Sunday, February 26, 2006
I'll be back in Brisbane soon!
Just had my annual leave approved! I'll be in Brisbane from April 11 to 16, Caloundra from the 17th to 19th, and Geelong from the 20th to the 25th.... more details to come :)
Glasgow, cowboys and tennis.....
Hello everyone!
Just arrived back from Glasgow where I had my second trip as operating cabin crew. The flight was only half full which makes life easier for everyone (mainly us crew - less meals, less drinks, less chance of someone collapsing and needing CPR!) Gave me a chance to get a bit more familiar with all the procedures and locations of emergency equipment etc. It all went very well I have to say and the other cabin crew were very friendly and helpful. When we got to Glasgow it was freezing cold - like Geelong on a really bad day! (about 5 degrees and no sun) Went to see the movie Brokeback Mountain as it has been banned in Dubai and I really wanted to see it...didn't disappoint at all! Then I met up with 2 Aussie girls and 2 Spanish guys and we went to dinner and drinks at a traditional Scottish pub - Bangers and Mash! Pork is also impossible to find in Dubai so sausage and bacon is a very welcome treat when you have a layover in another country!
I lent my camera to my flatmate Franck so I can't upload any pictures til he gets back from Casablanca on Tuesday but will put them up then. I went to the Dubai tennis Championships last week - all the top players were there. Below is a picture of me and my friends here - Chantal (on the left) and former world number 2, Marat Safin :)
My roster for March comes out today so I will post it ASAP so you can know where I am :)
Just arrived back from Glasgow where I had my second trip as operating cabin crew. The flight was only half full which makes life easier for everyone (mainly us crew - less meals, less drinks, less chance of someone collapsing and needing CPR!) Gave me a chance to get a bit more familiar with all the procedures and locations of emergency equipment etc. It all went very well I have to say and the other cabin crew were very friendly and helpful. When we got to Glasgow it was freezing cold - like Geelong on a really bad day! (about 5 degrees and no sun) Went to see the movie Brokeback Mountain as it has been banned in Dubai and I really wanted to see it...didn't disappoint at all! Then I met up with 2 Aussie girls and 2 Spanish guys and we went to dinner and drinks at a traditional Scottish pub - Bangers and Mash! Pork is also impossible to find in Dubai so sausage and bacon is a very welcome treat when you have a layover in another country!
I lent my camera to my flatmate Franck so I can't upload any pictures til he gets back from Casablanca on Tuesday but will put them up then. I went to the Dubai tennis Championships last week - all the top players were there. Below is a picture of me and my friends here - Chantal (on the left) and former world number 2, Marat Safin :)
My roster for March comes out today so I will post it ASAP so you can know where I am :)
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
In my uniform
An earlier picture from when I was in training college.... My friends Patrick (Irish), Nicole (South Australian) and me.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
When in Rome....
Hi again,
On Saturday morning I was placed on airport standby which means I had to be at the Emirates Crew Briefing Centre between the fairly hideous hours of 6 and 9am, with all my bags packed. Basically they can send you anywhere if someone calls in sick or just fails to show up. This can range from a short trip to Doha or Kuwait, or an 8 day trip to Brisbane and Auckland.... the uncertainty is kind of exciting, but in a way you also just want to go back home to bed! To cut a long story short I was called to Rome, much to the jealousy of the other crew also on standby!
In short, it was amazing! 24 hours in an amazing city. We stayed at the Rome Hilton, and I caught a bus with the other crew into the main part of the city. We spent 4 and a half hours walking the streets of this beautiful city - the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, the Soldier momunent (the name of which I never fully remember), pizza, gelato.... a perfect experience! I hope the pictures I attach give you a good idea! On Sunday morning we travelled as passengers in business class on an empty flight to Nice in southern France, picked up a full flight, and then via Rome again, headed home to Dubai.
The job itself is very tiring and demanding. When fully loaded in a 2-class format (business and economy) the Boeing 777-300 has room for 385 economy passegers and yesterday the flight was full! Thats a lot of meals, wines, pepsis, coffees, and eye shades!
At this stage my next flight is to Glasgow, Scotland on Friday. Will keep you posted!
On Saturday morning I was placed on airport standby which means I had to be at the Emirates Crew Briefing Centre between the fairly hideous hours of 6 and 9am, with all my bags packed. Basically they can send you anywhere if someone calls in sick or just fails to show up. This can range from a short trip to Doha or Kuwait, or an 8 day trip to Brisbane and Auckland.... the uncertainty is kind of exciting, but in a way you also just want to go back home to bed! To cut a long story short I was called to Rome, much to the jealousy of the other crew also on standby!
In short, it was amazing! 24 hours in an amazing city. We stayed at the Rome Hilton, and I caught a bus with the other crew into the main part of the city. We spent 4 and a half hours walking the streets of this beautiful city - the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum, the Soldier momunent (the name of which I never fully remember), pizza, gelato.... a perfect experience! I hope the pictures I attach give you a good idea! On Sunday morning we travelled as passengers in business class on an empty flight to Nice in southern France, picked up a full flight, and then via Rome again, headed home to Dubai.
The job itself is very tiring and demanding. When fully loaded in a 2-class format (business and economy) the Boeing 777-300 has room for 385 economy passegers and yesterday the flight was full! Thats a lot of meals, wines, pepsis, coffees, and eye shades!
At this stage my next flight is to Glasgow, Scotland on Friday. Will keep you posted!
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Off to Iran in a few hours...
Just a short note to let you know I am heading to Tehran in Iran tonight (0115 DXB time) for my second observational flight! There are a few rules specific to this flight. For example, no playing cards are permitted to be handed out on the way TO Tehran, and on both legs of the journey, all alcohol served to the passengers needs to be poured BEFORE we give them the drink and we need to keep the empty bottle rather than throw it away. How I'm going to remember that with the million other things going through my head will be interesting!
My first blog entry! Let's see if there'll be a second...
I'm not at all a fan of blogging. I hate reading the blogs of others, generally deeming them pretentious and self-serving. I also hate the thought of keeping a blog. So much work and effort - I have always struggled to keep the most basic of journals. Sure, I'm always the one to enthusiastically purchase a new diary or notebook, always with the very best intentions in mind, but then it all becomes too hard. After a week or so, the grand plans are over and I begin to think: "There's always next year!"
But then yesterday my friend Caio showed me the blog he has kept since moving to Dubai. It's awesome! It has his pictures from all his trips, his roster is there so his friends can see where he is travelling to, and it has his comments and thoughts as well as postings from his friends. I mean sure, it's all about him, but that seems to mean a lot to his family and friends who miss him!
So putting all this into consideration, I too have decided to go down this aforementioned 'pretentious' and 'self-serving' path. Please don't hate me for it, you know how much I hate the attention on me (cue uproarious laughter from the masses) but this way my Dubai/Emirates experience will be documented for all to see. You can also all hold me accountable if I ever miss an entry or let it slip behind!
Never having done this before, it will be fun to see how it all actually works, but I'm looking forward to making my inaugural blog a success. I hope you enjoy reading it from time to time (or if it's too boring, just looking at the pictures!)
Until next time,
Daniel, in DXB
But then yesterday my friend Caio showed me the blog he has kept since moving to Dubai. It's awesome! It has his pictures from all his trips, his roster is there so his friends can see where he is travelling to, and it has his comments and thoughts as well as postings from his friends. I mean sure, it's all about him, but that seems to mean a lot to his family and friends who miss him!
So putting all this into consideration, I too have decided to go down this aforementioned 'pretentious' and 'self-serving' path. Please don't hate me for it, you know how much I hate the attention on me (cue uproarious laughter from the masses) but this way my Dubai/Emirates experience will be documented for all to see. You can also all hold me accountable if I ever miss an entry or let it slip behind!
Never having done this before, it will be fun to see how it all actually works, but I'm looking forward to making my inaugural blog a success. I hope you enjoy reading it from time to time (or if it's too boring, just looking at the pictures!)
Until next time,
Daniel, in DXB
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