Dubai to Melbourne

Again this flight was delayed but it seemed no one know this until we were sat on the run way, not good, it still felt really hot and we were all just too tired, we had cat napped from Manchester to Dubai but not really slept. This time we had 2 seats a window and aisle which Tracy and Mollie had and 3 out of a 4 in the middle. Tracy wanted the window to see something of Dubai while taking off, but she missed that after falling asleep while waiting on the runway to take off. This was a full flight and full of kids, with some very brave adults with babies, who between them seemed to be screaming for most of the 12 hours in the air. Mollie did really well she slept most of the 12 hours, as did Tracy. Jason had no chance as he was sat next to Sam who had ants in his pants for most of the 12 hours.

If you wanted, you could eat most of the way to Melbourne, they just seemed to be attempting to feed us constantly, they came round with food 4 times, yes 4 times, we don’t eat 4 times in 24 hours let alone 12.

It was dark when we came into land, so we couldn’t see much, passport control was really weird, we didn’t need our visa letters, we didn’t get a fanfare or anything, I suppose the customs people get used to it, it was very quick, not at all like getting into America. We then went through for our cases and noticed lots of signs saying that “Nothing to Declare” (Living TV, Thursday nights) were filming and you had to let them know if you didn’t want to be filmed, while waiting for the cases Tracy tidied her and the kids up, just in case, while doing this a man from customs came over asked to see her immigration cards, he had a look, asked what medicines we had, Tracy showed him the cough medicine and throat sweets, he stamped the card, said he didn’t need to see them and went off.

When we had the cases we had to go to customs where another man checked that cards, he then sent you left, right or straight ahead, we were sent straight ahead which took us straight out, they must have been satisfied we didn’t have anything we shouldn’t, although Tracy had also told him that we watched the programme and knew what we should and shouldn’t have.

As soon as we walked out our drivers were waiting with a card for Mr Jason Brown, again no fanfare or anything special, they took the trolleys with our cases and we followed them to 2 cars, Tracy, Sam and Tom in one, Jason and Mollie in the other. It was day light now and we were able to see some of Melbourne, first impressions, it is just like America.