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Hello & Goodbye

Arrived home after a 5 hour delay at Stansted Airport feeling exhausted but with U2 still running through my head. Checked-in at the airport 1.5 hours before the flight, only to discover:

1. The flight was delayed one hour (they were being optimistic I guess)
2. I was on the same flight as the Kelantanese FA (see prev post, we were on the same flight in!!). They were nice enough though to tell me that I could skip their group check-in queue and go straight to the counter.

One hour delay turned into two hours. Then three. Bad to worse. All we got was one packet of shortbread cookies, a bottle of mineral water and updates every half hour telling us to wait for more updates half an hour later. That makes about nine updates in 4.5 hours. Due to a technical problem, they had to replace a part which luckily they had in Stansted. AirAsia X works in mysterious ways. I could've gone out for a few smokes in those 5 hours waiting like a waiting idiot. I could've had a few more pints with the fellers in Soho. Ah well..

Dawn at Stansted Airport

Gonna try to claim for my RM130 cab ride home and for "physical duress and emotional distress" from my AMEX travel insurance. Oh no, I'm an emo!

Look at the time! - our new clock at home

A tiring end to a magnificent trip. It was great meeting up with family and old friends. Circumambulating the Emirates. Almost missing the train back to London - thanks Uncle Eddy! Seeing bits of London, Westbury, Paris and Cardiff - the lovely and not so lovely bits - but no real bits, unfortunately despite the best efforts of good people of Pigalle. Getting picked up by Mohamed by the canal (Je suis sex?? - gladly passed up this opportunity to see more bits).

Not to forget fantabulous travelling companions and friends who helped us get tickets, get us into the (surprisingly tame) mosh pit, buy more U2 t-shirts, clear out our camera's memory cards (and charge the camera after we lost our adapter), brought us around london & paris, made us toast and tea upon arrival, spent us good bangla food etc etc. Many good memories I'll never leave behind.

And of course, U2. I almost cried during this song. Almost!

Wish I could stay on with the rest of the gang. Have a good, safe trip you guys.

Au revoir U2. I flew (and bused) 7,000 miles only to be with you. And I wasn't disappointed.

"Sleep

Sleep tonight

And may your dreams

Be realized

If the thundercloud

Passes rain

So let it rain

Rain down on me

Mmm...mmm...mmm...

So let it be"