Leaving On a Jet Plane

 Travelling still can be a bit of a palaver as in the olden days most of the leg work was done by your travel agent . But at least we don’t have to order travellers cheques any more. 
Oh the ease of debit card. 
International travel, for the most part is easy. 
I’ve just booked a car to pick me and Ruth up at Madrid airport for peanuts
30£ for peace of mind
I’ve worked out our metro journey to the Auditorio National, sorted tickets out for The Museo National Centro de Arte Reina Sofia
Everything is organised. 
It will be hot so my hastily ordered linen pant Amazon purchases have arrived 
I will look cool and collected and floaty in cream and pale green
( trendy Carol eat your heart out) 
Gone has those gauche days when travel was terrifying
When me and my sister first went to Spain in the 1980s and she followed the toilet instructions printed in almost English All Solids To Be Placed In Bin TO THE LETTER 
And SHAT in the bin
Bidets were something you washed your feet in 
And the water from the taps was something to be feared like leprosy 
My ex husband and I went to Malta in those early days and it was only his second time on a plane
He was terrified which amused me greatly 
I felt a seasoned traveller back then having a few trips to New York already under my belt 
I still get nervous on take off
But I still see flying anywhere as a treat
And I think I always will
Hey ho


43 comments:

  1. Yorkshire Liz4:56 pm

    The very thought of you looking cool, collected and floaty is a sight I would happily pay to see. Even so, the very thought makes me smile. Hope you both have a wonderful trip.

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    1. The sight of me looking remotely calm collected and floaty is highly improbable

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  2. Barbara Anne5:03 pm

    Ah, the joys of flight and now the hassles are found in train delays or cancellations! May all of your arrivals be on time so you and Ruth have a joyous adventure, confident in comfy, casual, chic hot weather clothes. Cream and green. Perfect!

    Hugs!

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    1. I’ve refused to go to the airport via train

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    2. See, grasshopper, with experience comes wisdom!

      Hugs!

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    3. Grasshopper so very 1973 xxx

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  3. Anonymous5:06 pm

    No I didn't lol ....I was confused about the paper going in the bin....

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  4. Wishing you & Ruth an absolutely wonderful trip!

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  5. Have a great trip, you seasoned traveler!

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  6. You will look very cool in your cream and green ensemble! Have a wonderful time and don't forget, we want lots of photos! xx

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  7. I remember travel agents. There was something just so wonderful about them. But it sounds as if you have everything all under control. I'm looking forward to pictures too.

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  8. Anonymous6:51 pm

    I aspire to be floaty and cool in linen on holidays . The reality is a crumpled pink mess . Irish folk are built for a cooler climate I think !! Have a great time when you go . Looking very hot in Spain at the moment . Xx Bernie

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  9. You will have such a great time. I am looking forward to hearing all about it.

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  10. Anonymous8:07 pm

    ohh..... cream and pale green.....you will look quite trendy and handsome (and cool!). The sister/Spain/bin story..... almost fell off my chair with hilarity! I will never step foot into an airplane EVER again... which is why I spent 5 1/2 days on a train one way from Calif. to Toronto...perfect...keep me grounded, by all means...and I'm OK! enjoy your trip!
    Susan M/ Calif.

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  11. Color me weird but I like the take-offs and landings (in decent weather). There is something intriguing about watching the tarmac speed under the plane, and the airport becoming smaller and more distant. I especially like flying at night and trying to figure out where we are in relationship to the lights below us.

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    1. I always say a small prayer to myself
      “ let it be fine this time” x

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  12. You sound excited. I hope it is soooo fun. PS your clothes sound perfect, pls pack nice tees to go with. And--a nice straw hat? Sunglasses? Comfy shoes? [woven leather, tassels, no sock!]

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  13. Anonymous8:57 pm

    Sounds fun.. enjoy your trip and perhaps we can catch up after it Libs X

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  14. What footwear have you selected to complete your outfit? x

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  15. Anonymous10:03 pm

    Remember to eat some lovely flan!

    Ceci

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  16. I still find travel quite stressful. It has always been so.

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  17. Anonymous10:44 pm

    I enjoyed flying before people decided to highjack planes, when you could look at the pilots in flight. I was actually invited into the cockpit for most of a flight including the landing at night into Toronto with all the lights. I am so excited for you . There is nothing like a great trip. Your outfit sounds cool, but remember, no crocks. Gigi

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  18. How exciting! Travel from the Southern Hemisphere to anywhere is such a mission, I love the way you can casually book a weekend in Majorca or wherever. I'm green with jealousy. I must admit, we often ... usually ... still use travel agents. We were put onto a wonderful guy in 2019 who got us superb connections, wonderful stopover hotels, and arranged an amazing 10 day Mediterranean cruise on a small ship. It was magic, and for two oldies, not having to move our cases made all the difference. We did it all Business class - v expensive, but worse now - and it was the trip of a lifetime.
    TBH, until very recently our university required that tickets were arranged by the university travel agency, so I guess we got used to it.

    John, you and Ruth have got a lot of 'freeloaders' hitching along, so live it up!! We want to know you had a ball!!

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  19. You are a seasoned jetsetter John. No shitting in bins for you! When the aeroplane toilet goes "Whoosh!" does that mean that our turds are dropping to earth? I have always wondered that. I want one of mine to land on David Cameron's bonce.

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  20. Your trip sounds wonderful. Something to look forward to is always good. You and Ruth always have a good time together.

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  21. Oh have a great time!

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  22. I still remember flying off to the Spanish Islands in the mid-60's. It was all very exotic and exciting, and I seem to remember that the planes had propellers! How did we survive???

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  23. It did seem much easier with a travel agent or package holiday. It's fun to plan the trip yourself but I still find it is the smaller "connecting" parts which can be harder. It was very hard in Bahrain to simply get around once there, as we found it hard to get a taxi and the locals seemed to all drive or get picked up in little open topped trucks.

    Am excited for you and hope you and Ruth have a wonderful trip!

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  24. Anonymous5:53 am

    Have a fabulous time John , your linen ensemble sounds great . I’m a bit like you, but I put up with flying but not overly keen . I hate take off and landing . We’re travelling home tomorrow from a very hot Menorca, ( 33 degrees) . Missing our dog so much , but a lovely sunny change has done us good xx

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  25. I don’t mind flying at all. I love the view from the air and having no control. But my 6'2" length doesn’t enjoy it and I can’t always afford a pod. Have a wonderful time! If I see a toilet with instructions to throw the paper in the bin, I don’t use that toilet.

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  26. Have fun - I know you will.

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  27. How love!y that you embrace flying, I sleep on most flights for many the holiday starts at the airport, my hubby for example, loves photographing his airline meals. Hope you have a brilliant time and don't forget to take a hat, Panama would suit you. betty

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  28. Jo in Auckland7:10 pm

    Wow, sounds like you are good to go. Love the sound of your linen outfit, very chic. I hope you have a fabulous time and take lots of pictures. Oh to be somewhere warm right now. The southern hemisphere is getting a bit chilly now.

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