I'm back!

Yes it's true I'm back in board,

Everything looked good upon my first squizz, when I arrived back on board late afternoon of the 6th.

It wasn't  too bad a trip back .
Flew from the Gold Coast, as it was still considerably cheaper, than flying from Brisbane, inclusive of the hotel and if I hadn't been driven down by my darling sister , the bus fare I would have needed to get there.

So having left home about 0900 on Monday morning, driven to the Gold Coast and checked into the hotel the afternoon was mine,
The reason in the  end I asked Jo to dive me down,  was due to the difficulty I was having in getting a concise answer to a query that I had, about lithium batteries- carriage thereof.
Everything I had read indicated that it was possible to carry them, as long as they were not  checked in as hold baggage. I had seven with me, of various sizes for different things. Radios, the drone , a man overboard device and an electronic flare. The last two being gadgets I had picked up at the boat show the previous week.
So having emailed  my Asian based discount airline, I eventually, after several automated responses, received something along the lines of, medical equipment could be carried as long as it wasn't in the baggage hold, unless it was a wheel chair with a battery which would need more information supplied........As at no time had I mentioned that my request was about an electronic wheel chair and I had specifically listed out the sizes and use for each battery,  I gave up. Then dreamt up the cunning plan, that if I was driven down, we could go to the airport , I would be able to ask the question and get a specific answer. If there was a problem , Jo would be able to take the batteries home.
That very  morning it had occurred to Jo, that unlike Brisbane International , the chances of anyone being at the airport unless at flight time was highly unlikely, so  in the end we scrapped the idea of going to the airport and I would just take my chances, so she just drove me down anyway.

Next morning , checked in no problems and yes no problems with the batteries at all, as long as they are not checked in.
Managed to leave my laptop at the first of the X-ray machines and didn't realise until I had passed through the second screening for the International flight, including a full body scan - lucky me,  passed through Immigration and was  in the "sterile" departure lounge. So back out , confusing everyone ,but I was escorted out by a customs agent, who then disappeared and that meant I had to explain my way back in to the sterile area........
Went to do a claim back on gst for goods that were leaving the country with me, failed on one count, due to not having original receipt - photocopies won't cut the mustard, folks.

Had a coffee,  and it was boarding time. Things were looking up as I sat and waited for my seating companions ,finally  when the door closed , yes, I had scored all three seats to myself .WINNER.

 Having been told by  Jo that the flights were cold and as it was only  11 degrees that morning,   I had arrived with several layers , shirt, windcheater and sleeveless fleece. Needed all  of it and a woolly beanie wouldn't have  gone astray either!
Stepped out into 30 degree  and probably 85% humidity.
Sashidse my friendly previously arranged driver , once again  delivered me safely  down on board within an hour of jumping into his car,
There waiting, exactly as I had left her was K'Gari. Hopped on board and the first task was to check the seawater filter on the airconditioner and start  it up.......