Swimming Pretty in the Glass-Half-Full 2012: Day 359

A relatively relaxed start to the day with toast for breakfast with Ric and Carolyn then off to Steve's mum and dad for another visit. We took all our suitcases etc so we could straight from there to the airport for our 6.30pm flight.

His mum served us pizza for lunch followed some more of her delicious White Christmas and her "faces" and the about 2pm in popped Steve's brother Brian, with Lucy, Stella and Hugo. We had a brilliant time talking and then Carolyn drove us to the airport for what I thought would be a chaotic airport scene. But the lines were bare, and we walked straight up to a check in agent with tons of time to relax at the gate.

They put all the people who were travelling via Canberra to the Gold Coast in a few rows (4-6) and we got great service on both flights. The flight attendant near us was a caring, fun gay guy who got us free small bottles of wine and a spinach/ricotta muffin that was tasty if a little dry.

Fortunately we didn't end up sitting in the same row as this chatty woman who sat near us at Melbourne airport. She was friendly in one way but quite negative and glad we didn't have to talk to her on the flight.

We saw this interesting cloud formation on the approach to Canberra where the plane was flying above the clouds to avoid storms near the airport.

On the second flight we were given full meals - couscous-based gourmet salad, a Lindt chocolate ball and a snack - and a juice, and white deluxe headphones that usually went to business class. The flight attendant was fun and flirty - we joked about repeating an unnecessary checkin procedure on the way back onto the flight which was the same plane exactly - and looked after us really well.

Shayne collected us at the airport, got us home in record time, and after saying he and Helen would see us in the morning, we went to the apartment they use as their office, switched on Carols by Candlelight ( we were there 2 years ago!) and wrapped presents so we wouldn't have to rush in the morning. We watched the Carols right to the end - how big were Marina Prior's new plump lips!! - and then crashed after a fun but long and tiring day.