Here I was up in far north Qld,  getting out of bed at 3.30 am to drive to the airport for an 8.30 flight
Because we all know, you have to be there 3/4 hour early or you forfeit your airfare.

Driving along roads so pathetic that calling them third world is an insult to third world countries, I managed to finally get to the airport with a little time to spare.

Then the airline Qantas, informs me that the antique aircraft they use on this flight, has a mechanical issue and the flight is delayed 2 and 1/2 hours.
Do I get my fare back? No sir.

Now, being as I have a connecting flight, which I will miss due to the incompetence of this airline, I am advised I can
1) re-book for tomorrow
2) go through another airline.

I chose 2
What a pain in the proverbial
This means, my bags can't go straight through, I have to go outside the terminal and come back in again.
Sounds easy enough, but because they don't open the flights until 1 and 1/2 hours before the flight, I have to wait in the terminal waiting area, with very few seating opportunities.

Finally, getting back into the terminal proper, I find the gate is the furthered from anything, so it's a quick lunch and then a bolt for the plane.
Ever noticed that the restaurants in airports never, ever hurry.
I think it's all part of the big plan to make air travel the most horrible experience possible next to being mugged.

Rushing to the gate, we have a delay, apparently there is a storm at the destination, must wait until it passes, why not just fly for the hour and a half, it will probably be gone by then.

Finally getting on the plane, they didn't give me my exit row seat.
I like my exit row seat, it's on my profile, not happy Jan.

Finally arriving at my destination 4 hours later than I planned, it took nearly 3/4 hour to get my bags, Newcastle employs the worlds slowest baggage handlers.
No seriously, you need a time delayed camera to actually see movement.
If you have seen Despicable Me 2, the scientist on his walker travels faster than Newcastle baggage handlers.
I watched one sneeze once, it took 2 minutes.

Anyhoo
Finally got my seriously beaten up bag and went to pay the ransom for my parked car.
I really should build an airport parking garage.
The most profitable business on earth
A bit of black paint on a dirt paddock and charge a fortune to park on it.

Finally on my way and who do we find down the road?
Only the cops looking to make some cash, breath testing all the poor sods who just got off the plane.
Don't bother me buddy, don't drink.
So he checks my licence, prego and gives me the once over.

Being unsuccessful, and me nearly falling asleep while he wandered around the car, he told me that it was dangerous to drive tired.
I said, tell that to the airline.
He stated that soon they will be checking for tired drivers.
I said, oh goody, more revenue raising scams.
What ever happened to catching criminals.

Seeing that I was not going to be polite he told me to go.
So off I drove home, through roadworks, mud on the road from the rain and roadworks
Idiot drivers who have a vague, but only partly formed driving ability.

Now I'm home
Early to bed for me, what a crappy country
And the wife tells me we had a political upheaval this week

BUT NOT ONE POLITICIAN WAS MURDERED, WHAT A WASTE.

Things didnt go absolutely your way in life, what a tragedy, now you think Australia is crap. Dont let the door hit your arse on the way out.

Hi Valkie,
I don't like traveling either.
I've been all over the world & I was sick of it 20 years ago.

Bobby. wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 8:30pm:

Hi Valkie, I don't like traveling either. I've been all over the world & I was sick of it 20 years ago.

I like your travel photos, especially the one of you doing a poo on a mountain.

Gordon wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 8:32pm:

Bobby. wrote on Aug 25th, 2018 at 8:30pm: Hi Valkie, I don't like traveling either. I've been all over the world & I was sick of it 20 years ago. I like your travel photos, especially the one of you doing a poo on a mountain.

Get stuffed.   ;D

The planes Quaint Arse uses for domestic are crap but at least they don't kwash.

First world problems. Such a bitch to deal with.

I suppose you sat in the airconditioning? Perhaps read books? Had a cup of coffee, maybe something to eat? Watched a bit of television? Things of that nature?

But you managed to get through to your destination. I read up on places where walking out your front door could mean you get killed. Or mugged. Or raped. Families not being able to get fed because of circumstances. Drug addiction.

But, one screw up on the airline's fault, and you think Australia is a bad country. 100 years ago, you would have been okay with "late" if you had the opportunity that we have today.

Or such a bitch unable to deal with it.

rhino wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 8:17pm:

Things didnt go absolutely your way in life, what a tragedy, now you think Australia is crap. Dont let the door hit your arse on the way out.

Sad little troll
Have you ever been outside your mother's basement?

Probably not

So..........piss orf

rhino wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 12:43am:

Or such a bitch unable to deal with it.

You see troll sock

I did deal with it
Whatever the problems
I still walk away with $7k after a week's work
How many months on the dole does it take you to get $7k?

Or do you just piss that up the wall and beg mommy for more?

Pathetic troll

If you made $7k in a month what are you whining about a delayed flight for? Seems very good money for someone of your intellectual capability, you should be ecstatic.

.....

Valkie wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 7:08pm:

Here I was up in far north Qld,  getting out of bed at 3.30 am to drive to the airport for an 8.30 flight Because we all know, you have to be there 3/4 hour early or you forfeit your airfare. Driving along roads so pathetic that calling them third world is an insult to third world countries, I managed to finally get to the airport with a little time to spare. Then the airline Qantas, informs me that the antique aircraft they use on this flight, has a mechanical issue and the flight is delayed 2 and 1/2 hours. Do I get my fare back? No sir. Now, being as I have a connecting flight, which I will miss due to the incompetence of this airline, I am advised I can 1) re-book for tomorrow 2) go through another airline. I chose 2 What a pain in the proverbial This means, my bags can't go straight through, I have to go outside the terminal and come back in again. Sounds easy enough, but because they don't open the flights until 1 and 1/2 hours before the flight, I have to wait in the terminal waiting area, with very few seating opportunities. Finally, getting back into the terminal proper, I find the gate is the furthered from anything, so it's a quick lunch and then a bolt for the plane. Ever noticed that the restaurants in airports never, ever hurry. I think it's all part of the big plan to make air travel the most horrible experience possible next to being mugged. Rushing to the gate, we have a delay, apparently there is a storm at the destination, must wait until it passes, why not just fly for the hour and a half, it will probably be gone by then. Finally getting on the plane, they didn't give me my exit row seat. I like my exit row seat, it's on my profile, not happy Jan. Finally arriving at my destination 4 hours later than I planned, it took nearly 3/4 hour to get my bags, Newcastle employs the worlds slowest baggage handlers. No seriously, you need a time delayed camera to actually see movement. If you have seen Despicable Me 2, the scientist on his walker travels faster than Newcastle baggage handlers. I watched one sneeze once, it took 2 minutes. Anyhoo Finally got my seriously beaten up bag and went to pay the ransom for my parked car. I really should build an airport parking garage. The most profitable business on earth A bit of black paint on a dirt paddock and charge a fortune to park on it. Finally on my way and who do we find down the road? Only the cops looking to make some cash, breath testing all the poor sods who just got off the plane. Don't bother me buddy, don't drink. So he checks my licence, prego and gives me the once over. Being unsuccessful, and me nearly falling asleep while he wandered around the car, he told me that it was dangerous to drive tired. I said, tell that to the airline. He stated that soon they will be checking for tired drivers. I said, oh goody, more revenue raising scams. What ever happened to catching criminals. Seeing that I was not going to be polite he told me to go. So off I drove home, through roadworks, mud on the road from the rain and roadworks Idiot drivers who have a vague, but only partly formed driving ability. Now I'm home Early to bed for me, what a crappy country And the wife tells me we had a political upheaval this week BUT NOT ONE POLITICIAN WAS MURDERED, WHAT A WASTE.

Jesus - I'm from Newcastle, and I left because I figured that most people there were totally brain-dead from industrial pollution morons... I vowed never to return there except for funerals etc and firmly believe the place is cursed ..... will certainly never live there again.  You seem to have a fair slathering of sense and reality - while retaining some of that native Novocastrian aggro that has stood so many so well over the years in the pubs and streets and filled the prisons and the graveyards with people who never learned to live.

Newcastle is a fine example of every single thing wrong with this nation, with a very limited number of genuinely fine people in it.... and they congregate in the better suburbs.

BTW - I used to play for Wests there.... and my uncle was the top NRL referee....

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 25^th, 2018 at 11:45pm:

I suppose you sat in the airconditioning? Perhaps read books? Had a cup of coffee, maybe something to eat? Watched a bit of television? Things of that nature? But you managed to get through to your destination. I read up on places where walking out your front door could mean you get killed. Or mugged. Or raped. Families not being able to get fed because of circumstances. Drug addiction. But, one screw up on the airline's fault, and you think Australia is a bad country. 100 years ago, you would have been okay with "late" if you had the opportunity that we have today.

Nah - drink beer and whiskey in the terminal...

I dont call that a whine......its a day in the life of!!!!!..

and he was tired and cross....

of course he needs to work in the Sydney CBD  and live on the outskirts  and take hours to get home every night.... ;D ;D

its a fact of life for some... every day  valkie...

you will probably be picketed by the baggage  handlers union next time you fly out of Newcastle... ;D ;D

**burps while waiting for PageTurner Airlines flight**

Political Correctness is infesting just about every area of our lives

We need to be able to voice our opinions without being fear of being shut down by the 'thought Police' who monitor everything

Political Correctness is infesting very facet of our lives

If we allow this left wing disease to proliferate, the future is very grim indeed

red baron wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 3:18pm:

Political Correctness is infesting just about every area of our lives We need to be able to voice our opinions without being fear of being shut down by the 'thought Police' who monitor everything

No -

we want you Big Brother -

to tell us what to say, what to think & what to do.

rhino wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 11:32am:

If you made $7k in a month what are you whining about a delayed flight for? Seems very good money for someone of your intellectual capability, you should be ecstatic.

$7K IN A WEEK MORON

not a month
Tis you who is intellectually retarded.

But again.
How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K?

MY guess is that after smokes, grog and anti-troll medication, probably a couple of years.
But that's OK
I'll keep paying taxes to keep you in money......for a little while longer at least.

cods wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 11:45am:

I dont call that a whine......its a day in the life of!!!!!.. and he was tired and cross.... of course he needs to work in the Sydney CBD  and live on the outskirts  and take hours to get home every night.... ;D ;D its a fact of life for some... every day  valkie... you will probably be picketed by the baggage  handlers union next time you fly out of Newcastle... ;D ;D

Yeah.
I was a little cross, tired and fed up.

But the trolls jumped on me as you expect from trolls

red baron wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 3:20pm:

Political Correctness is infesting very facet of our lives If we allow this left wing disease to proliferate, the future is very grim indeed

It's not only the left wing who use it - state something 'leftie' and wait for the cries of Commo, LWNJ, PC criminal and so forth.... how many times, in any discussion of economics, do you have some loonie coming in and saying you'll roon the country like North Korea or Venezuela or Shitolia Province or whatever?

You just have to ignore idiots whose only argument is slighting the other view and its proponent, and just carry on with reality while they eat your shorts.

Valkie wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 3:54pm:

But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K

It takes me 12 weeks to earn over $7K on the dole... if I don't work to supplement the payments I get. Not that you were asking me.

Lucky you, $7K a week. What surgeries do you perform? What engineering do you create?

Valkie wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 3:55pm:

cods wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 11:45am: I dont call that a whine......its a day in the life of!!!!!.. and he was tired and cross.... of course he needs to work in the Sydney CBD  and live on the outskirts  and take hours to get home every night.... ;D ;D its a fact of life for some... every day  valkie... you will probably be picketed by the baggage  handlers union next time you fly out of Newcastle... ;D ;D Yeah. I was a little cross, tired and fed up. But the trolls jumped on me as you expect from trolls

you were in, what i call 'low vibration energy".
its very very hard not to get sucked into low vibration.

things rarely "go our way".
if you are ever driving and you get angry or frustrated at a red light, thats a good warning sign.
you are expecting the universe to be benevolent to you and it doesnt work like that.

i call this the "fulfilment narrative".
its a belief (quite common) that the world is coming together for "your awesome life".
its really just a low level narcissism.

all of the great mythological stories talk to the danger of falling into this narrative.

the antidote is actually to walk the "heroes journey".

you want to use pain , frustration and problems as the emotional juice to draw your emotional state from.
you want to accept fully that life is harsh and life in unjust.
you just have to accept that.
if you dont, you will forever remain a toddler and prone to a tantrum.

now you need to see yourself as climbing the "narrow road to success"
its harsh, its hard.
envision yourself as a marathon runner with burning calves who sees a massive uphill in the road.

and heres the key,  that uphill is your best friend.
all the competitors, all your fellow humans are going to slow down, and if you dont, if you determine to push thru, then you win.

once you can see all problems and all pain as there to help you and expand you and make you more awesome, then you win.

you win everything, everytime.

fat steve and fat janeen are weak.
when things dont go their way, they get butt hurt as hell.
you want to accept fully the opportunity to use problems as the way to differentiate yourself from steve and janeen.
then you will fall asleep with the wry smile of the guy who earnt it.
then you will be one of those rare men full of joy and passion.
then the universe will make sure your cup does "runneth over"  ;)

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 2:17am:

Valkie wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 3:54pm: But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K It takes me 12 weeks to earn over $7K on the dole... if I don't work to supplement the payments I get. Not that you were asking me. Lucky you, $7K a week. What surgeries do you perform? What engineering do you create?

It'll take me twelve weeks to work out a list of what's wrong with this country these days....

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 2:17am:

Valkie wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 3:54pm: But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K It takes me 12 weeks to earn over $7K on the dole... if I don't work to supplement the payments I get. Not that you were asking me. Lucky you, $7K a week. What surgeries do you perform? What engineering do you create?

I go into companies to design, implement and maintain operational, safety and environmental protection systems.
I train people, investigate issues and incidents and report and develop actions to mittigate or eliminate the causes of or identifying potential accidents based on my findings.
I like to think I am saving lives
My experience in engineering, mining, manufacturing and plant maintenance gives me an insight that many do not have.
So far, nearly every company I have worked with have improved safety, production and environmental impact.
They have also improved their bottom line and in almost 50% of the companies have increased their labour force.

I could charge more, but I'm happy with what I get.

What is wrong with our country is our infrastructure is not keeping up with our record immigration rate, it was bad enough before we opened the floodgates to 250,000 immigrants per year. Everything is choked up and getting worse by the day.
We also have people of a foreign dialect manning call centers, baggage handling ticket collection security etc.
Eh u speeka my language,,,mate
Australia is going to rack and ruin but maybe ole Scomoe can save us.

We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge.

Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again.

Auggie wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 6:53pm:

We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge. Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again.

Didn't Caesar appoint a donkey as a senator?

We got a couple of hundred of them

And one barren witch

Valkie wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 7:15pm:

Auggie wrote on Aug 27th, 2018 at 6:53pm: We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge. Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again. Didn't Caesar appoint a donkey as a senator? We got a couple of hundred of them And one barren witch

It was actually a horse - Inciatus.

And it was Caligula only who was crazy.

Auggie wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 6:53pm:

We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge. Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again.

When Caesar declared himself Emperor for life/Dictator it was the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire.

Gnads wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 8:12pm:

Auggie wrote on Aug 27th, 2018 at 6:53pm: We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge. Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again. When Caesar declared himself Emperor for life/Dictator it was the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire.

Incorrect. Read your history.

Valkie wrote on Aug 26^th, 2018 at 3:54pm:

rhino wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 11:32am: If you made $7k in a month what are you whining about a delayed flight for? Seems very good money for someone of your intellectual capability, you should be ecstatic. $7K IN A WEEK MORON not a month Tis you who is intellectually retarded. But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K? MY guess is that after smokes, grog and anti-troll medication, probably a couple of years. But that's OK I'll keep paying taxes to keep you in money......for a little while longer at least.

7k a week now. You sure its not 7k a day? whatever, you appear to be rather a simple little individual with your elaborate fantasy stories .

Gnads wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 8:12pm:

Auggie wrote on Aug 27th, 2018 at 6:53pm: We need a leader - Caesar Augustus to take charge. Grant me dictatorial powers for 10 years and I'll make this country again. When Caesar declared himself Emperor for life/Dictator it was the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire.

Who back there, Pilgrim..... Gaius Julius Caesarus was the first Emperor of an Empire - before that Rome was ruled by the Senate, a collection of elder citizens with apparently a lot of knowledge etc on how to do thing..... it wasn't really an Empire , thought the Romans held a lot of territory through conquest, until the succession of emperors came along.

A fine point, but still... many call the current era the American Empire... without an emperor... so maybe you have a point.

rhino wrote on Aug 28^th, 2018 at 12:28am:

Valkie wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 3:54pm: rhino wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 11:32am: If you made $7k in a month what are you whining about a delayed flight for? Seems very good money for someone of your intellectual capability, you should be ecstatic. $7K IN A WEEK MORON not a month Tis you who is intellectually retarded. But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K? MY guess is that after smokes, grog and anti-troll medication, probably a couple of years. But that's OK I'll keep paying taxes to keep you in money......for a little while longer at least. 7k a week now. You sure its not 7k a day? whatever, you appear to be rather a simple little individual with your elaborate fantasy stories .

$7k a week is nothing... in 1990 I was pulling $2k a week - which would be about the same as $7k now.

Anyway - you don't need Auggie as your Emp .. you can have me as Il Presidente for life, and I promise I will never remove more than $130Bn from the economy and stash it in a safe haven in the Bahamas for my own income in retirement....

Truly beeziness ees good in El Grande Republica Da San Austrador.... the banana boats are running on time, and the populace love the government like a doting father.... they are all my cheeldren and I give them rivers of gold!!

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/junta.jpg

Valkie wrote on Aug 27^th, 2018 at 5:38pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 27th, 2018 at 2:17am: Valkie wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 3:54pm: But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K It takes me 12 weeks to earn over $7K on the dole... if I don't work to supplement the payments I get. Not that you were asking me. Lucky you, $7K a week. What surgeries do you perform? What engineering do you create? I go into companies to design, implement and maintain operational, safety and environmental protection systems. I train people, investigate issues and incidents and report and develop actions to mittigate or eliminate the causes of or identifying potential accidents based on my findings. I like to think I am saving lives My experience in engineering, mining, manufacturing and plant maintenance gives me an insight that many do not have. So far, nearly every company I have worked with have improved safety, production and environmental impact. They have also improved their bottom line and in almost 50% of the companies have increased their labour force. I could charge more, but I'm happy with what I get.

Really? I make food and keep customers happy. I am well paid for what I do, but I am underworked. I also act as an off-the-record security guard, even though my security licence has expired. But that is part of my job, as it is for other non-security guard employees that work with me and around me.

I make about $400 working 18 hours a week, and have to get Centrelink payments in partial payments (depending on my work week) to keep fed and housed. I tend to think that anyone earning over $2000 a week is very overpaid -- unless it is a highly professional, skilled job... or the person works over 50 hours a week.

Do you work over 50 hours in a week? Sounds like I should look into your line of work. Or perhaps I can get one of those $100/hr jobs in info tech.

Concerning the original post:

Finally, I'd say to not bother booking connecting flights if possible. It's just not worth the stress.
Instead, look up on the internet for some places of interest to fill in some time if you get the chance.


Then finally, don't hassle the airline to fly through rough weather so that you can make your connecting flight. Other passengers are more interested in their personal safety and the airline knows a shitload more than you about air safety.

Finally, make use of your smart phone. Learn a language, watch a movie, play some games...etc. And bring along a portable charger.

Last but not finally, enjoy your travel and be glad that you make it to your destination in one piece.

Finally finally, respect that nobody is intentionally trying to hold up your busy schedule. Safety comes first and a relaxed atmosphere makes it more safe for everybody. If you find a faster mode of transport, then use it  ;)

rhino wrote on Aug 28^th, 2018 at 12:28am:

Valkie wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 3:54pm: rhino wrote on Aug 26th, 2018 at 11:32am: If you made $7k in a month what are you whining about a delayed flight for? Seems very good money for someone of your intellectual capability, you should be ecstatic. $7K IN A WEEK MORON not a month Tis you who is intellectually retarded. But again. How many months on the dole does it take you, you sad little sock troll, to get $7K? MY guess is that after smokes, grog and anti-troll medication, probably a couple of years. But that's OK I'll keep paying taxes to keep you in money......for a little while longer at least. 7k a week now. You sure its not 7k a day? whatever, you appear to be rather a simple little individual with your elaborate fantasy stories .

As it is quite obvious that you have little to offer anyone.
I don't doubt that this seems like a lot of money.

But my insipid little friend, there are a
Many others out there who demand many times my fees, and get it.
But you, with your low expectations and even lower qualifications, find it excessive.

MY consultancy is transitory, occasional work.
MY full time job is much less, not even $140k a year.
So I take this job on when I get it,  4 or 5 times a year.

Perhaps, if you tried really really hard
Got educated beyond troll level
And actually provided a service of some worth
You could even make the average weekly wage.
Then again, perhaps not.

Amadd wrote on Aug 28^th, 2018 at 3:10am:

Concerning the original post: Finally, I'd say to not bother booking connecting flights if possible. It's just not worth the stress. Instead, look up on the internet for some places of interest to fill in some time if you get the chance. Then finally, don't hassle the airline to fly through rough weather so that you can make your connecting flight. Other passengers are more interested in their personal safety and the airline knows a shitload more than you about air safety. Finally, make use of your smart phone. Learn a language, watch a movie, play some games...etc. And bring along a portable charger. Last but not finally, enjoy your travel and be glad that you make it to your destination in one piece. Finally finally, respect that nobody is intentionally trying to hold up your busy schedule. Safety comes first and a relaxed atmosphere makes it more safe for everybody. If you find a faster mode of transport, then use it  ;)

You have some good points.
And when travelling for other than work, I tend to " go with the flow"

But this particular journey, which I do several times a year, is simply a flying bus.
One that many many people do every day.
Imagine if your bus to work experienced similar issues, every day
It's just bad planning on the airlines behalf, that and cheapskate economics.

You would think that these people, and I never blame the poor sods working behind the counter or flight attendants, would get it right.
Honestly, 30 years of flying all over the world, and I'll bet about 0% of the time there was one delay or another.
From 15-20 min up to several days.

I sympathise with you Valkie.

Yes - in (politically) 1st World nations (as USA is 'economically' 4th World) - they have the high tendency to be 'over-achievers' and make a simple thing more complex than it needs to be.
This is the bane of such 'over-indulgent' societies (especially the Gay ones like Australia that needs boat people to boost its population growth) and their 'superiority egos' based on 'technology advancements'.