The Flight to Australia
When we finally got on the flight to Australia, after our surprise baby, they were going to turn it around, all because of me.
When our youngest was 2, we finally got to go. But there was a problem, I couldn't land an interview from the UK let alone a job offer. So I planned to fly to Sydney, stay on my mate's floor until I got a job, then return for the family.
The day before I flew out, I received an email from a service provider in Perth. They needed my MPLS and BGP skills for a project they had won but didn't have anyone who could do it.
We had a call, got offered the job and signed that day, but I told them I was flying to Sydney, not Perth. They paid for the flight. I landed in Sydney at midnight after 24 hours via Singapore. Got the 5am flight to Perth, was at their office in West Perth with all my luggage and taken straight to the customer site for a kick-off meeting. Welcome to Perth.
I then had to find a car, rent a house and furnishings while working full time. Did that. A second hand Kia Carnival with a warning light on the dash. It lasted 2 years before the engine failed.
The company agreed I could have a week off to fly back, close up the UK rental and bring Charlotte and the kids over. Should be easy.
I flew back via Singapore. It was the Rugby World Cup. The flight to London was cancelled due to a plane fault. No other flights available because of the World Cup. I was stuck in a hotel for 3 days and couldn't leave as I didn't have a visa.
With Charlotte managing 3 young children the house hadn't been touched. It was unseasonably warm and I did car boot sales, trips to the tip, shredding documents, giving whatever we could away for free. I had to compress everything into 4 days. Long 20 hour days, lots of physical work in the heat, and not enough water.
We closed the rental, with both our parents offering to do a final clean and gave the keys to them.
Then we headed to the airport. I wasn't feeling well but pushed through. In the security line, a lady asked if I had dropped anything. I hadn't noticed I'd dropped my money belt with all our money and passports. I just had to get on the plane and sit down.
We got to our seats, sorted the kids and sat down. I was trying to keep control of my body.
The plane takes off. I head to the toilet.
After some time the stewardess knocked on the door. "Mr Reid are you OK in there?"
No answer from me.
I was white as a sheet on the small loo, head spinning. They forced the door open.
Then one called the captain. Medical emergency. They needed to return to London.
Hell no.
I forced myself up, told them I would be OK, stumbled to my seat and asked for water. Charlotte tried to talk to me, I dismissed her. All my energy was focused on getting my heart rate and breathing under control. It took over an hour, but I did it and we finally made it to Australia.
I'm Andy, I may suck at many things but that doesn't stop me from trying.
Read more: Andy the Muppit