So, the big day was here…. home from work, last minute packing and ready for our pick up at 7 – as I said to Russell, one only needs one's passport and a credit card, everything else can be bought! I may have been wrong about that……
Check in unfortunately held no first class upgrades ( I was optimistic until the end) and eventually we were in the air with a champagne in hand.
As we started the tidy up for descent into Dubai we realised that Russell's glasses were missing. The very helpful crew pulled his seat apart to no avail but assured us when we landed and the light was better, they would look again. We landed, everyone cleared the cabin, we all looked again, no glasses. Cabin staff assured us they would pass the message on to cleaners who would “have a better look” and we provided details of our ongoing flight in the diminishing hope that we would be reunited.
We reached the lounge in time for a quick shower and frenzied thoughts about back up plans…. I immediately thought of my great friend and secretary at work , the only other person I know who shares my sense of urgency and never gives up on a task…
If I got her to call Laubman &Pank could they do a replacement in three days for Fiona to bring over next week? Could we get the script and have them made in Bordeaux? Did he have a spare pair at home, no.
Darling Marlene was already responding to the challenge and on the phone to L&P when boarding was announced and we went back to lounge desk for one last check.
Yes Dr. Waddell your glasses have been found, they will meet you at your boarding gate!!!
Eventually….
We arrived at our gate, by now everyone has boarded and the lovely Emirates lady says the glasses are on their way. At this point I should mention that the plane we arrived on had parked bloody miles away from the terminal we were now in, at least a 20 minute bus ride…..
She then asks us for a copy of Russell's passport as any lost and found can't be handed over without signed copy… like someone else would want his glasses?? No, we don't have a copy ( we do on phone) so another lovely Emirates lady runs back to the business centre and eventually arrives gasping for breath with the copy in hand but still glasses haven't arrived.
Our lady is on the phone with lost and found guy ( who is not allowed on the plane, so we have to wait for him at gate) who is “on his way.” By now flight is supposed to be closed, we all stand around awkwardly looking at each and gazing at the throng of people rushing around and hoping one of them has the glasses.
Finally, at least 20 mins later (Russell says longer?) a gentleman strolled around the corner with a backpack (!) containing the glasses! Hooray!
Onto the plane, thankfully no one cheered, and Russell could see again!
Eight hours later we landed in Madrid, took the quick train between terminals and had time for a more leisurely shower and a quick wander around the duty free where the Napoleon make up stand was blasting dance party music at greater decibels than the A380's coming in to land.
Maybe I'm getting old I thought.
Checking the board for our onward flight to Bordeaux, we toddled down to the far end of the terminal to await our Air Nostrum flight.
Wait we did, three gate changes and a delay of two hours meant we arrived in Bordeaux at 8.30pm.
I had previously messaged Zoe ( who had planned to wait at the airport) to go on the hotel so it was lovely to hear her calling out a greeting from the hotel window as we got out of the cab.
A quick dinner followed and we were ready to fall into bed.
The next day saw everything going pretty much to plan, car collected, SIM cards purchased and en route to our villa near Sarlat.
We even managed to find a lunch spot en route where there was an equestrian circus playing!
Having largely made friends with the GPS we turned into the driveway of our home for the next two weeks at around 4pm and the many hours that it takes to journey from Australia were all worthwhile!
And believe me, the photos don't do it justice!
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