Feeling a little ordinary ...

[blamebrampton]

I jumped cheerfully out of bed at 7 this morning, wanting to have breakfast with friends and then pick up a few crafty pieces before leaving Christchurch. That part of the day went well. We even caught the bus back to our friends' house and were met there by our other friends who had taken the van to Akoroa at 6 that morning, but were back in time to take us to the airport.

It was at the airport that things started going horribly wrong.

I have just spent 11 hours going from Christchurch to Sydney, a journey that usually takes five from check in to customs clearance. There was a hijacking at the airport this morning. In a city where people driving around in cars and stealing internet makes the paper. Where people are STILL discussing the All Black's loss in the Rugby World Cup last year. Happily, no one was seriously injured in the incident, though there was some medium-level stabbage.

As a result everything was carp, but they would not say hijacking, they declared that our plane had been delayed due to 'operational issues'.

This was after J's plane over was delayed by four hours due to an enormous lightning storm. We had friends on each of these flights, they now accept my edict that J is not to be travelled with as he exudes the aura of delay. Let us not speak of his bad service curse.

But J's evil passenger curse was in full swing, three of the ugliest little boys you have ever seen given full rein to run up and down the plane shouting and wailing, and all the toys their adults had packed were loud noisemakers. I wanted to sedate the kids and sterilise and then eject the adults. Only a DVD of Cambridge Spies and noise cancelling headphones saved me from a heartfelt shout of "Would you control your ghastly children?!"

There were many other small children on the plane, they were all lovely. I wonder if their parents can run training programmes?

I have decided to ignore dinner and sleep for a few hours, then wake up and write the remaining 3/4 of the story I wanted to have finished by the time I landed. I stopped writing on the plane, because it actually had no role for an infanticidal maniac.

NZ was in all other ways splendid. I thoroughly recommend the entire country, just fly Emirates, Singapore or Air New Zealand.

Comments

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

LOL That's when I start imagining how Dudley's children would have turned out...

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness! YOU'RE RIGHT! I was aggravated by Dursleys!

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Oh, poor you. All that on top of knowing your holiday was over, too.

I promise my parenting skills will far exceed Mr and Mrs Selfish-Arsehole's. If anything our child will cower in fear of her parents' strictness.

We hate Emirates. Last year we had a 9 hour delay in Dubai on the way to Thailand, and the airport staff were so crap they couldn't get it sorted out. We were left hanging around the airport for hours and hours with no news, and no one from the airline taking responsibility or feeding us free food. We will never fly with them again.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I have found that the trick is to never use airlines in the country of their origin, with the notable exceptions of BA and Air NZ. Emirates from Sydney to Christchurch are always brilliant, just as Qantas from London to Hong Kong is great (while Qantas from Sydney to Melbourne is dire) and so on. People get lazy at home! They make an effort abroad!

Your child will be a delight. There were many other children on that plane, I made an effort to congratulate some of their parents. One of them suggested that he had been a minute away from making good use of his duty-free alcohol and a bottle of chocolate milk.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Funny you should say that. We've done more miles with Qantas than any other airline, and we really liked them. Thanks for the tip.

[jadzialove.livejournal.com]

You're alive! I'm so glad to know this. Sorry to find out you had troubles with the travel portion of the adventure, but I've missed you terribly!! (Am absolutely not pouting!) So I'm very glad to know you made it home safely.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Is back! Has fic! Will share! Missed you too! Went to party and am now giddy, because accidentally went to two parties.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

Parents of kids like that are so annoying. They think the whole world should revolve around the whims of their little darlings. I have seen them hold up a line waiting for their pre-verbal two year old to make an oh-so-important decision on what sandwich to order. I don't care how long it takes me to conceive, I won't be a parent like that.

Glad you made it through the ordeal okay! I hadn't heard about the hijacking.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

It was a v stupid hijacking. She's now been committed and the injured are all doing well. Poor Kiwis.

I'd have been unable to resist the temptation to affect a baby voice and ask for a pastrami on rye, just so that others could get a laugh out of it. But yes, some parents need a good solid boot applied to the buttocks. You will not be one of them. Your child or children will be marvellous.

[who_la_hoop]

Oh dear. At least you had a nice holiday! I think planes should offer stun-guns for small children. Controversial? Maybe. Blissful? Hell, yes!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Why are you not in charge of global transport policy? Though, to be fair, I do think it is the parents who should be stunned. That should keep the kiddies quiet if they're smart.

[lackofmendacity.livejournal.com]

Ahh, I hadn't realised you were flying back today, I was quite surprised to hear about NZ's hijacking. :/

Awww, I'm sure the little boys were that ugly. *g* But yes, I'm glad you had fun in NZ. :D *hugs*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

EVERYONE was surprised!

They were genuinely unattractive. Baby bogans, child chavs, wee Westies ... and with snot on every available surface. Still, they're in Brisbane now. Sorry, Queensland!

[brandil.livejournal.com]

Ugh, bratty kids are the worst, especially on planes.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I can understand not being allowed to slap children, but surely one should be allowed to slap evil parents?

noisemaker

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

all the toys their adults had packed were loud noisemakers. I wanted to sedate the kids and sterilise and then eject the adults.

X-D

If anyone gives my child a noisemaker as a gift, I would disembowel them >_>
Instead of stupid battery-operated noisemakers, I'll save up for a child-sized guitar (or a piano!) instead. I have no idea where to put a piano in this cozy house, but will manage lol.


I love Emirates for its awesome food! =D And I remember the air stewardesses are pretty <3 (And I love their uniform too)
I love Singapore Airlines because they always have the latest coolest gadgets, hehehe.

Re: noisemaker

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

And everytime I hear "NZ" I always think of hobbit holes lol. That and New Zealand frozen yoghurt ;-)

Re: noisemaker

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

The whole country is one giant film set ... it's disconcerting. But very lovely.

Re: noisemaker

[lilian-cho.livejournal.com]

*_*

*imagines*

Re: noisemaker

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Ooh yes, Singapore is good, too.

People who make loud toys for small children will all end up in the Special Hell. If I have to send them there myself. People who give kids musical instruments that are not cymbals are wonderful people.

[no-mad-skillz.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! How nerve-wracking. I'm glad you're home safely.

I'm snickering over the ugly, ghastly little boys--sorry! *has beautiful, perfect fairly decent boys*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I usually love little boys -- in the wholesome and caring aunt-like way, not the icky way -- but these ones were just hideous. Oh well, could have been worse. They could have been midget hijackers.

[emerald-dragon8.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, I can't believe you were flying when all that was happening! This is what I get for not checking my flist - I didn't realise you were coming back yet!!

*hug*

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Cheers ears. Was all basically done by the time we made it to the airport, except for the backlog of incompetence. Virgin are not that great, I know this, I should have planned accordingly. Am now just v tired after having a lot on today. But can sleep for much of tomorrow! hope your weekend is wonderful!

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Argh! We saw that on the news, so sorry you got caught up in all that schmozzle. I want to get to NZ sometime soon, never been there.

*hugs*

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

come to welly! i'll show you around :D

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You have to go. It is gorgeous, and there are only a few cities that aren't wonderful in some way (you can safely ignore Hamilton, though even it has some nice architecture).

All better now, except am in desperate need of sleep. Finish comments then go splat ...

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

i've been so out of it i had to do a google on the hijacking. in chch of all places! cause a 19 seater is such a good plane to get you places. [*rolls eyes*]

anyway, so sorry to hear that you got caught up in the aftermath. and that you had horrible children on the flight. am glad you are home safe and sound, though rather bereft that you were so v. close to me and i didn't see you. [*sniffs quietly in the corner*] someday.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I know!! Where did she want to go? Dunedin? Anyway, committed now. Is safe to fly again!

I actually contemplated just giving up and jumping a plane to Welly around about delay minute 105, but I would have felt bad abandoning J after insisting he catch the afternoon flight home. Will definitely be there for at least a week in May, though, so we will catch up then!

[snottygrrl.livejournal.com]

according to the papers she thought she was going to go to oz. in a 19 seater. right. am still right baffled by the idea of hijacking and chch. or worse yet, blenheim where they started out.

you so should have come to welly, would have made my fri heaps better. :D

[*counts days until may*]

[*starts to feel a bit like a stalker*]

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

You are not the least bit stalkery! And I am only sorry that a few gigs fell into my lap that mean I am trapped in Sydney until Anzac Day, or I'd pop by sooner.