So Excited - On our way !!!

A Few too many dinky bubblies
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So at 15:00pm we set out to pick up Chantellé. It was an amusing journey to begin with, as a 1/3 of our party wanted to get there early to shop on duty free, 1/3 wanted to delay the check in because of baggage theft and 1/3 couldn’t have cared less as the thought of getting on another plane for 9 hours was not an attractive prospect. Anyway off we went. Halfway to Chantélle’s place, we had to make a u-turn and return to Gabb’s house as she forgot her Dormicum, as that we certainly couldn’t have done without as you all know Gabbs hates to fly. So the prospect of flying with her without enough drugs to knock out an elephant was not an option.

Will she ever settle down on the plane, before the Captain gets called..... Guess Who!!
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And while this was all happening – I decided to paint my toenails instead of sitting around waiting….tap,tap,tap…..not in the slightest surprised that a return visit was in order for the old goat…

The rest of the journey to the airport was fairly uneventful only the gaggle of excited teenagers for the driver to contend with.

We arrived at OR Tambo, we had to fight our way through the crowds to get our suitcases shrink wrapped and then with glee headed off to the SAA Business Class lounge. Well all I can say if that what international visitors see upon leaving OR Tambo, then they are probably really glad to leave SA. It was dreadful and between the three of us who have been in BA and Virgin lounges we all agreed. The only thing they had to eat was crisps (Lightly Salted) peanuts, and really disgusting mini sandwiches, of which I had a chicken mayo and the picture speaks volumes.

Chantil before the free pour Gin
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As the first born of the Cutayar family, the second (born)in the group including ‘Chantil’ as a sister of our extended family, I was the third and last to catch on to most of what was happening even at the beginning of the trip. Obligatory on arrival in the ‘not so’ business class lounge hosted by the inimitable South African Airways was a glass of bubbly – they hadn’t any, not any cold nor dry that is. Should I be surprised – not in SA, let’s face it. So I settled for a bottle of still water. But not for long! We took turns to ‘hoik’ over to the bar – a veritable trek it was each time as we were relegated to the bowels of the lounge. Tones of a taxi rank in Bree Street were top of mind, even tho I have never enjoyed a particular mode of transport. It was packed – supposedly everyone travelled business – I can’t say – more likely members of staff had let their friends and family in. What’s new? Not half an hour into our sojourn in the lounge, a cell phone was stolen and the PA system urged us to keep valuables well-hidden on our person. Only in SA!! My return from the bar sported a dinky of bubbly for myself and a fabulous G ‘n T for Chantil which halfway thru she realised was at least four tots gin and the balance tonic. Two bottles of dinky bubbly down the line, I asked her to smell a perfume on my wrist. She almost poked her eye out misjudging the distance to my hand and only then did I believe her drink was a tad too strong!

Superb cuisine in the SAA Business Class Lounge at ORT..... Not!!!
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The best bit was the heavy-handed bar tender(ess) who lobbed half a bottle of gin into each drink – resulting in me having a serious hangover by the time we boarded)

Onto the flight we hopped, after some shopping and then a race to the gate as we were among the last folks to board. We settled into our seats and prepared ourselves for the wonderful in flight meal. Chantellé hit the movie channels, and Gabbs hit the i-Pod and we were on the way. The other two sat next to one another. The champagne was flowing for the two girls, who had had enough to drink in the business class lounge that I was surprised we could actually walk onto the plane.

As the flight was announced I swallowed the first of a number of ‘tranqs’ for my long haul across the Indian Ocean. We bolted down to the plane and were the last to board. Settled in, I ensured two glasses of comp bubbly under my belt even before the engines fired up. This was when I should have known that our sense of humour might offend certain sensitive individuals on this trip. The steward looking after us was all happiness and smiles before take-off and until Cathy said something to him and then laughed. He probably thought she was laughing at him, because thereafter he was a surly hun and literally through stuff down in front of us. Free expression rules, and screw the supposed customer.

The rest of the flight was a pleasant blur for me as Cath explains below. I slept peacefully and in complete silence – refer to first nite in Perth below.

We had some dinner, which was not that great, it consisted of some soggy salad, and some grilled garlic prawns – all of two tiny ones. Chantellé and I had some lamb, and gabs had the chicken dish. With dinner over it was time to hit the sack. We each made our beds, and I was out before my head the pillow. Gabbs was into taking her pills before sleeping and Chantellé had prepared her anti inflammatory medication. Gabbs grabbed for her water and downed it….. oops, the Anti inflammatory meds were gone. Gabbs was out and Chantellé was having to mix her muti up again.