I'M GOING TO THROTTLE HER!

 

First and foremost, I'm safe.  I'm here and will be picked up by the kids (nieces) this morning.

But why a rant?

FIRST:  The travel agent in Hamilton told me I could walk from the International Airport to the Ibis Hotel over by the Domestic Airport in 5-7 minutes.

WRONG.  I had to get on a bus, and it took 15 minutes.

Then when I got to the Ibis by the airport, I went to book in, and the lovely lady told me NO.

I was booked into the IBIS BUDGET MOTEL, which was a 20 minute drive away.

So I had to get a taxi.  That was scary, I did not feel safe with that man at all.  He kept trying to get me to book him for today... insisted on giving me his phone number so I could ring him when I needed him.

He was CREEPY.

Anyway, we get to the IBIS BUDGET.  And it's a fucking DIVE.

It is filthy.  Dirty, sloppy reception person, and it feels like it's being used for nefarious purposes.  Might not be, but that's the vibe.

I get to my room.

It's an oversized fucking closet.

I need a piddle.

I go into the bathroom.

There is SHIT in the toilet.  Like, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

The sink is filthy...

ABOVE:  I wiped PART of the sink!   

DISGUSTING.

ABOVE: The sink and wall behind it.

ABOVE: hard to show just how grotty it is! The floor is also dirty.  

I dared not get IN the bed!  I slept on top of it last night.  AND I kept my clothes on, cos I really didn't feel safe. And yeah, I'm wide awake at 4 in the morning. 

When I get home I am going to have some very angry words to say to 'B' at Flight Centre, The Base.

I paid almost $200 for the 'pleasure' of staying here last night!

I am fucking LIVID.

Now, moving on.  My SPARK roaming pack is NOT working here in Australia.  So I'll have to ring them soon.  I can do some things, but not all.

Most frustrating.

I hope the rest of today goes well, and the kids get me out of this hell hole fast!

Oh and I've not had a chance to get any Diet Coke, so I've already got a massive headache from caffeine withdrawal!

I'm drinking COFFEE, to avoid dehydration. 

4.29 am and the International Roaming for my phone just kicked in. Thank goodness,  I can now communicate fully again. Been texting Stew just now. I already miss him. He said it's -2 degrees there. Yeah no thanks. Lol

6.40 am : Well I just read the reviews on this motel (Ibis BUDGET Brisbane).... 100% wish the Travel Agent had before booking me in here.

I had less than 24 hours to organise this trip, I trusted the Travel Agent to know her stuff. Clearly not. I'm not going to bother leaving a review myself, it's all been said before by the look of it.  

I'm just killing time until I can leave....

ABOVE: Saved from death by dehydration... there's a vending machine here!  Aahhhhhh...

ABOVE: Looking at that! This shit hole has a pancake machine!  Must say they were rather yum after not eating anything since on the plane yesterday. 

The young people working here are AMAZINGLY rude. I'm really gobsmacked at their attitudes. 

But... the pancakes are lovely. 😂🤣😅

I just heard from my niece... I will be rescued in an hour or so. Thank goodness.

9 am. I was tempted to say something derogatory to the young man at reception when I left, but decided to just be kind.

Just as well cos I'd left my phone charger in the room and had to go back to get it.

That young man was really lovely and even gave me a smile.  I thanked him again and wished him a nice day. 

My nieces should be here very soon, though it's lovely sitting in the sun.

2.40 pm:  And I have been picked up, and taken to visit my sister.  She is looking quite good, better than I expected in fact.

Her dog, Tapu, does not like me.  But he's warming up to me.  I bet by the time I leave he will love me.  Well, I hope so.

My niece, Rowena, just took me to my motel.  I am going to have a nana nap, and so is my sister back at her home.   I will be picked up again in a couple of hours, and get to spend the evening with my sister.

We stopped in at a supermarket on our way to my sister's this morning.  I only bought ONE thing.

NO prizes for guessing it was Diet Coke.  8 BIG bottles of it.  I should be OK now.  😂😊 

ABOVE:  My niece, Rowena has booked me into a motel for tonight, and tomorrow I go to a B n B house.

This motel is LOVEY.  Super clean, a really good size, immaculate bathroom etc.  Such a difference from last night's accommodation. 

I  walked down the road to COLES, and did a little grocery shop, then got bored.

ABOVE: So I pulled some weeds out of that pebble garden.  It was satisfying.  Shish, don't tell Stew!   

Though, we don't have to do any weeding at our new home, one of the big bonuses of living in the Village.

Now I'm just sitting here, looking out the door, and listening to some really noisy birds.  I think they are crows.  

FLYING OUT

 

Well I was supposed to be getting my hair done down in the Village Salon this morning.  But I ain't now.

Seems I'm doing this:

ABOVE:  I'm flying to Brisbane this afternoon.

Without going into details, I'm going to see my sister, who is very unwell.

I do not know how long I will be away, possibly a week or two.

Stew is going to stay home for now, as he's got too many commitments next week to fly out right now.  But he might join me towards the end of next week.

It is amazing how quickly I managed to get everything sorted out yesterday afternoon!  I got flights and accommodation booked and paid for,  cancelled me hair appointment, moved the fitting for my new glasses to a later date, got international roaming for me phone, did the washing, packed me bags and BOOM.

READY TO FLY.

As you can imagine, my posts may be a bit light on it for the next little while, but I'll do me best to keep ya up to date.  Internet coverage where my sister lives is PATCHY at the best of times, so just know I'll do me best.

...

1.32 pm  safely at the airport.

My bag is checked in and I have my boarding pass.  So all ticking along well.

Now getting a late lunch  before killing time until my flight.

Nervous.

I hate flying.

Lots of people here. 

Last time I was here in 2020 this place was utterly DESERTED. It feels so different, but also not. 

I had a lovely lunch.  McDonald's Tower burger. Was yum.

ABOVE:  On the plane. Takeoff in 14 minutes approx. STILL NERVOUS. 

ABOVE: Half way there. Smooth trip so far. 

9.34  KIWI TIME:  I'm at my motel.  I'm going to be sleeping on top of the bed.

And getting out of here as fast as possible tomorrow.

Right now, I'm too tired to explain.  It's been a long day.

Catch ya tomorrow.  Be prepared for a bloody rant!