Trip To Perth

In May 2005, at a days notice, I had to go an work in Perth, Australia for 6 weeks. This is the story of how I got there.

SOMETIME EARLY MAY

Within my role at work I get to see requests for help from our colleagues around the world. I had seen a request for people who understood electricity market competition and who might be able to provide some input to a proposal, so I suggested some names.

10:00 TUESDAY 10TH MAY (UK TIME)

The call comes around again, this time with the statement that none of the people I suggested before are available. They are looking for someone who can go to to Perth (Australia) for a month. I make a quick call to my wife to see what her thoughts are before tentively proposing myself.

16:30 TUESDAY 10TH MAY (UK TIME)

Its on. I will be going – catching a plane at 14:15 the next day. Unfortunately I can’t go home immediately as I have a business meeting at 18:30.

20:00 TUESDAY 10TH MAY (UK TIME)

Arrive home to find me wife saying that she needs me to help buy some new wardrobes for my daughters bedroom. These have to be bought before my daughter returns from university at the end of may. So quickly find as much dirty washing as possible and throw it in the washing machine so I can take as much clean stuff with me as possible. Go off to IKEA to buy wardrobes.

22:30 TUESDAY 10TH MAY (UK TIME)

Return from IKEA and unload the car. Go an sit on my computer and unsubscribe from all the mailing lists that cause me to receive about 300 messages a day (do not fancy my personal mailbox being full with 10000 messages when I return).

10:45 WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY (UK TIME)

Fully packed and ready to go. Expecting a car at this time to pick me up and take me to the airport.

10:55 WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY (UK TIME)

No car. Phone car company who have no record of any instruction to pick me up. Spend 10 minutes holding on the line whilst they make enquires – eventually return to say that they can pick me up at 11:45

11:45 WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY (UK TIME)

Car arrives and takes me to the airport. At least I have business class and can check in without delay. Two legs. One from London to Dubai, second one from Dubai to Perth.

13:30 WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY (UK TIME)

Board the plane for the Dubai, and wait for it to take off

14:30 WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY (UK TIME)

Push back – we are on the way. On route, after eating I have two objectives. One to watch Oceans Twelve, two to get some sleep to try and bring body forward to match Perth time. I must have succeeded with the second because I can’t remember much of Oceans Twelve except the closing credits.

00:30 THURSDAY 12TH MAY (DUBAI TIME)

At Dubai airport – some time to kill

01:30 THURSDAY 12TH MAY (DUBAI TIME)

Start to board plane for Perth.

02:00 THURSDAY 12TH MAY (DUBAI TIME)

Push back on the start of trip to Perth. On route after a brief snack straight after takeoff, go to sleep in a further attempt to bring body clock forward.