Here we go again. 30 August

A very early start to the day with an expected pick up at 5.30am. However the driver was there by 5.05 so, 10 minutes later I was out the door and on my way to the airport. Julie arrived at the airport just after 6 so we headed straight to checkin and being Business Class, we were first in line and quickly through thr scanners, although the zip in my trousers pocket resulted in me being pat search and my carry on bag re screened??? Why, you may ask? Who knows, but the minions working the screening process do not have a sense of humour. Must be a compulsory criteria for job selection! For some reason that noone seems to understand, eventhough you have to be at the airport 3 hours before the international flight, Immigration isnt open until 2 hours before the flight... Duh... Adelaide airport, you need to lift your game! So we walked the length and breadth of the airport to get up our steps (just over 2 km). Sat for a while and the headed down to Immigration where we went through quickly enough, although my trousers zipper resulted in a second pat down... Up to duty free to purchase Jamesons for collection on my return. We now head to the Premium lounge which is a bit average but comfortable. Orange juice, coffee and passionfruit yoghurt for breakfast.

Now time to head to the gate. Happily ensconced in 16K at the pointy end of the plane. Julie is on the other side of the plane. So much for our terrible travel agent who failed to seat us together... just one more failing of his. Note to self and any one else looking for a travel agent, DO NOT USE PHIL HOFFMAN. Bloody awful and a rip off. Tirade over...

10 minutes late departing but instead of an expected 7 hour flight it is going to be about 6 1/2. That just means even longer lay over in Singapore which is already going to be 9 hours. But needs must to get us to Amsterdam. And so the feasting begins.

entree for lunch is Seared Tuna Nicoise salad. i had pre selected the main which was chargrilled steak with green pepper sauce. The steak was cooked to perfection and fell away from the knife. For dessert I opted for the Artisanal Cheese Selection in lieuof the Chocolate and Orange Clairfontaine which was a close second choice. The obligatory NZ Sav Blanc helped wash it all down.

Managed to watch the MI:Final Reckoning movie in between courses. so farfetched that it is probably the worst of the MI movies. Had a little rest and then started watching a hospital drama The Pitt. Next thing I know I'm being askedif I world like a light refreshment so opted for the Prawns and sabo noodles salad. Unsurprisingly I couldn't eat it all but did get all the prawns down! Time for tables to be placed away and seats upright, ready for landing 6 1/2 hours after take off. Time to head to the Silverkris lounge where Julie plies me with champagne... and potato chips. We manage to fill almost 3 hours. Only 6 to go... sigh... Time to get moving again as we head for the train to terminal 1 via the butterfly garden.

It certainly is a long walk but as we are in no hurry we take our time. Terminal 1 is very busy and unfortunately there is no Silverkris lounge here so after even more steps, we get on the train to terminal 2 and make our way to the lounge. We have covered a further 4 km! The orchid garden is really pretty.

Julie is a bit peckish and has decided that this lounge doesn't have as good a food choice as in terminal 1 so we sit for a while so I can catch up on the blog and eventually decide to make our way back to terminal 1. There are big distances between the terminals so that is going to put me to the test when I come home as I have less than 2 hours arriving back in Singapore for my homeward flight. I know the Adelaide flight is from terminal 3 but the incoming flight terminal hasn't been determined as yet! Anyway, back in T1 and up to the Silverkris lounge. The 9 hours layover is taking its toll. Finally we figure it must be close to time to board a it is an hour before take off. We start walking in the direction of the gate, only to realise that it is a huge distance away. thankfully there is yet another train that will take us 15 gates further up from where we are. What then took a couple of minutes saved us a good 25 minute walk. Soon time to board and I am happy to settle myself into pod 12A. Julie is behind me. We take off just after midnight knowing there is a further 12 1/2 hours flying time ahead of us.

They certainly like their Seared Tuna a that is the entree followed by a Malaysian style prawn dish.

I am now totally exhausted and just want to get some sleep but unfortunately we hit some turbulence so the test tables weren't collected for ages and that meant the need bed couldn't be made up. Too tired to even consider dessertwhen the tray was finally cleared. Bed now made up and I'm keen to get some sleep. As there was still turbulence the captain kept making announcements but eventually all was well and I drifted off to sleep. Kept waking up but still managed a few hours sleep which will just have to be enough to sustain me for our first day in Amsterdam. It's been a very very very long day.