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!!)

I think youre mad but i understand why youre doing it

It took me a week just to get over my flight from hawaii but im a crap traveller

A friend of mine knows someone who did this. I believe she took sleeping tablets on the return journey.

I was in Aus earlier this year. The flights out were fine (I think excitement is part of it!) But the return journey was a killer, also I picked up a bug on the plane and was out of action for a couple of days after. And felt like a zombie for about a week as I got over the jetlag. But YMMV.

I would do it. This is the kind of crazy shite I do all the time.

And I concur with Catwaving and ClaireScott This is the issue. This is the problem. It's the attitude of "Go for it" in the middle of a climate emergency. The flights run anyway, for sure- and nothing will stop them as long as this attitude prevails. Totally depressing. Awful.

we all have opinions and views, good to voice them and not be trampled on

Not when you're being a sour grapes misery, only saying it to stick the boot in.

Some people deserve to have their 'opinions' and 'views' roundly trampled on.

Not flying is not virtue signalling actually. It’s a choice we have made so we can do all we can personally to avert the disaster that seems inevitable. And I am telling you about it, not to feel virtuous, but because I want more people to consider their actions and the impact on the climate.

We are facing famine, crop failures, water shortages, displacement of millions of people, land shortages. Regardless of whether the “flight will be flying anyway”, we should all be doing what we can. It is us the consumers, who keep the planes in the air. If people were not buying tickets, the flight schedules would be reduced, and less planes would be flying. Supply and demand. Therefore it does matter, if you choose to make a personal choice like taking a round the world trip to see a friend for a few hours. Stop trying to absolve yourself of the consequences of your actions. You are destroying your own children’s future.

Oh god!! They're all right about the environment but I totally get why you're going.

I could definitely do it, I've been to LA for the weekend. Champagne helps!!

I flew from the UK to NZ for my brothers wedding - had 5 days round trip as was at a new job. It was exhausting but once in a lifetime stuff. I was almost asleep by 6pm at the wedding too and had to slink off home with the oldies at 10pm.

People can rant and rail and much as they'd like.

The OP is booked to go out and celebrate her friend's wedding in October.

Her environmental impact in other ways is much less than other people's.

It's happening, so...

sarralim. Well said, I think I need to leave Mumsnet now, it's just awful how uncaring and greedy people are. I can't deal with this shit knowing what climate change is doing to people in other countries who live on a pittance and have next to nothing. And the greedy selfish people in the west that fuel it and don't care. It's just so incredibly depressing. They are actually saying they are happy that she's doing it! Go girl, trash the planet for me and my kids! Yay!

Sushie,

Thanks, I will remember in future to toe the MN line in everything. I only eat sweet grapes too lol.

Having an opinion/laugh is not a crime.

Claire - it seems a touch dramatic to leave Mumsnet over this, but if you feel that strongly about it, maybe it's for the best.

Hope you're OK.

I did something similar earlier this year. Flew long haul (9 hours) to attend the wedding of a friend I’ve known since I was 6! Was away for 4 days in total. I had an amazing time.. so I would say go for it :)

Unlike you, I didn’t have any family support and DH had to take the time off. Of course, while I was away one of the kids decided that this is the best time to get chicken pox and the when I got back with a horrible jet lag, the other DC also caught the chicken pox :(
Given a second chance, I would still do it

Climate change isn't an opinion or a view folks. You've all got your heads in the sand and your money won't protect you. Your grandkids will ask you what you were doing when we had the chance to do something. Oh darling I was just flying to Australia for the weekend my little cherub! Don't condemn me you misery it was just a bit of fun. Oh and the OP has 4 kids so her environmental impact is definitely not much less than other peoples.

Do it x why not?

Having an opinion/laugh is not a crime.

Expecting people not to react to your opinion is a bit silly/naive, though.

Are you familiar with Mumsnet?!

It’s heartbreaking. So much of the coast line is going to be wiped out by rising sea levels. There are many published scientific articles detailing the areas of the UK that will disappear under water in the next few decades. But yet people do not want to hear or believe what the scientific experts are telling us. The instant gratification of booking a holiday / trip is all that matters, and then of course, posting the pictures on social media.

Would you think the OP was desperate if it was a female friend?

I'm too poor for mumsnet anyway. I only earn £14 grand a year. A lot of people on here will spend that on a holiday easy. And I am well off compared to my clients who are living in a shit town on next to nowt. Most of you are so cossetted from reality you've lost touch with it.

This thread is at odds with what’s going on not sure why, maybe people don’t want to post and listen to the ‘brigade’ misery bollocks in return. It’s all ‘yolo’ stuff, life is short

Maybe a different thread would have a different tone on climate change

Your £1000 ticket would not reflect the true costs. This gives a bit of help with it (4 DC, did you say?) www.google.be/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/06/03/travel/traveling-climate-change.amp.html

It’s interesting the response the op got. Round here people are cutting back on flying for sure as it’s pretty much the worst thing an individual can do. I made small talk with a group of parents I don’t know very well none flew one had no car. I ended up feeling guilty about my pre booked summer flight to Spain. Not going to fly next summer that’s for sure. Dh going to work meetings in Northern Europe by train not flying and several partners at his office refusing to go on the annual partners conference as it’s a pointless flight. Once you’ve looked into it you can’t go back. We are responsible for our actions if we as consumers voted with our feet things would change. It’s pathetic waiting for “them” ie the government etc to tell us what to do as if we were children.

Yes. Oddest thread ever. In this day and age. Long may our selfish attitudes live on. Oh wait. They won't.