggled with it when I first traveled Now just fine except I keep putting the wipers in instead of the indicators both home and away. I love it when I am in some place and I realise that I don't need a GPS to find my way around.
• the pillows; I miss my pillow I must say. Love those hotels with a pillow menu. I stayed at one in Sydney a whole ago and they had 8 types. (first world problems hey)

My big issues are medical and time zones. I have to take medication (T1D) and inject 4 times per day as well as around 8 blood tests. My pancreas does not know that I am in a different zone so I have to be very proactive about it. Not having access to certain types of food annoy me as I can't eat carbohydrates (god I miss bread and pasta). Most restaurants are very accommodating with this. Protein and veg and a glass of red work well.

I am one of those people who can be asleep on a plane before it takes off and have on occasion been woken up by a FA to be greeted with a totally empty plane as everybody else has gotten off. It is very confusing at times....

I find when I am away that my activity tracker watch is vital to keeping me feeling my best and I will not call it a day till I have walked or run 10KM.

I love the whole points and perks and it is great to have the lounge, my kids have never flown without this perk and freak out in some of the crazy areas in public concourse especially if we fly the night before a long weekend or easter and there is a throng of people all looking stressed. Miss 8 could not believe a sandwich was over $10.00 when they are free in the lounge.

Saving up the points for a family run to some beach somewhere warm is magic. The lounge is very valuable to me medically as I hate having to inject insulin without being able to choose food to suit my levels and the lounge is a nice environment with a sharps disposal to boot.

I am flying less over the last 12 months and have gone back to gold, not really missing it too much but if I did have to pay for a flight myself and not use points it would suck.

 

[JJJJJJJ]

I only fly business (for business OR pleasure).

My tip is to drink lots and lots of water. And then some more. Phone home daily. Use the hotel gym, or go for a long walk in fresh air when you can. Don't take medication to help you sleep...

You know what really, really bothers me? The number of comments about alcohol. At the risk of offending every single one of you, you need to take a good long hard look at yourselves if that is the best you can come up with. When you get old you'll have liver disease and no family whatsoever because you never invested in them. So drown your sorrows or here's an idea: learn to cope with the stress with yoga, or phoning home, or crosswords. What are you teaching the next generation?

Cue defensive replies (yawn)...

 

[takenbyaliens]

I am approaching the end of 21 years of being away from home to much. My trips are all long haul and have always flown in J and my how that has changed over the years! I have learnt to sleep and get as much pst as possible as one gets older. I used to be able to land in JNB in the early hrs of the morning and jump straight into a full days work...can't do that anymore. I used to drink quite a few glasses of wine...now just one or two. Old dogs have to learn new tricks if they want to feel decent on arrival.

I have a 'second home' so to speak in Beijing and keep another wardrobe up here. However I still check bag and maybe even a box or two each way as I bring up / take back food I like.

For many years I used to do a 10-11 week 'around the world' work trip and my +1 used to join me at some point....sometimes for a month in the middle or in the end so we were able to not be apart so long. Now I am in Beijing 7-8 weeks at least twice a year and it is full on work and my +1 is not enamoured with China at all so she does not join me. The solution we have come to is that she goes away with a friend for 3-4 weeks every year when I am not there...USA, Europe, Fiji wherever. When I am there we go outback for 8-9 weeks as a complete getaway. This year we are skipping the outback to go to Russia for two weeks to see our new grand daughter and then later on 7 weeks away in Africa followed by 4 weeks at Xmas time firstly to Honolulu then through to Italy via US and Europe in time for Xmas in a villa with all the family...and yes I am paying big time for that one with 3 from Melbourne, 3 from Moscow and 2 from London as well as us. I guess in some way it's 'guilt money' although I know money does not make up for the time I need to be away from home.

I try to sort the issues that inevitably arise at home when I am away...exploding oven door was the most recent....otherwise they become petrol on the fire!!!!

I too deal with the difficulties of medication having to take drugs that are time elapsed dependent so have to go through the time 'sliding' exercise when heading east or west...not so bad coming north to Beijing.

I listen to the footie each weekend wherever I am, to the ABC, have internet cable TV in Beijing as well as VPN so that I can keep in contact from behind the Great Firewall. WhatsApp, FaceTime all get a hiding. I have also found that my phone plan that allows me to call from/to/between anywhere that I travel to and home plus 4GB international data allowance, whilst expensive, is well worth every penny.

Having said all that, my +1 has finally made the decision to retire so once that happens I am off too...and finally get a chance to use the several million points we have stashed away for post retirement travel.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

At the risk of offending every single one of you, you need to take a good long hard look at yourselves if that is the best you can come up with. When you get old you'll have liver disease and no family whatsoever because you never invested in them.

Which reminds me of another FFer necessity (well, one I've found useful, in any respect), which is the need to be less opinionated and accepting of difference! (not a dig at your comment either JJJJJJJ, it simply reminded me). I think travel really does wonders to open ones eyes to difference and I guess previously, where I was more likely to preach, I now tend to just accept ... even if I don't agree. Hang, I can now even talk to those who wear thongs in a lounge or business class! Doesn't mean I'll join their fashion club any time soon though.

I am approaching the end of 21 years of being away

I guess that explains your handle?

 

[JJJJJJJ]

Which reminds me of another FFer necessity (well, one I've found useful, in any respect), which is the need to be less opinionated and accepting of difference! (not a dig at your comment either JJJJJJJ, it simply reminded me). I think travel really does wonders to open ones eyes to difference and I guess previously, where I was more likely to preach, I now tend to just accept ... even if I don't agree. Hang, I can now even talk to those who wear thongs in a lounge or business class! Doesn't mean I'll join their fashion club any time soon though.



I guess that explains your handle?

You know, swanning_it, I am actually an incredibly non judgemental person. I let fly this morning as the sheer number of alcohol comments took my breath away... You're right, understanding difference is so important.

My rant is over...

 

[Deleted member 29185]

You know, swanning_it, I am actually an incredibly non judgemental person. I let fly this morning as the sheer number of alcohol comments took my breath away... You're right, understanding difference is so important. My rant is over...

Yep, which is why I thought I'd better state your post just reminded me. My comment was not really a response to it as this whole thread is about how each of us cope with the joys (?) of frequent travel. I'd previously suggested that the number of comments that included alcohol also surprised me, and it did. I'm not sure however, whether alcohol is a positive or a negative. I'm thinking it can be both. Too much quite obviously has many, many problems from health to legalities. In moderation, it may actually be the saviour that some (many?) FFers, utilise.

For me, I do drink too much when I feel like "letting go". On the other hand, I can abstain for extended periods with no apparent side effects (ie people don't generally comment how grumpy I get and I don't feel any the worse for it, and possible a bit better for it). I'm actually on the fence with alcohol ... not sure about it's definite effects, positive or negative, but as you say, the comments are overwhelmingly in favour at the moment! Please believe me, I was certainly not intending to chastise you for having a very valid opinion!

 

[JJJJJJJ]

Yep, which is why I thought I'd better state your post just reminded me. My comment was not really a response to it as this whole thread is about how each of us cope with the joys (?) of frequent travel. I'd previously suggested that the number of comments that included alcohol also surprised me, and it did. I'm not sure however, whether alcohol is a positive or a negative. I'm thinking it can be both. Too much quite obviously has many, many problems from health to legalities. In moderation, it may actually be the saviour that some (many?) FFers, utilise.

For me, I do drink too much when I feel like "letting go". On the other hand, I can abstain for extended periods with no apparent side effects (ie people don't generally comment how grumpy I get and I don't feel any the worse for it, and possible a bit better for it). I'm actually on the fence with alcohol ... not sure about it's definite effects, positive or negative, but as you say, the comments are overwhelmingly in favour at the moment! Please believe me, I was certainly not intending to chastise you for having a very valid opinion!

swanning_it you were very appropriate in your comments, I have no problem at all with them. I'll show my hand a little bit... I have worked with people who consume alcohol for many years (that is an understatement) and I can tell you that there are so many reasons not to drink.
1. your liver hates it
2. it's expensive
3. full of sugar
4. weight gain / beer gut / chipmunk bloaty face / whiskey nose (I can spot an over drinker a mile away)
5. you miss out on other ways of coping, eg exercise
6. you also teach yourself that you can't cope with whatever stress you are experiencing, so it diminishes your sense of self efficacy.
7. you miss out on practise at tolerating distress; it's s an important life skill, and one that many haven't learned.
8. there's loads more but I have work to do

Just because it FEELS good doesn't mean it is good.

... the first glass IS the best isn't it? So stop there. If you/anyone can keep to one glass a day at the weekend only you'll be better off.

 

[vertisol]

Life on the road - By Me

“Welcome back sir. Just one night?” the front desk clerk enquired.
“Yep.” Oh.. “Thanks”… Just one night here, another night another city he thought.
Travel is overrated. Hard to enjoy it when your life is 1000km away.
Another room, towels folded, bed sheets ridiculously tight, tv too complicated with a welcome message and in house movies to be bothered with. $9 for Pringles… might as well go out.

“Oh hey mate, how was school today?”
“Yeah, good.”
“Do anything good”
“Nah”
“Hand in your bank book?”
“Yeah. Mum let me have a lunch order today. We ran out of bread”
“Is mum there?”
“Mum! it’s dad”
“Well your brother just vomited tell him I’ll call him back later”
“Dad she’ll call you….”
“Ok I heard that. Thanks mate, go and help your mum. Love you”…

The helpless feeling of being so far away is a constant companion on the road. You can control your day but how to help from so far away? A listening ear at the end of the phone late at night? Always unsatisfactory though you both put up the façade that it’s fine, tomorrow everything will be fine.
“I’m not asking you to fix anything, you just need to listen… call me in the morning I’ll be ok”.

Red wine in bed helps, for now, but the morning brings the fresh realisation that you are missing the life of your family. You hope they miss you but the way life overtakes the day to day you wonder…

“Hey everyone, I got the early flight!”
“We’re having dinner. Didn’t make any for you, sorry”
“That’s ok…. I had a sandwich at 3 o’clock…”

“Dad can you read my stories tonight?”
“What are we reading?”
“It’s a book on comets and meteors”
“Ok, where do we start?”
“Um… I got really angry with my friend today.”
“Oh yeah, why?”
“He pulled my shirt and tried to push me down. I didn’t let him though. Mum said to talk to you because she’s very busy”
“Mum does a great job when I’m away that’s for sure..”
“ I don’t think she likes you being away Dad..”

 

[takenbyaliens]

I guess that explains your handle?

Becoming ‘takenbyaliens’


Monday 27 October 2003

I am back from being in hospital….where I became a non person…I didn’t exist….for four days after I was taken there on Tuesday. But no one was to know what it looked like I had for fear of panicking the good citizens of Brisbane………


Having been on the ‘road’ so to speak since the 10th of August ( having been in China, Malaysia, South Africa, Botswana, England, Wales, Ireland and Canada ) by the time I came to set off on the last week of the trip I was pretty much flogged. I had been sick as a mongrel dog in Toronto…so sick that I went to the hospital. Now that was some experience. SARS was all the go in Toronto and the hospital that I just chose to go to was, you guessed it, the one where the SARS sufferers had all been taken to as well. Getting into casualty was difficult but after a 4 hr wait I got to see a nurse….who then told me I would wait 8 hrs to see a doctor! ‘So hospital systems must be stuffed everywhere,’ I thought as I headed out the door back to my hotel. Put off my flight for 3 days in the vain hope I would get better. Eventually I had to move…next stop Dallas.

Sunday 12 October. Glued myself up as best I could and hopped on board the Air Canada flight into Dallas. Checked into the very dodgy Holiday Inn really sick...both ends going overtime! But work is work so I double dosed on Imodium, took the norfloxasin bomb as they say, and lay down for a couple of hours before a dinner meeting with some blokes from Dallas Comets Soccer Club. As sick as I was I had to eat… your body gets so stressed that without food it will close down and that’s not what you need when you are traveling.

Monday 13 October. A big day. Meetings in the morning then back to hotel to check out then off to another meeting then off to the airport… UA359 at 1900 bound for Los Angeles and my flight back to Malaysia. Which leaves at 0140 Tuesday morning ( 14th ). LAX airport is really poor…no showers in the lounges so I end up ‘bathing’ in the one and only basin in the washroom…actually sharing it with my ex school captain form many years ago who is also passing through.

Tuesday 14 October - Wednesday 15 October …bblluuuurrrrrr…..across the dateline…around 14 hours to Taipei, on ground 1.5 hrs, off again close to 4 hrs to Kuala Lumpur, check in at hotel and have a dinner meeting! Get to bed late but have to be up early the next day…I am off to Singapore!

Thursday 16 October. Fly to Singapore, 4 meetings fly back to KL that night in preparation for meetings all day 17th in KL.

Saturday 18th October …0920 flight from KL to Brisbane. Pretty tired.

Tuesday 21 October. SICK SICK SICK. My body is aching all over. I head to the doctors. ‘Where have you been in the last week??’ They ask. I tell them Toronto, Dallas, Los Angeles, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore then home. I am ushered into a cubicle and I hear a doctor say ‘Get the ambulance now. I’ll call the hospital’….’Somebody must be injured somewhere here’ I think. After about 10 minutes the door opens and there are two spacemen!! I am about to be taken by aliens! I wonder if in fact I am delusional. Nope, they are there. The doctor comes in ( an alien now too no less ) and tells me I have hit all the bases…symptoms, places, times…’I think you may have SARS’ and bingo I am on the trolley and whipped out the back door….A spaceman says for emphasis ’ Mate they think you might have SARS’…’oh very f#$%^&*g wonderful!!!’ says I. It’s hot but the ambulance does not have the air on, instead using kiwi air ( you know the window open )..’If we turn the air on the whole system will have to be pulled out and cleaned’ … ‘No sh^%’ ….’Oh yes mate. This car is off the road when we get back...it will be sterilized completely’ … ‘ You are serious aren’t you?’ I sort of ask. ‘Buddy you just lay there and we’ll just keep all dressed up’

We get to the PA Hospital…but go to the back entrance. More spacemen. One goes ahead and gets everyone out of corridors and tells people to stay in rooms and not open doors…no ifs or buts…just do it! I feel like chanting ‘Bring out your dead!’ like they did during the plague...Have I the modern day version?

Up to the top floor and into the infectious diseases section...I get a room way down one end apparently away from anyone else. It has an airlock and is absolutely sealed. A nurse spacewoman arrives. It takes her 5 minutes plus to get out. Into the airlock. Take off goggles ( yes that’s right…goggles ). Take of outer coat and fold in a very specific way. Take of first set of shoe covers. Take off hair cover. Take off one set of gloves. Wash gloves. Go out other side. Take of second coat, second shoe covers, second set gloves. Wash arms, hands in sterilizing solution.

Five minutes later I press the buzzer. She has to get all dressed up first. Then she comes in. ‘Can I have a cup of tea please? Could kill for one!’. Out she goes undressing as per the regs. Makes the tea. Gets dressed. Brings it in. Goes out getting undressed along the way. 15 minutes for a cuppa! She tells me she is MY nurse. No one else gets to come in…she sees no other patients. Doctors come….Um and ahh..we’ll do this test and take this sample and xray here and so on and so on…….

Unbeknown to them I had managed to keep my mobile phone on board…in fact I was still in street clothes. I rang my wife… ‘Hi honey. Having a good day? Well I’m here in hospital and they think I’ve got SARS!’ …Absolute silence followed by the usual rocketing about my travel and coming home sick because I flog myself etc…I tell her I don’t know my room number etc. In fact, after this I find my chart. I am "Floor 5 Room 7"…no name. The nurse brings lunch…"Floor5 Room 7".

My wife rings the hospital…she is going to bring up some PJs etc. ‘Where am I?’ she asks. ‘Nobody here in the hospital by that name. Sorry’ … ‘I know he is there, he is there’ … ‘Oh …hold on a minute. That’s funny. Why is that entry like that? Oh… I will put you through’ She gets the nurses desk. She explains that she knows I am there. They want to know how she knows. She says the doctor’s surgery let her know that I went to hospital ( so she can come and get my car ) as I have told her not to let on I have a phone. They give her a password. Use it or ‘not here’. Meanwhile I have had to give a new spaceman all details of where I have been, who I have met, what planes I was on…they need ‘the list’!! I ring my work. Tell them I won’t be in. In hospital, but don’t tell them why…’just don’t ask’ I say. I get told later that my boss calls…. ‘not here’. I have to husband my cellphone battery and hide it so it won’t get taken from me. I turn it on only to call my wife. Luckily coming in to me takes so much time that I always get a chance to hide it before someone comes in.

A new spaceman arrives early evening. Despite all the get up I recognize that it is my wife…. She is upset. I am upset…I feel like S*&#!

I ( Floor5 Room7 ) get every test known to man. I have every orifice poked, prodded and sampled and then some. I have Xrays, skin samples and blood tests and more blood tests…all in my little room. I ask them do they want to read my tea leaves. I am still Floor5 Room7. I am real sick. I am real lonely. I have a signal worked out with the nurse for a cuppa so it only takes 10 minutes to get one. My wife is the only allowed visitor. She has had to promise not to tell anyone what I may have. I feel like the ‘Man in the Iron Mask’. I am still real sick. Time drags. I find out later that MH have had to supply the passenger list for my last flight. The guy who sat next to me gets a call…’You feeling ok???’


Finally on Friday afternoon I get told it is not SARS but a really nasty strain of Influenza A. I get a name again. I am still not flash but I get out Saturday and escape from the aliens!


Great fortnight!