to go to Australia for the weekend?!

[HufflepuffHarpy]

My best friend (male if relevant) is getting married in the autumn. I'm in the UK (where we both grew up) he now lives in Australia.

I desperately want to go to the wedding.

It will cost £1000 for the flight plus accomodation etc over there which is in no way small money.

I have 4DC so would be asking my parents (very hands on babysitters, have had them for me and DH to go on holiday etc) to have the DC (all under 10) while DH is at work.

I would leave on a thursday AM flight and get back tuesday pm. SO literally fly in for the wedding, the day after and then back home.

Am I being totally crazy to consider this?! (Haven't actually asked DH yet!!)

[ittakes2]

For the jetlag you can get melatonin. You can't buy it over the counter in the UK but you can get it on mail order I think plus if you stopover enroute to Oz in an Asian country you can get it from the chemist in the airport. Its considered a 'vitamin' or something and you don't need a prescription. But you need to google whether you are OK to take it ie from memory you can't take it if you have had certain cancers (like breast cancer) or if you have a sleep disorder like sleep apnea - I never take it when drinking. Melatonin helps you reset your sleep clock.

[Tadpoletofrog]

I’ve got a friend who went to Australia for one day / night, for his brothers graduation (a big thing for his family for various reasons), crazy but he managed it ok. Was very jet lagged/ disorientated for days after.

I’ve been to SE Asia for 1 night for work (last minute emergency, couldn’t be done via Skype etc). Was a bit of a nightmare, especially as I had to be fully alert for work issues when I got there. Again, managed ok, and helped that I flew business class so could get decent amount of sleep on the plane home, enough that I could go to work okay when I got back. Again, was jet lagged and disorientated for a few days after.

[HufflepuffHarpy]

wedding is his parents, her parents, her brother, and one other friend of the groom who is also flying from the uk. i would get to spend a good bit of time with my friend i expect.

[OrdinarySnowflake]

Meh, when I used to book people on business travel for work, I booked a few times for senior partners to go to Sydney out sunday night /monday morning and fly back in on friday night, literally only going for a meeting but booking a couple of days either side to squeeze some other meetings in.

If you can afford it, do it.

Would your dh not want to go too though?

[HufflepuffHarpy]

i have flown to NZ before (with a toddler!) so i know the realities of a flight of that length. would be ecnomy, no way can i afford business!!

[funmummy48]

My experience was that jet lag flying to Australia wasn't too bad. Within 24 hours we'd all adjusted. However, coming back to the UK was a killer and we all felt ill for about a week. I wouldn't make that journey for such a short visit.

[Bwekfusth]

When I went it took 4 days to get over the jet lag. The day after I arrived I was dead to the world, don't remember day 2, day 3 and 4 were a blur. It does sound quite insane if I'm honest.

[Cantchooseaname]

If you want to, do it. Life’s too short. My oh did return trip to nz for family birthday, 7 days including there and back.
Try and grab an extra day? I think jet lag out there will be fine, might feel like hell when you get back.

[HufflepuffHarpy]

DH wouldn't be bothered about going. this is my friend from childhood, he gets on fine with DH but they are not close.

DH will of course think i'm mad but if i really want it he will help make it happen.

I didn't styruggle with jet lag too nuch on the way out to NZ, it was worse coming back.

[poppymatilda]

It's really up to you. If it were me I wouldn't bother. Weddings are crap on your own and you'll probably speak to the groom for about 2 minutes, just doesn't seem worth it to me. I'd rather go when you can make a family holiday of it and spend quality time with your friend and his partner.

[icanthelpyou]

I know someone at the gym who did this! I thought she was mad but she had a great time

[feelingsareweird]

I've done this for a wedding in UK while I was living in Asia - slightly shorter journey but I found the jet lag actually didn't hit as badly because I didn't have chance to adjust to the local time zone! I just felt a bit disorientated for the length of the trip. But everyone suffers jet lag differently so I'd be a bit wary unless you know how well you deal with it and how you are with sleeping on planes. I'd be inclined to say you only live once, seize the day and just deal with the exhaustion when you get home!

[Myfoolishboatisleaning]

He has no leave left in July? Although many people manage to work and look after children, maybe it would be good for him? You could still use other babysitters. Just go, it would be fun.

[perhapsimight]

You only live once. You have kids so the flight without them will feel like luxury ! Reading, watching films, sleeping !

[Arpafeelie]

Can you get there a day earlier? That way if there are any delays you won't risk missing the wedding.

[crumble82]

I wouldn’t want to do it, you’ll feel rubbish while you’re there due to jet lag, dehydration and lack of time to acclimatise. Could you miss the wedding but go out for a family holiday in 6 months time when your DH has some holiday to use. You could then spend some quality time with your friend and his wife.

[DexyMidnight]

I would. I actually really like flying and love reading trashy novels, watching chick flicks and pressing the button for more mini wines! :) no phone signal so work and my clients can't get hold of me: BLISS!

Try and look at the flight as two days of peace and quiet rather than a chore. Noise cancelling comfy headphones in case of screechy child nearby.

Granted I am glad to be off the plane after an Australia duration flight but unless you're a bad traveller (can't sleep, nauseous, long legs or dodgy hips) there's nothing to get in a tizz about.

You MUST book a flight that arrives local time after 6pm, and you must force yourself awake for the last 5 hours or so of the flight into Oz. Same on the way home. That way by the time you clear immigration and cab to the hotel/home you only need to grab a shower, a bite and a wine to knock yourself out and then you immediately settle yourself into the new timezone. Trust me it works.

[speakout]

i wouldn't.

But jet lag and and especially lack of sleep effect me terribly. I feel physically sick, headache, exhausted, confused. In no state to enjoy a wedding.
But everyone is different. You will know yourself how long haul travel effects you.

[RainOrSun]

It's crazy. Do it. Life is for living and loving.
Go live your life, and love your friend on their special day.

[HennyPennyHorror]

I'd stretch it to 6 days OP. You don't need to spend time with your mate if he's on his Honeymoon...but you'll get to recover from the flight and see a little bit.

I live in Iz so fly to the UK often and it's HARD> I recently went to the UK for 9 days and that seemed very hard work. Just arrived and had to go back.

[ChanandlerBongsNeighbour]

I'd go for it! Sure you will be tired but actually I don't think you're there long enough for proper jet lag to set in as you won't be settling within the different time zone for long enough! And I bet as a parent you have powered through many a sleepless night before! And it's such a small guest list that you being there would have a significant positive impact to the day!

[LadyBrienneofTarth]

I've done similar multiple times
Yes it's possible
For what it's worth - I wouldn't recommend adjusting your sleep cycle - it's easier to stay on original time for such a short trip

[Hassled]

I'd do it. I think it's the sort of thing where if you don't do it you'll look back in a few years and think "I wish I'd made the effort". You won't be going into debt for it, it's only 4 days - yes, you'll be beside yourself with tiredness and will take a while to recover but frankly if you have 4 kids under 10 then you can't be a stranger to sleep-deprivation so you'll cope.

[unicorncupcake]

I would totally go. You only live once! It’s your best friend and you will always remember it.

[Reastie]

I personally wouldn’t do it for a number of personal reasons (rubbish at flying, rubbish with jet lag, couldn’t justify the cost etc) but in your situ if you think you can sleep on the plane and will be ok with jet lag then I’d go for it. It doesn’t sound ridiculous, lots of people must have shorter flights for work meetings etc.