Long Haul - 24 hours travel time.

[babycat]

Hi everyone!

I'm new to the forum & have been reading heaps of threads here, I really love how everyone is so supportive & helpful :)

I saw on another thread that there is apparently a post that has a whole lot of little tips & tricks. I haven't been able to find it though :( Does anyone know where it is?

So my situation is that I am flying from LA - SYD - PER back home from a 6 week trip over here & mostly in Vegas!

It was suchhhhh a huge ordeal for me to get over here & I did so with the loving help of my friend Xanax.

I took 0.25mg an hour before the flight & went from crying hysterically claiming I wasn't going to go for about 5 hours prior with heart racing & on the verge of full blown panic attack to chatting to randoms in the line. True story!

I continued to take the Xanax every 4 hours & ended up getting through it despite only catching a few Z's (had a weird guy sitting next to me who I didn't trust!)

My main fear is of the "not being able to get off the plane in case of medical emergency" variety.

This 'medical emergency' could be as a result of panicing (heart beating too fast & have heart attack) or not (DVT causes me to have heart attack / stroke / non-DVT related but randomly something bad happens).

I just HATE knowing that I can't leave if I want / need to & that help is not available.

That is the basis of my fear, of course I hate take-off like the majority of others. Just feels so wrong to be moving at that speed/direction. Once the plane levels off I'm pretty happy. (on short flights)

I'm -mostly- okay with turbulence unless it's really weird & I'm usually happy with landing because I know the trial is nearly over!

I think I'm going to have to take the Xanax route again - though I don't want to. Throughout our trip I didn't have to take any on our bunch of short flights (1 to 2.5 hours each) but just felt pretty unhappy during the taking off.

I nearly had a panic attack on one flight but solved it by clutching my boyfriend & resting my head on his lap until the plane levelled :(

I just wanted to add that I'm 23 yo F, with no health problems other than this panic disorder, I'm a vegetarian (if that matters!) & have been fearful of flying for about 5 years+

Any help for this specific FOF? And can someone pls point me in the direction of the general tips/help thread if there's one?

Thank you for reading! xox :grouphug:

[AZ_to_AU]

Hi Babycat... welcome!

For the links to the tips and tricks on this forum go HERE (http://www.takingflight.us/flying-fear-tools.php).

I know what you mean about not being able to get off if you panic. I went through the same thing for years and years. I always had to be in-control of any "moving" situation, therefore, flying was never an option since I couldn't control it.

Deep breathing and trying to occupy your mind against such "what-if" thoughts are some basic fundamentals of getting over that little hurdle.

I flew for the first time in my life to Australia from L.A. and I spent a good year and a half preparing for it. This forum and the people here are very supportive. I'm sure there will be others who will contribute. Read through the flight reports - I did, and I just cried hearing the success stories of those who felt like you and conquered their fear!

Keep writing too!........... it helps :thumbsup:

[MathFox]

Hello babycat :welcome: to the forums. :grouphug:

Flying is almost as safe as sitting in a chair at home, watching TV (unless your home is in Afghanistan, flying is safer then.)
Medical "emergencies"
happen often enough so that the airlines have taken preparations. All planes are equipped with extensive first aid kits (containing "permit" drugs). The cabin crew has a first aid training and all airlines have a contract with a medical service on the ground, so that they can ring a doctor for advice. (Often there is a doctor or nurse on board to care for the patient) If needed the pilots can arrange an ambulance at a nearby airport and land the plane there.

I think I'm going to have to take the Xanax route again - though I don't want to. Throughout our trip I didn't have to take any on our bunch of short flights (1 to 2.5 hours each) but just felt pretty unhappy during the taking off.
I think you'ld be a lot better if you worked through one of the available books or online courses. (Look at our resources page). You'ld benefit from the "body and mind tricks" they learn you to stop the fearful thoughts and relax better. The "How do plane fly, how do airlines work" information will help you to build confidence in the plane and pilots, understanding all of the weird sounds a plane makes.
While I don't think you'll need the Xanax on your flight, you already know a few tricks to stop your fear, you might want to take one or two doses to reduce the Anticipatory Anxiety, which usually is the worst part of the flight.

If you are healthy (and not in the latest weeks of a pregnancy) there is no reason to avoid flying. Vegetarian or not ;).

Think passengers slipping on a wet floor in turbulence, passengers with pre-existing medical conditions that worsen, etc.

[babycat]

Thank you both of you!

AZ_AU, that's so great, do you like Australia & how long are you here for? Thanks for your support :)

Mathfox, a few things:

I used to have anxiety attacks all the time & take a low dose of SSRI daily, along with coping mechanisms which I have become very good at, being able to basically stop a panic attack in its track. So I am alright at that!

What are "permit" drugs? :confused:


The thing with the Los Angeles to Sydney flight leg is that it's 14.5 hours...over water. So there's no way for the plane to land anywhere 'if' anything happened to anyone. So that makes it far more 'trappy'. When I'm flying over land I feel okay because it feels like you can land to get to a hospital or whatever.

Unfortunately I am flying in 2 days! Hehe. So I don't have much time to go through the information, but I'm pretty sure I know most of it anyway as I've done extensive research myself.

I find the Fear of Flying online course (one with the videos & friendly guy) very helpful with the physics of flying etc.

However the physics of takeoff still worries me.

I also wonder with the Xanax, if you take one before your flight, wouldn't you be feeling weird with it wearing off?

So I just keep taking it every 4-5 hours usually.

Sorry for the more questions! Thanks so much :]

[AZ_to_AU]

So there's no way for the plane to land anywhere 'if' anything happened to anyone.
I believe this is false information. Not sure where you got that from but from my understanding, planes fly closer to the coast then what you think. There are places to land if a really huge emergency were to happen. Otherwise, like Mathfox says, the crew are well trained and equipped to handle emergency situations. Mouth to mouth, and they even carry those difrulators (sp?) and are trained to use those as well.

As for drugs, I don't take any except motion sickness (dramamine) so I can't help with how those work.

My trek to Aus from L.A. - it was long and I sorta panicked thinking it was over water but the main thing I was concerned about once we reached cruising altitude was... "what the heck am I gonna do for 13 hours?" What I was most worried about wasn't even an issue anymore, it was my boredom. So I chose to try and sleep.

I'm in AU for the long haul of trying to become a resident. I've been here now for 3 months with my partner. Just left the country to New Zealand to reset my visa. Long story really... but hopefully by Jan. of 09 I'll have my Interdependant Visa in progress and then I can start working.

Good luck with your flight! you'll be fine if you can fight off the nasty "what-if's".

[MathFox]

Mathfox, a few things:
What are "permit" drugs? :confused:

Some drugs (morphine) are "regulated substances" that would be illegal to posses without permit.

The thing with the Los Angeles to Sydney flight leg is that it's 14.5 hours...over water. So there's no way for the plane to land anywhere 'if' anything happened to anyone. So that makes it far more 'trappy'. When I'm flying over land I feel okay because it feels like you can land to get to a hospital or whatever.

You are never more than 3 hours away from an airfield and 80% of the flight is within an hour of an airfield. There are dozens of (mostly military) bases in the pacific where airliners can land in an emergency. Here is a map of your route with 1 and 2 hour circles around those airfields:
http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=LAX-SYD%0D%0A&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=red&PATH-UNITS=mi&PATH-MINIMUM=&SPEED-GROUND=&SPEED-UNITS=kts&RANGE-STYLE=best&RANGE-COLOR=navy&MAP-STYLE=&ETOPS=60&ETOPS=120

[AZ_to_AU]

Ahhh thank you Mathfox! I knew I had read/heard that somewhere before.

[babycat]

Wow that map is pretty amazing and does decrease my fear quite a bit thank you!

I was always under the impression that it was basically an impossibility for the plane to land on land across this route... but it looks like there are some form of options at least.

Thanks so much! The general tips & tricks are really good too like not eating badly a few days before & all the other tips:)

I think I will still have to take a Xanaxs but I do feel a bit better now.

[AZ_to_AU]

You're best bet Babycat, is to absorb yourself with stuff to do while on the plane. The flight back is at night, right? So what's there to do but basically sleep. The cabin lights will be dimmed after they serve the meals and then that's when you need to start occupying your mind. Read, watch some inflight movies, do some puzzles, listen to music... or just try to get comfy as best you can and sleep. Sleeping is the best as it makes the time go by much faster.

Are you flying Qantas?

I think you'll be just fine. Take some deep breaths, relax and enjoy the trip!

[Getb0rn]

Babycat! I just got back from like the same trip!!!

I am a Perth girl too!! I went Perth - SIngapore - Hong Kong - San Francisco then went Oakland to LA and back and then back home again.

I also cried my eyes out at Perth airport when I was leaving.

Who are you flying? I flew Singapore Airlines because I wnated to stop in Singapore. I presume QANTAS because you're going through Sydney.

I flew with Valium as well because my fear was totally consuming, I flew with two tablets going from Perth and then 1 home and none on the last leg and none from OAK to LA and back.

I thought it was going to be a huge long journey of feeling 'trapped' but once we were up I felt relaxed. As soon as the seat belt sign is off I put my Ipod on with meditation music this helped me get into a settled position, then I watched movies and got excited about food coming... I watched a movie and even slept.

Make sure you make yourslef a goody bag, I had scratchies, word search, mags, a good book amoung other things, every time I felt my mind wander or get anxious Ipulled something out and started doing them. Sodoku is awesome, do that it takes forever!! Distractions make the time go much faster.

Are you flying by yourself this time or with your boyfriend again?

Where abouts in Perth are you from? Are you studying? When do you come home? I will track you if you want?

You sound like me, I don't like take off but am ok when I am up, I am fine with turbulance unless it's really bad, thunderstorms kinda scare me, I have history of panic disorder too and when I get paniky on flights I put my head in my boyfriends lap until I feel better! I am 20 year old female!!


Hope this gets to you before you leave......!! Sending you hugs and support.

[babycat]

You're best bet Babycat, is to absorb yourself with stuff to do while on the plane. The flight back is at night, right? So what's there to do but basically sleep. The cabin lights will be dimmed after they serve the meals and then that's when you need to start occupying your mind. Read, watch some inflight movies, do some puzzles, listen to music... or just try to get comfy as best you can and sleep. Sleeping is the best as it makes the time go by much faster.

Are you flying Qantas?

I think you'll be just fine. Take some deep breaths, relax and enjoy the trip!

AZ_AU:) I am going to pop by Borders Today & hopefully pick up some reading material! On the way over I brought a mini book on Relaxtion & a big workbook on panic attacks but I didn't use either & they just heavied up my bag!

I usually feel too tense to listen to music / read though... I feel like I need to be vigilant in some way & it's very hard to let go.

My bf just pops his headphones on then gets annoyed at me when i'm like OMG WHAT WAS -THAT-? cos i keep disturbing him! He is very good with me though with flying in general.

Yes I am flying QANTAS!

[babycat]

I thought it was going to be a huge long journey of feeling 'trapped' but once we were up I felt relaxed. As soon as the seat belt sign is off I put my Ipod on with meditation music this helped me get into a settled position, then I watched movies and got excited about food coming... I watched a movie and even slept.

Thats a good thing for me to hear! Whats your main fear about flying?

I'm usually much better once in the air too...just the longness of the flight makes me very stressed!

Make sure you make yourslef a goody bag, I had scratchies, word search, mags, a good book amoung other things, every time I felt my mind wander or get anxious Ipulled something out and started doing them. Sodoku is awesome, do that it takes forever!! Distractions make the time go much faster.

This is good too & I def. did this! I brought a small relaxation book, snacks, iPod, book to write in etc.

Are you flying by yourself this time or with your boyfriend again?

My boyfriend will be there to help, he is very blaze about flying. He WANTS to be in a plane crash though because he thinks he will survive...!!! LOL. what ever. He just listens to music, reads and sleeps. The only thing he worries about are whether we are sitting next to: loud/annoying people, babies, or people who want to talk a lot!!!!!!

I am more than happy to talk to strangers but he just wants to zone out, so on the way over we swapped as we were sitting next to this guy who was being deported from Australia who was going to meet his internet lover in california and listened to the song "Pink - Leave me alone, i'm lonely" about 40 times and kept talking to me about it...!

Also as he being deported he wasn't allowed any alcohol and he kept yelling at hosties!!!!!!! Not the ideal companion..but it did keep my mind off my own fears!


Where abouts in Perth are you from? Are you studying? When do you come home? I will track you if you want?

I'm from SoR Perth, not studying - I usually work in the arts/entertainment/music field in some capacity. My flight is QF108 leaving on the 20th July (LA time) from LA. Do you need any more info?

That would be so sweet if you tracked it, it might be at a bad time for you though!!!

I get home at 330pmish Perth time on the 22nd July after a 2nd Qantas flight from Syd.

have history of panic disorder too and when I get paniky on flights I put my head in my boyfriends lap until I feel better! I am 20 year old female!!

Yeah PD is horrible isn't it. I've been dealing with it for years now on and off. At one point I couldn't leave the house, now I'm 99% fine but still feel a little apprehensive being driven by other people/situations im not in control/no help available eg. flying!


THANKS FOR YOUR HELP :)

I may seem like I'm not as worried as some others, but my physiology really kicks in when I board the plane & heart palpitations come in waves, then I start freaking out that I'm going to die from panic. (even though I know it doesn't happen, i still worry in extreme instances)

This is why I need the Xanax I think!

[babycat]

I would be grateful if anyone could help me with some niggling doubts I'm having!

In regards to Xanax/medication, I am worried that taking the 0.25mg wont be enough & that I will still feel the complete dread & anxiety anyway & not be able to do anything about it.

In addition to this, I worry that if I took another one something bad might happen to me, or again - what if that didn't work!?

I have no reason to think this would be the case but am worried all the same :(

How much Xanax is too much, I don't want to accidentally overdose on the plane!

Also does anyone know if drinking a lot of water thins the blood? They say to drink a lot to help prevent DVT, I am wondering if this is because it thins the blood or because you have to get up to go to the toilet.

I'm sure I will be drinking a lot of water anyway...but would like to know.

ONE MORE THING! Does anyone know if planes have herbal tea on board or if I am allowed to bring some with me?

xox thanks guys :)

[AZ_to_AU]

I don't think water will thin out your blood but it will help with dehydration.

I can't help with the xanax thing, I only take dramamine, but dramamine has it's own sedative/relaxing "thing" in the ingredients and it makes me feel just fine! LOL! Also makes me sleepy which is a good thing.

Yes, from what I remember, they serve Tea. My gf is a Tea drinker and I recall her having Tea during our 13 hour flight. Although Herbal?? Not quite sure. I think it's just black Tea or Earl Gray. Dunno if they'll allow the Herbal tea on board. Someone else may have that answer for you.

[Getb0rn]

I don't know if QANTAS do alot of tracking, but I'll find out for you! Also can I have you QF number out of SYD?

I was petrified of being stuck in a plane for that long, more than anything else because I have flown before. BUt once I was up and chit chatting with my boyfriend and being excited about everything I felt ok.

How about you try going to sleep on him and thiking " If anything goes wrong he'd let me know". Your passing your worry on, I did this and it worked alot.

I took 3 .25mg of Valium within 8 hours and my doctors said that would be the max. It does work believe me, I didn't think it was working until I did a flight without it! I don't know what Xanx is like though but I presume the same type of thing...

I am SoR too, up in the hills Mundaring way! You'll fly right over me!!! I'll wave, what plane are you flying in? I presume 767 so I'll look out for you!:wave:

I can not believe how similar to me you sound... I hate panic disorder I always get really bad around exam times, I am studying at Uni atm. I am so much better but yeah flying still makes me nervous. I have a complete fear of not having control. I know I am a perfectionist I want to know the Piolts are too!

I also drank tea I took it on my flight and thats fine, just put the tea bag in your cup and when they come around for tea or coffee ask for some hot water for your tea! I got cammomile tea because it makes me sleeeeepy, in WA you can get this awesome tea called be sleepy, completely knocks you out seriously, when your back home find some and keep it for flying.

If you are a fit 23 year old girls and you get up anddo your strechs you won't get DVT believe me! I got swelling when I landed in Singapore and I thought, "Oh No DVT!" Guess what, it was just water retntion because I had been on my feet so much on my holiday and the rest on the plane made my calves retain water. Just wiggle your toes, strech your legs, when you get up to go to the loo do a few streches and walk a bit before you sit down.

My boyfriend loves flying he's always flown and I just draw from his conifdence that everything will be fine. As your boyfriend to stroke your head or something this helped me calm down. If you have movies on demand pick one you both like and start watching it at the same time for fun!

I calculate my flying time by number of movies I can watch so my 13 hour leg meant I could watch about 4 movies, non stop. But with loo breaks and food breaks I ended up watching 2! And we were landing before I knew it.

You can do this, I know exactly how scared you are, but deep breaths, once your up listen to a few mins of relaxing music and do deep breathing to help you settle then get into sleep if you feel you can or else distract yourself.

Hope this helps!

[Dachiri]

I recently did a trip to Asia. 12 1/2 + 2 hours out and 15 + 1.5 hours back (two flights each way). On the long flights, I was really concerned before hand that I would end up freaking out the whole flight. Once I was up the biggest thing was that I was BORED! I agree with all those who said to bring lots of distractions! Also, you never fly very far from a place where you can land. The highest-rated planes can only fly 180 minutes from a diversion airfield (someone correct me if I am wrong, but I believe 180 is the highest rating). Flight attendants are very well trained in first aid and even more advanced life-saving and medical techniques.

Some advice. Make friends with the flight attendants. If they know you're nervous, they'll bring you extra drinks, chat you up, whatever. They see people like you every day, they know how to make you more comfortable. :) I was lucky on my flight back that there were 3 people I knew flying in the same cabin (1 coworker and 2 people we worked with from private industry), so I had a good reason to get up and take a stroll. But even without a good reason, taking a little stroll around the cabin is stress-relieving. I also have a problem with not being "vigilant" so I do this: I put one ear bud in with some good music on the iPod, and leave the other out (I listened to lots of Michael Buble on my last trip, very mellow). I can still hear the engines working and listen for those emergency instructions I just *know* are coming (the good old "you're flight can't be doomed because MINE is" syndrome), but I also get to relax to the music. I like to do the easy Sudokus, because then I don't get so frustrated with the fact that I just CANNOT concentrate on them (normally I can do the hardest level in under 10 minutes flat, and it really bugs me when I can't do them). I also like to read trashy celebrity gossip mags...I mean, what else am I going to do for 15 hours...it's not like I'm wasting time at the point. :D The most important thing is to EAT and DRINK. Nothing worse than being nervous and hungry. :( I don't know about herbal tea, but they do have hot water for regular tea, so bring some tea bags with your favorite herbal tea with you!

Hope this helps. You'll be fine. The boredom is the worst part. Make sure you give a detailed trip report when you get back! I've never been to the left coast!

[babycat]

I don't know if QANTAS do alot of tracking, but I'll find out for you! Also can I have you QF number out of SYD?

Flight outta sydney is QF577 !

I was petrified of being stuck in a plane for that long, more than anything else because I have flown before. BUt once I was up and chit chatting with my boyfriend and being excited about everything I felt ok.

How about you try going to sleep on him and thiking " If anything goes wrong he'd let me know". Your passing your worry on, I did this and it worked alot.

This is a good idea too! I always feel so much better when someone is holding me telling me it's going to be okay! I really don't think 2 fearful fliers could travel together!


I am SoR too, up in the hills Mundaring way! You'll fly right over me!!! I'll wave, what plane are you flying in? I presume 767 so I'll look out for you!:wave:

It is a 767 on the way back, howd you know that!? :)

in WA you can get this awesome tea called be sleepy, completely knocks you out seriously, when your back home find some and keep it for flying.

I HAVE THIS TEA! We're twins right? I also have the Green Tea one & another one I think. The green tea one is great cos its decaf, so no jittery nerves, plus you get all the goodness of green tea :sunshine:

I got swelling when I landed in Singapore and I thought, "Oh No DVT!" Guess what, it was just water retntion because I had been on my feet so much on my holiday and the rest on the plane made my calves retain water.

Did you go to the doctor to find out? I would have been freaking out!!!

Thanks so much for your help! xox

If anyone wants to read my blog, it has some details of my travels its @ : http://kittentails.wordpress.com

ty xx

[babycat]

Daichiri:

Thanks for your reply :)

You raise some very good points. Never thought about listening to music with just one ear either haha! Very nice.

I usually talk to the flight attendents if I'm feeling edgy and they make me feel better by being very unfussed about the whole ordeal which is great.

I bought 2 magazines & have a book + ipod so i should be fine *fingers crossed*

[Getb0rn]

QUOTE]I HAVE THIS TEA! We're twins right?[[/QUOTE] I am thinking so, we sound so similar, what are the chances?

767 is the trademark plane of QANTAS. They only fly jumbos in and out of Perth at midnight or noon, I don't know why. All other flights are in 767. I don't think they have in flight entertainment so take lots and lots of goodies, in Sydney airport see if you can find a news agent that sells lotto tickets and get some crossword scratchies!

When I flew home in a 767 from Sydney I was on the Cityflyer (all business people type thing) and they put on Kylies Greatest Hits!! Haha how stupid... But I got free booze!

I went to the doctor and I WAS FREAKING! I was like a million miles away from my Mum and I didnt know what to do. lucky my bf is so calm I went to the doctor it was just fluid retention because I had been walking around so much and also the humidity in Singapore.

I love talking to the flight attendents, we had a bumpy take off out of Hong Kong there were T Storms about and I was in the exit row opposite the flight attendents and they totally distracted me when they saw I was frightened! They so rock.

My boyfriend only worries about who we are going to be sitting next to as well... haha!

Good luck darling you'll be home in little ol' Perth before you know it. Do you miss Perth? I so did I couldn't wait to see Aussies and our tiny airport! Although I must admit Americans are a h00t! (hehe you guys rock)

[babycat]

Thanks getb0rn!

My flight is tonight and we are leaving for the airport in about 4 and a half hours.

I am FREAKIN OUT. I feel quite anxious already and know that when the plane starts taking off my heart will be racing and into panic attack mode :(

Xanax time :(

[AZ_to_AU]

Deep Breaths!!! You'll be fine! It's just the AA kicking in, ignore it as best you can and tell it to BACK OFF!

You'll be fine! Rest easy, occupy your mind! we'll be waiting for you to get back!!

Have a great trip!! :thumbsup:

[babycat]

Going to the airport in 10 minutes. REALLY anxious! Please think of me... :) xx

[AZ_to_AU]

:wave:
Have a great trip! I'm thinkin aboutcha!

[Getb0rn]

THINKING OF YOU! And I am sure your up there all fine now, watching a movie even having a snooze!

Well done babe, because you are doing it!

[Getb0rn]

YOU ARRIVED!!! I SAW YOUR PLANE! - Sorry for a delayed write up.

I did well I presume it was you a QANTAS 767 coming in from Syd/Melb route! Around 3:30pm-ish I think it was a bit before...

QANTAS don't do online tracking, I don't know why would have made it easier to determin when exactly your flight flew over my head....

[NalanYilmaz]

HUGE HUGS TO YOU


congrats!!!

:hug:

[babycat]

hi everyone! thanks for the well wishes

i have indeed made it...dealing with the jet lags currently!

our flight from LA-SYD was meant to leave at midnight, didn't leave til 5am!!!

i was crying about an hour and a half before we had to take off, then i took my 0.25 xanax & it took about an hour to work and then i was quite happy with the whole thing...haha.

i counted to 150 during take off and didn't panic.
could not sleep on the flight though, maybe slept for an hour.

only had to take one more xanax on that flight!!! which was about 3 less than on the way over...

when we got to sydney we had missed our flight so were delayed another 7 hours!

so getborn i was not on that plane you saw unfortunately :(

but i was on one that landed at about 10:40pm in perth.

i was very unhappy about getting on that plane too, i had been awake for over 40 hours at that point (!!!) & didn't want to take the drug because i was very worried that my exhaustion+lack of sleep would result in something bad happening...

i was crying again so i had to take it. i counted again for take off and ended up being okay. playing games with my bf on the screens on the plane.

the plane was very full as everyone was coming back from seeing the Pope in sydney!

got in and everyone told me how bad i looked from sleep deprivation, thanks parents!

It's going to take a few days to feel normal again, i'm so tired still but can't sleep as I keep having bad dreams.

thank you all so much for your support :) i am going to see a psychologist soon to help me with my fears & hopefully that will pave the way to a drug free future...

xoxox

[MathFox]

You made it home safely :grouphug: pity about the delays, that will only have added to your tiredness.

I know I feel much better at the end of a long flight when I've had some sleep... unfortunately I am one of the people that has trouble sleeping in planes :(. Gives rise to that "I can see it is evening, but what day" feeling when I landed in Sydney for the first time.

[Getb0rn]

so getborn i was not on that plane you saw unfortunately :(

but i was on one that landed at about 10:40pm in perth.

I watched though, I wish I knew you had been delayed... Bit congrats on making it, it wasn't so bad was it? Did you watch lotsa movies? Did you get nervous on the flight? If so how did you cope? I am proud of you! Did you get to drink your tea?

I bet your happy to be home, I know jet lagged killed me. When I arrive in San Fran I kept thinking I arrived on the day I left but I flew for 20hours and had 10horus in transit.... how is this possible!!! It made me a bit ick for a few days.

(Even though I shouldn't say it I bet your happy your home before the thing with QANTAS happened)