There are some destinations I want to visit, to cross off my list, and others I’d like to revisit because I like them, and then there’s also good places to travel to rake up the SC’s earned from flying. To it my conundrum is between a place I like to travel and a place that has a good $/SC value.

For $168 I can fly to MKY (Mackay) via ROK (Rockhampton), and return, earning me 40SC. This gives me a $/SC value of 4.2. Admittedly pretty good for Australia. I don’t know what I’d do in MKY though, and reaps I need to look at some tourist information before making a decision on that.

On the other hand, I have LRE, which despite having visited twice, most recently over Christmas, is starting to become a place I really enjoy. I’m even considering purchasing an annual membership to the Qantas museum, or going as far as a lifetime membership (it’s only $350)! The cost for flights there is $218 and I’d only earn 30SC, giving a $/SC value of 7.26. It’s no where near as good, but I do enjoy the museum.

So I put it to you, my readers, comment and tell me which is the better choice? Or suggest a better choice for me, with flights in QLD. Preferably Qantas. Haha.

Perhaps dyeing my hair green takes me back to better times, though I wouldn’t call most of my teenage years better, and I didn’t have green hair as a child. But whatever the reason is, I needed to do something different.

On Valentines Day I had my hair cut. It was done at Ashmore TAFE, where they have a hairdressing school. That meant it was a little cheaper than it would have been elsewhere, and more things could go wrong, but nothing did go wrong and I am very happy with the result.

Of course, they weren’t part of the dyeing process, they only got me blonde, or white even. I had to them come home and let Sze Sze do the rest.

The first coat was done with a product called Fudge, and to be honest I wasn’t impressed. While the bottle was dark, the result was lime green. I next picked up some Manic Panic at a punk shop called Trash Monkey in Southport and that really did the job.

Fudge Green Envy

Manic Panic Green Envy

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That said, I did have a valentine, and a birthday girl too, Chilli. Today Chilli turned 12, which might be a bit young for me, if she wasn’t also 84! Looking very good for her age, slim with a short coat, though it’s growing back so she’ll be beautifully golden in time for winter I’m sure.

My joint present to her was a jumbo box of Pedigree chews, designed to help keep her teeth in shape, but she just loves scoffing them down.

So, Happy Birthday Chilli!

Last week I found some reasonably priced Qantas flights for around ~$2000 return to LHR (London). There was a sale on, and I’m sure the sale will have ended by now, but might come back. Still, that’s in discount economy and not great value.

I’d also considered flying to SIN (Singapore) or BKK (Bangkok) and taking Finnair onwards to HEL (Helsinki), and then a flight to LHR, but the value of that routing is in business class, not economy.

However last night I stumbled upon something I’m considering booking ASAP. Turns out that if you book a flight with S7 (OneWorld partner) from SYD to DME (Moscow), they use QF5/6 to FRA (Frankfurt), before connecting to S7 onwards. They manage somehow to get the Qantas flight at an unbelievable price. In my brief searching I’ve managed to find discount economy for ~$1000 return and business for ~$4500 return. Meanwhile Qantas prices one-way business on this route to just FRA at ~$4500. Is half price not good? It also earns 640SC return, just over half way to re-qualifying Platinum.

So for a great price I can see family and explore a new city, and a new country. And it seems Tae might want to come exploring with me too. I just hope the fares don’t disappear before I’m ready to make a commitment!

I’d previously seen the other Underworld movies, and even seen a bit of Lost Girl, a sci-fi TV series unrelated to Underworld other than dealing with the supernatural, but from which an actor crossed over for Underworld: Awakening. So he was a semi-familiar character when he appeared.

Overall, I enjoyed the storyline, it’s continuation from where it last left us and the fact it was in 3D also helped bring out some scenes. They also left some room for another sequel, a 5th movie, so I suppose I can look forward to that one day.

Sze Sze kindly bought me a throat spray today, so I can stay away from the Strepsils and not have to worry about the pain in my tooth from chewing for much longer.

I’ve also got red eyes occasionally, another lump has formed under my eyelid and my nose is runny. Oh my back aches as well, but they can’t all be related?

It also wasn’t great timing for the flights, with a storm just off the coast of FNQ shaking the first flight in particular, all over the place as we landed into Cairns. Knowing my next two flights were on Q300′s I was nervous, and so I should have been with a few sudden drops and climbs on the way in on the much smaller prop.

On arrival into Cairns in the morning I met up with Bill, who met me at the airport again but decided to stay and have some drinks with me in the lounge, while waiting for the next flight. The bar wasn’t open, and he drove anyway, so just coffees and snacks. It was nice and quiet, being a weekend.

I don’t think I’ve flown on the Q300′s before, they’re interesting because one half of the front row faces backwards, though those seats appeared blocked to me on both flights, despite no one sitting in them.

On my arrival back into Cairns the second time, I met up with another fellow AFF member, Limewood, who kindly picked me up and offered me a drink at his place. Clearly AFF is full of good people. I got back to the airport with just a little time to spare before boarding.

Finally, sat next to me on the flight home (well, the middle seat was blocked) is none other than Rob, who is ozbeachbabe’s +1 on AFF. At first I wasn’t sure if I was just delirious, but when he eventually woke up he recognised me and said the first hello.

Small world!

Today is Wednesday and I’m in Rockhampton. I flew up here on QF2358 on the trusty Q400. For once, at checkin I was allowed to choose the exit row seat 2C, essentially at the front. I can only explain this as Qantas recognising I’m so close to Platinum, that I’m treated like one, as I’ve never had such luck.

My flight back, QF2369, will give me the chance to finally fly on a Fokker 100. I had been scheduled to fly one mid-last year, but delays forced me onto a Q400 instead. I’m looking forward to the new aircraft (to me), strangely, and was able to select seat 1B. Woo!

Once I get back to Brisbane I’ve got a drive home to contend with. Luckily my alcohol break is going well, though the wine and beer selection in this lounge isn’t too bad, despite it being regional.

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