This morning I woke very early and as soon is it was light outside, swam slow, languid** laps of the airport hotel pool for almost an hour.

mad for the dragon fish

I watched tiny birds the size of insects darting about, nomming nectar from orchids and constructing a nest.

I admired the beautiful garden, orchids grow like weeds here and are all over the place. Apart from the orchids, I have many of these same plants, so maybe I should start to vibe more tropical at home?

I happened to look up at a perfect moment and saw dozens of cranes? geese? ibis? flying in formation overhead. Majestic AF as the kids say.

Yes, it’s a fairly modest pool in an airport hotel that has seen better days, but this pool is absolutely one of my favourite places in the world.

♥

When Qantas deigned to make more frequent flyer flights points flights available as a goodwill exercise after a fair bit of customer backlash. Don, through extreme cleverness, scored us business class flights.

I never ever thought I’d call a flight excellent, but here I am. The flight was excellent. Though of course I realise my assessment is entirely based on my attitude.

Because sure, I could have focussed on the maskless, snoring, coughing dude who has surely given us all covid; or other small, niggling issues. But the space! The comfort! The food! The excellent team! Wonderful.

I’ve had very good economy class flights, and very average business class flights – so excellence isn’t entirely determined by which end of the plane I’m at.

There is definitely a lesson for me here on perspective.

But how glorious and fortunate that I am able to experience this!

15 years ago I had never left the country and barely had left the state. I don’t want to get all hashtag blessed^^ – but who ever would have thought I’d be where I am in my life?

♥

** uncoordinated old-lady breast-stroke lest I give you a misleading impression of me gliding my effortlessly along, elegantly flip-turning.

^^ 🤮