Image: Austin airport on the way home

 

30.04.13: 150) The day’s dawning,

Misty an’ cool like an English morning

Finished packin’ up,

Now away before the traffic starts backin’ up

Though it ain’t that far, breakfast then drop off my car

Through customs then wait, at the departure gate

For the plane to come in an’ let my journey home begin

 

151) Check in desk didn’t take long, but had a feelin’ something was wrong

Tickets only to Amsterdam, no need for sorrow,

Told to pick the final one up tomorrow

Three hours before the first flight,

Had a feelin’ something still weren’t right

So set out to do some checkin’ didn’t want the journey home wreckin’

Been good so far, don’t want to spoil the ship for a ha’porth o’ tar

A simple task to go and ask

I was glad I did cos’ I found, my suitcase was also only Amsterdam bound

A quick check an’ telephone call ws all it took

I was in luck

At the first desk they’d got it wrong, I’d thought so all along

So to the dock a guy was bound to change the suitcase labels round

That done he came back to show me the old label so I would know

On Delta Airlines I could depend

To be reunited with my suitcase at journeys end

 

152) Relaxin’ not number crunchin’ on homemade brownies I’m munchin’

Sure taste neat, Thom’s wife Wendy made ‘em as a special treat

Look out the window, over America below

One hour left in flight, then we alight

Some for home delights others for second flights

An’ I fly East towards the rising sun

My longest flight an’ I’ll be glad when it’s done

 

153) My composin’ was halted, by coffee, an’ peanuts lightly salted

Time to take a refreshment break

But Oh! what a daft caper I’ve spilt coffee on my writin’ paper

But no drama or issue, I mopped it up with a tissue

So in the main, I’m back writin’ again

 

154) Plane descending first flight ending

Things on the ground become clearer as we get nearer

Getting lower, engine speed slower

Landing gear going down, whirring sound

Now locked for when we touch the ground

Airport in sight, everything right

No sign of the snow from 18 days ago

Still descending, first flight ending

Slight bump we’re on the ground safe an’ sound.

 

155) Concourse G my second flight, flyin’ through the night

To get some sleep would be a delight

Down the runway, full power take off then away

Take off somewhat boring, passenger behind me asleep and snoring

Wish I could do the same in the travellin’ game

But for now I’ll take delight in trackin’ this flight

On the screen all knowin’ showin’ us where we’re goin’

An’ at this moment lettin’ me know, just under 6 hours to go

 

156) Not exactly exciting being on a long flight

Even more so when flying through the night

Looking out of the window, forward or back

Nothing much to see only a sea of black

In flight entertainment can be a waste

If neither film or music is to your taste

Sit and read a book, a romance or something creepy

Anything you can to make yourself sleepy

Relax and try nodding off, but that can be in vain

The plane hits turbulence and you’re awake again

Over the sea of black onwards you go

Do you sit and wonder what’s happening below

Or just sit and think, pleasant thoughts of home.

 

01.05.13: 157) Red sky at morning, over Scotland dawning

Less than an hour left in flight, hope my suitcase is alright

There was a gaff, by a member of staff

But hopefully it’s sorted

Cos’ I don’t want to find, my suitcase left behind

And hopes of getting it thwarted

 

158) Now looking down over village and town

Forrest and heath pass beneath

In the light of the moon journeys end soon

And at the end of the night, my final flight

 

159) Amsterdam in the morning light and to my delight

Suitcase tracked an’ soon it’ll be stored, on the plane that I shall board

Meanwhile I’ll wait at the departure gate

Take the shuttle to the plane, board and once again

Hear the engines roar such a beautiful sound

That simply says “Homeward bound”.

 

160)  At Leeds I’m delighted, my suitcase an’ me reunited

No time for debatin’ taxi driver’s waitin’

To get me home at the end of my roam

An’ one things clear, I hope to do it again next year.