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AIBU?

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Original poster

UPDATE THREAD - Going to Australia for the weekend

63 replies

4thTimeIsTheCharm · 17/02/2020 10:58

I posted back last summer - the gist was WIBU to fly to Oz for the weekend for my male best friend's wedding leaving my 4DC and DH behind.

Response was fairly 50:50 that i was mad:it would be worth it. There was a good smattering of "you are in love with your friend" and at the end the eco-folks came on to tell me i was killing the planet.

UPDATE:

I went, it was amazing, my best mate and I realised we were desperately in love, ran off into the sunset leaving his fiancee at the alter and my DH and kids abandoned on the other side of the world.

Grin sorry......

I managed to extend the trip slightly so I was away for a week, 5 days on the ground in Oz. My parents very kindly said they would have the DC after school so DH didn't have to work half days as he planned which was amazing of them.

I got a great deal on the flight which was only 21 hours as it was only a refuel stop in singapore. I got myself some sleeping tablets, moved onto Oz time as soon as i boarded the plan and drugged myself to sleep at 9am uk time and slept all the way to singapore!

My friend picked me up at the airport and he had found be a fab little air bnb two streets from his house.

We had two days before the wedding so it was a mix of catching up, helping run last minute errands, decorating the house etc. I was also in charge of keeping my friend's dad from irritating the bride! (i've know him since i was 10, i know how to handle his sense of humour!)

the wedding day was amazing, it was really very special to help my friend get ready and be with him through the pre-wedding nerves etc. the wedding was fab, the reception was great fun. I got to know his now DW much better which was lovely.

the couple of days after the wedding the bride spent time with her parents and my friend and i got to do some touristy things - i held a koala and stroked kangaroos etc etc. we also got to spend a day in the nearest city to him before i flew home and had a really good catch up.

He dropped me at the airport and i drugged myself to sleep on the plane again on the way home.

I had no jet lag at all on the way out, arrived at 5pm local time and went to dinner, bed around 11pm and woke at 8am. Arrived home at 10am local time, small nap before kids back from school, bed at 10pm and up at 7am. tiny bit tired for a couple of days but nothing that felt like true jet lag.

was able to call the kids and DH at their breakfast time every day too which was great.

So in short, it was brilliant, i am so glad i did it and i would make the same decision again. it was the most special thing to be there to see my best friend get married.

Sorry the update wasnt actually as film-script-worthy as a lot of you were hoping for!

OP posts:
drinkygin · 17/02/2020 11:58

@GinDaddy what’s it like being an absolute nob?

OP I don’t think I posted on your original thread but did read- so glad you went and had fun! Sounds like a great trip where many happy memories were made.

AnneOfTeenFables · 17/02/2020 11:58

That sounds fab and I always like reading updates

BIWI · 17/02/2020 11:58

Yay! I have often wondered if you went (and always hoped that you did!)

I was also interested that those eco warriors never posted anywhere else, or on anyone else's long haul threads. Would be interesting to check out if they ever did!

nacher · 17/02/2020 12:05

Did his wife really not mind him doing touristy things with you in the couple of days after the wedding, while she saw her parents?

I'm a bit goggle eyed at that.

Kolo · 17/02/2020 12:15

Sounds lovely! Yabu, though, for not explaining how you drugged yourself to sleep. I'd like to know for my own travels.

coconuttelegraph · 17/02/2020 12:30

I remember your original thread although I didn't post and don't know what I would have said, good to hear it went well but,

I was also in charge of keeping my friend's dad from irritating the bride! (i've know him since i was 10, i know how to handle his sense of humour!)

would be my idea of a nightmare, someone with so little self awareness that they need a minder because their so called sense of humour upsets the bride, keep them well away from me Smile

KitKat1985 · 17/02/2020 12:33

Thank you for the update OP. I'm glad you had an amazing time.

managedmis · 17/02/2020 12:40

Good one gindaddy

Real original Confused

Bravo, op!

Mummyoflittledragon · 17/02/2020 12:40

Thanks for coming back to us. That sounds lovely!

userxx · 17/02/2020 12:45

Bloody brilliant, I said on the original thread go for it - you only live once. Sounds like you packed loads in for a short stay, well done you!

redastherose · 17/02/2020 12:51

I'm glad you went, remember your original post well. It just proves that life is for living, you will remember this for the rest of your life and your best friend will, I'm sure, be so happy that you could be there for him on his special day.

RandomMess · 17/02/2020 12:53

Glad you had an amazing time!!!

AgentProvocateur · 17/02/2020 12:54

Thanks for the update. I was firmly in the ‘go - YOLO’ camp, so I’m glad you had an amazing time.

AnyFucker · 17/02/2020 12:55

Glad you had a lovely time

Out of interest, do you think it would have worked if you had gone with the original plan of just the weekend ?

FuckyNel · 17/02/2020 13:08

Excellent update op well done!

amusedbush · 17/02/2020 13:10

What the fuck is your problem, @GinDaddy? Hmm

OP, I remember your previous thread and I'm so glad you went! It sounds like you had a fab time.

JustMoved123 · 17/02/2020 13:13

Well done! Which sleeping tablets did you use, I'm travelling soon and find sleeping difficult.

ajandjjmum · 17/02/2020 13:14

Glad you had such a brilliant trip!

I remember your original thread, and oddly enough, DS moved out to Sydney last August. He flew back here for 5 days at Christmas, and survived!

BritInUS1 · 17/02/2020 13:14

Yay what a fab update :D

Holdingtherope · 17/02/2020 13:15

Another one wanting to know what you used and hoping it's over the counter!

HaudMaDug · 17/02/2020 13:16

Well done OP. Your friend will remember this. Glad it worked out well for you, I did something v similar years ago for a concert and had to be back to work mid week so the short trip was a mini adventure. Would do it again in a heart beat.

Original poster
4thTimeIsTheCharm · 17/02/2020 13:19

coconutte due to the geography friends DW hasnt spent much time with her FIL, i on the other hand grew up seeing him weekly through all my teens. he is great fun but his sense of humour clashes with the bride - just very different people.

anyfucker i think i would have still managed if i had done the original 3 days on the ground but i wouldnt have had time to do any of the tourist bits and i would have regretted that a bit.

natcher her parents had come from overseas too - both bride and groom knew and planned that over the week of the wedding it would be about spending time with family, they went on honeymoon after we all left. we all had breakfast and dinner together each day and just went off to do different things during the day.

those asking about the sleeping pills - i have a family member who is prescribed them and they gave me a couple. i checked 'hypothetically' with a gp that i know that it would be ok for me to take them.

so anyone else considering crazy things - go for it! you only live once and i do not forget it for a second! (even though i have had to go without all my other treats since i got back to replace the flight cost from family savings!)

OP posts:
Original poster
4thTimeIsTheCharm · 17/02/2020 13:20

*regret it, not forget it!!

OP posts:
San141 · 17/02/2020 13:21

I didn't see your first post, but you have brought tears to my eyes with this update! What a fantastic friend you (and your husband/parents) are!

NumbersStation · 17/02/2020 13:21

Daddy’s clearly been on the gin...
Bit early for that love.

Anyway, I remember your thread and I’m glad it was amazing OP. Good on yer Sheila Sad

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