Donald's Vacation 2011 - Day 22

I awoke from a very nice sleep at about 10.00aqm Los Angeles time (about 2.00am Melbourne time) and did my ablutions before anyone else had decided to arise. I then plugged my laptop into the electric socket on the chair – yes they have mains electric on the aeroplane! – and got on to writing away. One thing I must say about this aeroplane is how much quieter it is. Whilst you can still hear the noise of the engines it is much more muffled and sounds more like gas rushing through a pipe.

I had quite a long sleep and then woke up and watched a picture called "Paul" about a wise-cracking alien. before dozing off again before breakfast.

We had given our breakfast orders in the night before, so what was put in front of me didn't represent what I ordered. I had wanted plain fruit, muesli with yogurt and then toast and jam with tea. Instead I got fruit and yogurt, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs and black coffee. Obviously all the orders got mixed up - anyway I didn't say anything and just ate what was put in front of me - however I did ask that the coffee be replaced with tea.

Eventually we landed and the whole experience of going through immigration, quarantine and customs was all over in a breeze, the whole undertaken carried on with professionalism, courtesy and efficiency. Full marks Australia!

I tried to ring the Ballarat shuttle service, but there was no one answering - just a message service. I did though find out that there wasn't a service between 9.40am (the time at the moment) and 12.15pm when I was booked to leave - so I would have to wait!

I managed to fill in the time wandering around, changing my money, observing the many types of traveller and official and having a cup of coffee and a bun.

The Ballarat Shuttle was not the usual little van but a huge bus. When I got on I found that all the single people had occupied the two seats by placing themselves on one and a bag on the one next to them. The typical unfriendly and unhelpful gesture undertaken by ignorant Australians whilst travelling on public transport. I asked one woman if she would mind removing her bag, which she grumpily did and I could sit down.

Of course we then had to wait for late-comers who boarded the bus without any word of apology for keeping us all waiting. Another time when John Cleese would have been helpful. "I suppose you know we've all been waiting for you?" "All these people managed to get on the bus on time!"

We eventually left and stopped only at Bacchus Marsh arriving in Ballarat at 2.00pm to a cloudy sky, spitting rain and a temperature of about 10 degrees. A bit of a contrast.

I picked up the car and drove to the kennels where a very happy Bart was very pleased to see me.

I drove home and Bart seemed to find himself in his old ways again very quickly. It's good to be home - to be in familiar surroundings and above all - to be away from the hurly burly and crowds of people. It's nice to be alone again in peaceful surroundings. After about ten minutes it didn't feel as though I had been away at all...