To have one last flight before I’ll be on home turf is surreal. I have had a wonderful time away, but more about some reflections later.

I get off the plane and know exactly where to locate the lounge at Singapore airport. Seems the Qantas Lounge is quite busy so they’re dividing us between it and their partner lounge next door. I am headed next door and find myself a seat which is in the middle of everything – food, drinks, bathrooms. It’s a good central location. I take note of the time as I recall they don’t make a boarding call here. There are a lot of people in this one too, and it’s not long before I’m joined by my pal Mark from the last lounge visit. We cheers to happy travels and chat to make the time go by. He offers up his details and says to let him know if my travels takes me to Melbourne too.
It seems much shorter than the 2 hour time frame so we enjoy some cheese and biscuits before heading out to the gate.
Now THIS flight is FULL!! No room for anyone. I’m first to get to my seat in my row, so rather than be a pain and block the way (aisle seat preference here) I sort myself out with what I need from my bag and stand up the back of the plane. It’s here I observe people and make friends with one of the cabin crew Leigh. It already seems like there are a number of challenging passengers and I am empathizing with Leigh and his colleagues. I give them big smiles and a knowing wink to let them know I see and hear how passengers are behaving. And we haven’t even gotten off the ground.
We are given our final instructions to take our seats and fasten our seat belts and another cabin crew breezes past me and whispers “you’re already our favourite passenger”. Hahah it’s nice to make a difference in peoples otherwise stressful or unpleasant days. I hear another of the cabin crew talk sternly to a woman a few rows ahead of me instructing her that she must put a seat belt on her child otherwise the plane can not leave. Her complaint was that her child was crying and didn’t want to restrain them. Really?! Safety never takes a vacation people!!
We take off eventually and as soon as we are able to take our seatbelts off I get up and move to the back of the plane chatting with people coming and going for snacks and a toilet breaks. Seems my sleep was amazing on the first flight and I have energy to burn.
After a while I decide to hear back to my seat as dinner is going to be served and I watch as the lovely Cherie deals with a variety of challenging passengers who don’t want to wait their turn and are helping themselves to things on her cart. By the time she gets to me I say to her “I think you’re doing a brilliant job, you’re handling yourself so well, I just want to give you a hug”. The stress on her face turns to relief and she thanks me so much. This cabin crew are definitely stretched tonight and I certainly don’t want to add to that.
Over the course of the flight I’ve got Nicolas and Joelle as well, in the galley doing their thing. They’re happy to chat and work away. Cherie pops in and I give her that hug I promised and she immediately heads to first class on the hunt for a French champagne for me. The crew couldn’t have been more gracious to me offering me stashes of food and treats, and eventually all wanting a “hug from Hannah”. Word had gotten out.
The time had passed quickly and before long there was only a couple of hours to go so I take my seat for a quick nap before we are told that it’s time to get ready for landing.

Its now that it hits me the enormity of what I have done. This trip, traveling solo, dealing with foreign countries and languages, planning on the fly, dealing with problems, making new friends. I fucking did it (sorry mum)! And I couldn’t be prouder of myself. I’m welling up at the thought of all the incredible moments I’ve had and the privilege to have met some of the best people. I’ve learnt more about my strength and character than I have in other times if my life. This trip was definitely a defining moment for me. Has it changed me?? Maybe…..maybe not, but I know that I’ve been humbled so many times by hearing new friends perspective of who I am and how I come across. Apparently I’m good shit. I am grateful for the opportunity to inspire and be inspired, and to be amongst like minded people who have been unknowingly an important part of this moment in time for me.

Ok so enough of the soul searching.
Coming into Sydney is quite surreal for me and it’s not long before the seat belt sign is off and I gather my things to leave. I’m keen to get home to my family and friends. I am farewelled by the cabin crew by name and grin at the look of confusion on the faces of passengers as to why they know who I am. If only they knew all it took was some gratitude and a smile.

Customs and baggage claim is done in no time at all and the train station is right under the airport so it’s not long before I’m on a train ready to head north bound to the Central Coast. I’m surprised to see when I surface that it’s still dark and I realize I’m going to see the sunrise for the first time since I left for my trip (except when I stayed up all night of course).
The train is empty at Central station so I have my choice of seats. As each stop comes and goes the train fills with commuters and students. But not before long it pulls into Gosford and I am filing out with so many others.
Mum is waiting for me on the platform and she doesn’t see me straight away. She screams when she realizes I am standing right in front of her. If the school kids weren’t awake then, they were now. I saw many people smiling at our emotional reunion.Today it’s mums job to keep me awake till I’m handed over to my daughters. So we head straight into my hometown of Terrigal to surprise my daughter who works at a cafe there.

She comes out and gives me a big hug and makes a lovely coffee for mum and I and we decide to have dinner together later tonight to catch up properly. Mum and I go to a couple of shops to kill time and then it’s time to see my other daughter. She jokes and says “who are you?” But I still get a great big squeeze.
Ahhh to be home seeing familiar sights and the knowing I’m sleeping in my own bed. It’s an amazing feeling.
Thanks for coming along my journey with me. Hope you’ve enjoyed my stories and rants.
A content and very grateful lady will here, who will rest well tonight. Goodbye, au revoir, ciao!