This storm front rolled in the moment I sat down to watch the planes, sip my latte and contemplate life before my very first overseas trip.
"We're not going to fly in THIS are we?"
While Sandra looked for 'Genuine Canadian' gifts...
I began to wonder what it would take for me to transform into that William Shatner character from the Twilight Zone episode Nightmare at 20,000 feet.
Then the downpour rolled right through, almost completely clearing.
Felt like a teen protagonist in a 80's horror or SciFi movie - where no one believes the hero.
Me:"Did you see any of that?"
Sandra:"What?"
Me:"The rain... it REALLY came down."
Sandra:"No."
Me:"Thought it was going to flood the tarmac - it came down so hard!"
Sandra:"Oh..."
Turns out this was not our view screen...
2 choices for in flight meal: Pasta with meat sauce and chicken with rice/veg.
Nom nom nom!
During meal time: Looking down at what little real estate I actually have now, with a tray of tiny little plastic containers and a fold away view screen (not folded away) I'm compelled to snap a pic...
Looks like I'm so busy!
Movie paused 1/2 way through, meal time in full swing and the aisle seat is bustling (traffic, serving carts, etc).
I'm 7 years old all over again and gleeful about the wonderment of food (with dessert) on a airborne jet. It's no wonder I don't embarrass my wife with a riotous laugh out loud (mouth full of pasta, or tiny bun, or tiny chocolate brownie), "Wee hee hee hee! This's awesome!" It does happen... but only in my head.
Sandra and I were seated near the lavatory. So the inevitable question is/was: Who shall precede my bathroom break? The little, slow moving, East Indian woman? PHEW! Nope... Yeow, Grandma, get that checked out!
5-6 people later (not desperate at all - just want to keep from getting desperate). Maybe after the husky gentleman, who looks over his glasses - his head permanently cocked forward.... No - Yeesh.
After meal time, are we actually any lighter? I mean, the plane, not 'us'. Thus helping the plane go faster? (providing more time for Sandra and I in London) Or is the food weight just transferring from plane to passengers?
At some point, during first movie it became night. Unstoppable. You know, with Chris Pine & that nice/handsome black actor who everyone adores?
I'm kidding ...I'm sure I made Mr.Washington smile.
According to my lovely, caramel traveling companion, red wine helps one sleep. Once our dishes, then drinks are cleared, she proves that little bit of trivia. Not sure if she's actually watched even 5 minutes of Red Riding Hood before shes out.
Second movie: Limitless. You know, the one with that nice/handsome white actor.... If you took your 'tiny, little pill' you've already figured out the end of my sentence.
Not going to bother listing movies that filled up the first 8 hours of this journey. Or the movies in the later half, after our stop-over in London.
I had splurged on express train tickets to Paddington from Heathrow. Then a bus would get Sandra and I to Camden. Maybe 30 minutes all together. But it all seemed a bit rushed regardless.
It'll be a wonder if any of my shots from atop the double decker are in focus. Shooting this way and that, sitting at the front of the bus, weaving through traffic, hair's width from other cars, obstacles and pedestrians. Trying to hold the camera and myself steady. All streets to/from Camden are so narrow! Is it actually busy - or is there just less space for cars, trucks, bikes and people?
Finally arrive in Johannesburg. I'm caught up on movies - but not at all on sleep.
So Sandra and I are almost immediately in bed once we're settle, unpacked, etc at the in-laws house.
I guess I never realized how Portuguese Sandra's parents are. Seeing only just now where someone I've been getting to know for 4 years 'comes from'.
Also now experiencing just how cold this Mediterranean style home gets. Sandra's seemingly exaggerated stories weren't so exaggerated I guess.
Only after 8-10 hours of sleep, I'm restless and watching TV. I'm overseas is beginning to sink in as I peruse the 8 channels. Which all seem to be mutliligual ...or maybe I'm not quite recovered from Jetlag (words just sounding jumbled up, like other languages).
Okay ...turns out this woman I married has very Portugese parents. When at 'home', it was as if we weren't in SA at all, but in Portugal.
The style of the house and it's contents, the parents with thick accents, and the TV channels that often were on (loudly) in the background.
It'd be good to get the 'vacation' part of this vacation started.
I mean, as nice as it was to sit in the sun, in the courtyard with the 3 attention starved dogs. But want to see stuff now.
Ceasar Millan comes to mind watching these little souls dynamic with one another.
Dogs aren't security in Johannesburg, merely noisy deterrents.
Security here is high, giving me a subtle unease as to why.
All homes (in Joberg) are walled, topped with razor wire, various type of pikes/spikes, or with electric wiring. Regardless of high-end or low-end neighbourhood.
At one point while driving back late at night (after father-in-law's 70th Birthday party) I see ma & pa conveince stores. Customers do business through gated/barred doors.
Some places even have the little waist height ledge/shelf in the bars of that barred door. Yep... like in prisons.
The Punks & Goth Braai (or BBQ) at Zoo Lake had a good turnout.
What was great about finally meeting Sandra's friends, was that they all seemed similar to some of the folks I've become friends with over the years (in Calgary).
So as it turns out, I married someone not so different after all.
CCHQ the one alternative nightclub a group planned on meeting up at....
We're driving to the area our evening will be revolving around.
I'm in the backseat, knowing photos are pointless iPhone's crap for night shots - the girls in the front.
Judi(Sandra's long time dear friend): O-okay, I think this is it. It's kind of hard to tell.
Sandra: Ohh, it's so dark.
Judi: Yeah, really. They should have the street lights on - that's so unsafe!
A moment later.
Sandra: Mmm, yeah, wow... it's really dark.
Judi: Oh. Wait... it's... is there a black out? Oh my gawd, it's blacked out? Sandra: O-ohhhh... oh no. m-Maybe it's not in the area we're going?
Sure enough, we pull up to a white faced 1 storie building, with a large metal door. The entire street illuminated by only the headlights, I volunteer to check the door.
Like from a horror movie, my knock on the door is metallic and echoed.
"Nope. Closed. There's no lights inside or anything."
Others arrive and after everyone's shut off cars and gathered by the darkened club, I realize just how dark it is. I give the lighter I have a try, it seems to faintly light up the whole street. Freaky.
It's decided we'll find another place - but Sandra and I have to switch cars. Judi is unable to continue (work in the morning).
It all turned out fine... finding a place (with billard tables) in a area not as dark as a zombie movie set.
Gold Reef City Amusement Park
Heritage Park mashed up with Calaway Park
Nearing the final days of our stay, we've been 'talked into' taking this food processor from a collection of household items Sandra packed away and forgot. Which completely change how much we'd now have to haul around with us as carry-on.
The size of it, knowing exactly how large our apartment is, made me want to pitch it the moment we were out of sight of Sandra's folks.
Wait, was I having one of those 'in-law moments' that one sees/hears in TV shows, movies and stand up comedy routines? Auhhh... barf!
Said one final good bye to the 'outside' dogs.
This wee, timid girl was my favourite.
But the little 'inside dog' was still standoff-ish. Yeow... what a grump. 
The return trip was exhausting.
In fact I fell asleep before take off.
Woke up to what I thought was an hour later and the plane on it's way.
Turns out the plane hadn't even taken off yet!
Obviously I had become ready to return to what was familar.
Though we finally did start to Facebook on the 2nd day, I was now (in our final hours in Johannesburg) missing Starbucks, English-Speaking TV, regular jelly, milk/milk products) ...and our cat.
Many more photos at Chad's Universe
The Comic Strip: TMI 2011 #7
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