Stranded in Melbourne

Flight to Sydney from Melbourne was to be at 8.30 pm yesterday. After a scalding hot day I was really really tired and wanted to get on the plane and be in a nice soft bed in Sydney by 11.

Huh so not to be :(

See Aussie weather is really freakish. One minute is 40 degrees and then you get flash flooding and storms the next few hours. So the weather god up in Sydney must have thought to have some fun (at our expense) and decided on a storm yesterday night. Which meant that all flights got cancelled. Oh yeah, did I mention that we were flying budget airlines? Which means that if your flight got cancelled - you're screwed. You dont get accommodation or food until the next flight.

So yesterday evening, at about 6pm, we walk to the check in counter carrying all these heavy bags - tired, shoulders aching. And theres this looong queue which we join. Then theres this guy from the airline who starts yelling 'Going to Sydney? Going to Sydney? your flight's been cancelled'

All around me people were going 'huh??WTF?'

There was this Chinese lady behind me and she asks me 'you too going to Sydney?'

'I'm also going there' she says sadly. 'My first time here' She adds. 'Oh' I say. 'I got no one in Melbourne to stay tonight' she shakes her head mournfully.

A blond chick beside me is having a fight on her phone. 'You have to come and get me Jake' she screeches. 'the flight got cancelled what to you expect me to do huh? ..what? well cancel it then and come get me!' she spats.

hmm poor Jake.

What was actually funny was the way everyone kept crowding around the airline guy to complain. He was really polite to everyone though. Tiger airlines should give him a 'kunu banum allowance'. Its not easy confronting an angry mob.

So there we were. Next flight was at 6.55 am next day and it was 8.30pm with no place to stay. And every motel/hotel within walking distance to the airport was fully booked. And I mean EVERY hotel. We even tried Hilton just for a laugh - and would you believe it - even that was full. sheesh.

The next 2 hours is spent on trying to find a roof above our heads for the night. Finally, about 20 minutes drive from the airport, we find a Formula1 motel. Then buy some macs for dinner and blissfully sink into sleep in what has got to be the smallest room I've ever been in. It's about 11.45 when I fall asleep .. and wake up by 4 am to get going to the airport.

Finally, back in Sydney by 9.30 am, so tired and in need of a nice hot shower and dreamless sleep...