Our trip to the airport and flight back was mostly uneventful, it was hard saying good bye to friends. A hard landing in Brisbane though was a surprise, the pilots must be really out of practice with their flying.
A little bit of a mix up where my walker was brought to the gate, I went to the carousel to look for it. As a result, we were the last to leave, and targeted by the rozzers for an entry check. Just as well, I would hate to think the shit and stress we went through getting all of the bullshit entry requirements done, that were basically going to be redundant 2 days later, was not going to be checked. But seriously, they ask you for the paperwork, then when you cannot find it in a timely manner, they say, we can look it up in the system. Why not lead in with that you morons? I mean seriously if you have a system in place that can check my bona fides, effin' use it you dickhead.
So as for musings.
Despite being Melbourne born and bred, it is really hard to get used to the weather every time I go back. We did have sensational weather, only one day of rain. But it still got cold at times, the type of bitter cold we do not have in Brisbane.
I went back to where I grew up, and it has changed too much for me to like it anymore. Not sure I will be back in a hurry.
The food in Melbourne is awesome, it always is, but the prices are a little out of control. I get they are trying to recover money lost in Covid, but you have to offer premium service if you want to charge premium prices. And yes I know staff are hard to come by, but you do your brand a disservice by charging premium prices for lesser quality service.
The accommodation also had issues. Their lack of care and consideration for disabled people was quite telling, very frustrating, and unwillingness to correct the issues frankly disappointing.
Compare that to the airports where I expect nothing, I line up, and the staff fall over themselves to make my way through the airport as pleasant as possible. Qantas excelled themselves, as did the security people at the checkpoints. A pleasant way to end a holiday for this disabled person.
