Are you like me?? Do you have an app or a countdown calendar for each holiday or major event coming up? Do you slowly watch the numbers go down from triple, to double to single digits? Ok, maybe it’s just me! There is nothing better than having something to look forward to. Whether it be a holiday or special event, the excitement of what is to come is the fuel for my fire!

I’ve woken up ridiculously early today. It’s just after 3am, and do you think I am able to go back to sleep? Not a chance in the world. Actual in person visits with my man abroad are far and few between and long distance relationships can be very challenging when dealing with distance and time zone differences. I’ve become accustomed to being up early and going to bed late so we are able to maximise our time together before each of us start work, or eventually crash for the night. So the thought of not having to worry about that for about 2 weeks is far too exciting to bear.
But before I can head to the airport I need to head to work and because of the time of year and where my boss works, I am working out of Chatswood. I will spend the day with her doing my month performance appraisal and also attend a team meeting. I get dropped off at the train station by my youngest an I head to the big smoke.

I am loaded up with my new luggage set which was a gift from my mum at Christmas, and I can say that it made me lots of friends. It’s just too cute not to be noticed. I make my way to Sydney with the morning commuters and you can’t wipe the smile off my face.
After a busy day at work I eventually head to the airport and head to the check in. I am fortunate to be able to have a a frequent flyer status with Qantas which allows me a priority at check in, and despite my best efforts to get an upgrade, I wasn’t able to, but the lovely Denise checked my seating and located my an entire row to myself from Sydney to Singapore. She also gave me a priority in the security line so I didn’t have to wait, so it was very smooth transition from check in through to the lounge.
There are many people in the airport and lounge with surgical masks on, as the coronavirus epidemic that has been all over the news and impacting travel to a lot of places in the world. I have been asked a lot about if I have been concerned about my travels in the lead up to this trip, and although there has not been as wide spread cases in Singapore, there is still extra precautions I will take that perhaps may not have normally. However no face masks for me, besides it would hide my big smile that I can’t wipe off my face.
I am quickly into the bubbly which is always a mandatory start to any trip, and I am approached by a lounge staff member who says ‘Happy Valentines Day’. It’s the 14th February and love is well and truly in the air. I notice that there are love heat chocolates which are a nice touch. So I settle in and make a call to Matthew while I wait for my plane.

I grab my earphones so the whole lounge doesn’t have to listen to the crazy banter that Matthew and I are so well known for. I wish that others were as polite as on the next table along where there is a man on FaceTime that seems very happy to speak loudly and hear both his and a woman on the other end of the call (insert eye roll here). There’s an announcement that there will be a 2 hour delay in boarding too, which is as a result of some scheduled maintenance that took a little bit longer than they anticipated, so I make sure to let Matthew know as theres a flow on affect to him meeting me at the other side of course.

The time passes quickly though and I head to the gates to board. As I am settling in, I look up and see a familiar face. My gorgeous friend Katie Acheson who I have know for many years and cannot believe we are on the same flight heading for London. We have a quick hello and make plans to catch up after take off. I am so happy to be able to stretch out too as Denise was true to form and the sets next to me are left vacant as we take off. Good bye Sydney.

The minute the seat belt sign was switched off I jumped up and found Katie for a quick chat and fill her in on everything that she needs to know, and she tells me about her short trip to London too. She is also lucky enough to have a row to herself. So after we finish chatting we both settle in and get comfy for the 8 hour journey ahead. There isn’t too much to tell for this leg of the journey as I managed to get plenty of sleep and nibbled away at my dinner, snacks and a few wines too. Before I know it, we have landed in Singapore. We are told that we only have about 40 minutes before we have to back boarding again. So I quickly head to the lounge and jump on for a vid chat with Matthew. I also manage to say a quick g’day to his work colleague who I’d met in Australia too.
On the way to the lounge there are thermal imaging check points which is evidence of the coronavirus concerns, and even more people with face masks on around the airport. Especially staff. It must be quite concerning to be in such a vulnerable position working at a place that is frequented by so many travellers from around the world. Especially in times like this, when the threat of the virus at the moment.
It wasn’t long before I headed back to the plane, and reboarded very quickly, but this flight isn’t quite as empty as there has also been a flight that has come in from Melbourne too, and we are combined together to get us to our final destination of London.
I am joined in my row by 2 guys and while we smile as we take our seats we don’t really chat straight away. I pop on some movies and read a little bit. I am really enjoying sinking my teeth in a thesis about disenfranchised public service employees. It’s fascinating and really making me inspired to potentially do a bit of my own research. In between movies I get up and move around. I chat to the staff in the galley and also make a new friend in Justin who is a brand manager for wine companies in Melbourne. He is super friendly and we enjoy some snacks together and also chat briefly to passers by.
The rest of the journey is spent in and out of sleep, stretching my legs and more movies. I strike up a conversation with the young boy next to me around breakfast time, who tells me he is heading back to London to surprise his dad for his 50th birthday. He is a 19 year old young man who is originally from London but now living in Australia and studying. Apparently trying his hands at an engineering degree, but after a year had swapped to do business. His dream though is to be a commercial pilot, and while he continues to study will attempt to get into the airforce as his pathway to his dream job. A very ambitious kid, and thought to myself I should have got his name so when he makes it, he might even fly a plane I am on one day.
There are lots of interesting sleeping styles as I wander around the plane. People are obviously attempting to get as much sleep as possible. It would be a little harder for everyone on this leg given the plane is nearly full. I am sure there will be a few sore necks as we etch closer to our final destination.

The 14 hour flight goes relatively quickly as I watch the time count down and before long its only moments before touch down. I am anxious to get off the plane as is everyone, but we have a slight delay as we wait to taxi and disembark. It is always interesting to me that some people simply get the most impatient when you are literally about to get off the plane. Even a couple of people getting quite vocal at the staff. I think that the 14 hours has taken it’s toll.
Heathrow Airport is a buzz of activity, as we weave our way through lines and electronic passport control. I wait patiently at the baggage carousel knowing that within moments I will be in the arms of Matthew and ready for more memory making and adventures.
My recognisable cherry blossom suitcase eventually comes out and I hightail it out of there as fast as I can. Matthew is waiting right at the exit and we squeeze each other tightly with massive smiles on our faces. While we spend lots of time chatting while we are apart, there is nothing better than being in each other’s company.

As I had travelled from a warm climate to a cold one, my footwear wasn’t exactly ‘London-ready’, but fortunately my Prince Charming had come prepared with thick socks and ugg boots. The wind is cold, and I am told it’s not even really cold yet.

Our driver is waiting and we head to the accommodation as we chat about the fact that as I have traveled through Singapore that I wont be able to visit Matthew’s office on account of the coronavirus and he also will have to remain away from the office because he will have been with me. I guess that is a good precaution but I am sad to not have been able to hand deliver some Tim tams I had bought for Matthews team. He will just have to take them in for me when he is allowed back in the office.
As we arrive at the apartment, we head upstairs in the lift which is very old fashioned. Old school metal sliding doors and a industrial style building that has been renovated on the inside with cute studio apartments.

As always, the accomodation has been well stocked and made to look gorgeous by my man who always likes to ‘get things ready’ for me. There’s daffodils and a Valentines card waiting for me. So cute, and thoughtful……always.

We enjoy a champagne together, as is also become customary to start our holidays together as we chat about what we might get up to today. Knowing I’d been traveling for a day, with just enough sleep, I will need to keep moving to kick the jet lag. So I jump in the shower and we head out for some lunch. It’s Sunday here and Clerkenwell is quiet, normally a busy suburb in the week days we head down to the corner where a very cool bar is called Piano Works. Essentially its a great concept where the seating surrounds a stage with a band that performs all songs by request. They are incredibly talented and literally play ANYTHING and EVERYTHING. There are many groups of women out, obviously having boozy lunches and loads of fun singing along to their requests and others.

They don’t really have an option for a small bite to eat as they are running a set price and bottomless Prosecco, which sounds great but we were on the hunt for something a bit more quiet where we can chat and catch up so we head out on the hunt for a pub nearby. We pass a couple that are closed, and as London is never short of a pub it doesn’t take long to find ‘The Green’ which is not far from our place.
We order a couple of smaller bites to share and sit in a quiet corner. We also had brought some cards with us, but not regular playing cards. They are a set of cards called ‘Intimacy Deck’ which basically has a series of cards with probing questions to get to know more about your partner. From what are your secret goals and dreams, to delving into things in your life you’re most proud of. It really is an interesting conversation starter (not that we need any help).

After food and getting through the cards, we move onto another pub. Here we sit down and make some new friends. They introduce themselves and we instantly make friends with Gyles and Paul. They’re interesting characters and we spend the rest of the night with them, and do a little bit of pub hopping.

We call it a night around 9.30pm and crash pretty hard. We’d definitely had plenty of bevvys and enjoyed much needed sleep. What a welcome to London.