Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

Like any good movie series (Back to the future, The Matrix, Beethoven, etc) , this blog is now a trilogy. Since my last post the following has happened:

1) We flew to Hong Kong

2) We visited and stayed at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

3) We flew to Sydney

4) We flew to Canberra

5) I have completed my arrivals at BDLS

6) I have attempted to catch up with some sleep

So taking these in order, the following happened – flight to HK was painless apart from the kids not really sleeping and leaving a piece of hand luggage on the aircraft. It was quite important as it contained all of Lisa’s medical/pregnancy notes, fit to fly certificates and a netbook.  Fortunately the concierge at Disney squared me away and I managed to retrieve it the next day. This meant that I got to use the HK public transport system which was superbly efficient. I also took a picture of a high-rise which should hopefully be attached to this post so that John Moran can get involved with the blog! I am undertaking this journey for a learning experience after all!

Disneyland HK was very clean, hotel was brilliant and the staff were good. Thoroughly recommend a visit to all. Didn’t go into the park as we were all knackered and would not have got vfm but enjoyed the resort as a whole.

Next flight was an overnighter again to Sydney which was alright although Virgin were late again. Thats 4 out of 4 times I’ve flown with them now and every flight has been late and they’ve run out of food on board. Will not be flying with them again if at all possible. The late arrival meant that we were hard pushed to get our domestic flight to Canberra. After some minor begging / gentle persuasion with the ground staff they took pity on a stressed englishman carrying 6 pieces of hand luggage and his pregnant wife / 2 toddlers and fast tracked us through security, baggage reclaim, customs and checking back in with Qantas. Net result…made the flight by the skin of our teeth! We owe a great deal to a very kind girl who helped us through the airport and pushed one of our 3 baggage trolleys the 1.5km of transit between terminals.

Our Qantas flight was superb. For starters the kids were given a pack to play with on board (virgin premium economy couldn’t manage it on a long haul flight!) and the staff were friendly/helpful. I’m hoping for the same again tomorrow.

After checking into our next hotel I visited BDLS and came away with not a great deal if I’m honest. I think that’s all I’ll say on the matter. Good admin prior to departure from the UK negates a lot of what happened whilst there.

So what now… Well I got back to the hotel at 5pm and collapsed. I woke at 10pm and thought I’d best notify the UK of my arrival (done) and seeing as I’m awake and there’s free wireless in the room I decided to post this blog. I am now going to do some more of the same to try and get rid of the jet lag so that we can maybe enjoy the week. I’ve promised the kids that I’ll take them to see Australia Zoo this week (mostly because Steve Irwin was mega and I want to see what he did there for myself) and if I can convince Lisa to let me play I might attempt to go diving. We may as well fill the time with some nice activities whilst waiting for JHG to find us a house!

Below I’ve added a couple of happy snaps (I hope) which are really for Richard (he asked for a picture of the family at Disney) and John (I know he’ll like the big civil engineering involved).

Time for some sleep now.

The family unit at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort

What type of foundation does this have John?