LONDON TO HAWAII ON 30p

Marks and Spencer did refund to me some cash for my returns, even though they were wet. I think the manager was very pleased to get me away from the other customers, and out of the store.

I was so wet from the rain, and drained from the whole experience of being mugged again in London, leaving me penniless, and after the desperate bid for a refund for my purchases so that I could have some cash in hand, I was exhausted....

 I thought to hell with it, I will catch a cab, or a 'taxi' back to our accommodation. Good thing that I did so, and that I had my address written down, because with my state of mind I couldn't even remember where I was staying!

         Lorraine and Audrey couldn't believe that I had been mugged again, and did sympathise about what had happened to me, in between fits of laughter!

After a while, and a couple of wines I began to see the funny side too, and we all decided for my last night in London we should go out and celebrate, and as my cash flow was 'low' they shouted my way into a noisy crowded club not far from where we were staying, and we all ended up having a good night.

         Next morning I managed to drag myself out of bed to shower (in the very basic, and I mean 'basic' bathroom that Lorraine and I had scrubbed from top to bottom before our use),... and then dressed ready to travel to Hawaii !..and  I couldn't wait to get there!......

On the way to Heathrow, the taxi driver informed me that there were problems at the airport... like a fire?.... And that parts of the airport had been cordoned off, which meant that he had to drive to a special section to let me off....which also meant that I wouldn't have a clue as to where I would be!  Apart from this there was talk of an air traffic controller's strike which could delay all flights!.........Lovely!

 'Have a good flight Madam' the cabby said as he jumped back into his taxi and took off.  I then had to drag my luggage through the very hectic and noisy crowd, who were all trying to find out about their flight schedules, and if their flights were leaving or not, due to the strike pending.

I seemed to be running in circles trying to find my flight departure desk. The announcements were coming  over the speakers every few seconds so thick and fast it was as if they were all jumbled up together, making it hard to understand what they were saying.

Finally, I stumbled on to my flight desk, and I was told that was my flight departure was still valid, but my luggage was over weight, and that I had excess baggage fee to pay! Oh my God I was just about ruining on empty here as it was with my cash flow, and I still had to pay for the VAT!!

At last I was in the departure lounge, and managed to find a seat to flop into. I sorted my hand luggage, and then rummaged around in my bag to find what little money I had left. The costs for leaving the country were higher than I had expected, as after paying my share of the rent for our flat etc...and  taxi fare to the airport, along with VAT and excess luggage I knew that I was travelling close to the wind...But, not as close as I soon discovered.....all I could find was 30p!,,,This can't be right! I flew my hand all around into every nook and cranny of my bag......NOTHING!....ALL I HAD WAS 30P!

This was equivalent to  about 50 Australian cents!  And, I was flying from London to Hawaii.....OH MY GOD! .....With only 30P!! Hopefully when we stopped at San Francisco our connecting flight to Honolulu would be there waiting, and we did not have long to sit around.

Suddenly my head was spinning and began to pain, as I cursed the robbers again for taking my wallet that had held some American dollars to see me through until I could get to the Bank on arrival in Honolulu. I now had a very bad headache.

I searched through my bag for some aspirin...nothing!

'What can I do? ' I thought......'absolutely bloody nothing ! I answered myself...so all I can do is to try and calm down, and just 'bite the bullet' get on that plane and GO!

.......But...OH! M' GOD!....I ONLY HAVE 30P!!

The plane was crowded, and after squeezing my way to my allotted seat and shoved my hand luggage up in the holding locker above, I flopped into my seat. Luckily I was in the two seat to a row side of the aircraft. Not much room but at least I had a seat, and I was on my way out of London.

My head was still pounding with the shock and pain of my situation, and I must have looked stressed because the hostess stopped at my seat and asked me if I was okay and did I need anything. I asked for some aspirin if possible, and after a couple of minutes she handed me a glass of much needed water and tablets.  'How much do I owe you for these? I asked anxiously.....'Oh! Nothing! They're on the house..or should I say Pan Am!'.....'Oh! Thank God for that!....
'Oh! I mean...thank you so much!' I sighed.

I settled down into a painful doze, and after a while my co - passenger sitting in the seat next to me tapped me on my shoulder..'Excuse me, but would you care for a drink? ..a Brandy? or glass of wine?' ...

Oh yes! I thought, I could do with a brandy right mow!...But, hey! Isn't it a bit early to be drinking?...It was still quite early in the day...and besides I can't afford to do this..I turned to look at this ....er...(really rather attractive man) ....I wouldn't be able to buy a drink for him in return.

'Thank you for asking me' I uttered...but I have a bit of a headache'... which was beginning to tone down a bit... ..well quite a lot now!

'Perhaps later when they serve our lunch you may feel like joining me in a glass of wine?'

He was American, and he sounded very nice.

'Perhaps' I answered, as I lent back in my seat and closed my eyes to relax my aching head.

                                                *

Lunch was being served, and my companion introduced himself as Alan. 'They call me Al....so what's your name?'  he asked as he took my hand. 'Bette.' I replied.

Our lunch was served, along with some very nice wine ordered by Al.

We were chatting as you do, when you first meet someone, telling a little of yourself, where you have been in your travels and where your homeland is. It turned out that Al was an American 'Church of England' Priest, who was based in England. 'You are a priest?' I exclaimed!...'But you don't look like a priest!.... I said.  ' Priests wear.... a collar?...or a robe or whatever?' I uttered feeling a little stupid for not knowing and also a little disappointed.

' I am on my vacation, and I'm on my way home to San Francisco to visit my folks....my Mom and Dad'  he added.

He was very friendly and very nice, but I did notice that he was drinking quite a lot! I am a one glass wonder especially for lunch, but Al was really getting into it. He would press the buzzer for service for more drinks, but if the hostess did not come straight away he would reach down to his bag at his feet, and pull out a bottle of brandy and refill his glass.

Now, this man.... is a bit of a 'drinker'!  I thought to myself.

Does this American Priest, or Father Al, or whatever, have a 'bit' of a drinking problem I wondered? What a shame, as he looked so nice in his stylishly worn in blue denim jeans, black t shirt and jacket..... ...with no collar!

Anyhow, he was actually quite an amusing character, and we laughed a lot.  He was telling me about his parents who would be at the airport to meet him.

'They're kinda very reserved' he slurred, 'but since they got divorced they are much better...' he went on....'You know what?... they live a couple of blocks apart from each other, but they see more of each other now, than they did when they were married and lived together!...In fact!' he hiccuped...'I think they're having an affair now!' he winked, 'and I think this is great!'

This sounded quite romantic to me, I thought wistfully.....but then when I remembered my two ex-husbands and me doing this with either one........I quickly changed my mind!.. The idea lost me completely!

 I digress...back to Al.  He was starting to look quite 'under the weather', and I was thinking of his parents waiting at the airport for him.  He can't arrive looking like this I thought, so I ordered some black coffee for him to drink, and  after a few cups he started to look much better.

 By the time we arrived in San Fran. he was sober...I think.

As we were entering the arrivals lounge Al said to me 'there they are..over there he said pointing to an elderly couple.  His  mother was sort of delicately waving with a 'Queen' like wave of her hand towards Al. ( She did look 'kinda reserved') as Al had mentioned...

'I am so pleased I plied you with all of that coffee' I whispered.'...'Sure! so am I! he said as he took my arm and led me towards them saying 'come on I want to introduce you to my folks'

We chatted for a few minutes, and I could see that they were so proud and happy to see their son again. After saying our goodbyes, we parted, and I set about to find out the departure time for my connecting flight to Honolulu.

There seemed to be a very noisy panic going on inside the airport, and I was staring up at the flight schedule board trying to figure out times of departure for... where ever... I couldn't understand what I was trying to read.

  

'Which flight are you looking for?'..yelled a voice from my side.

 'Honolulu' I yelled back over the noise to the voice of a man dressed in uniform standing at my side.

 'Well, you have a long wait for that flight, because the air traffic control strike has rolled right on out here from the U.K. ...which means Ma'am, you have at least a six hour wait for your flight to Honolulu!'

'Six Hours!' I gasped.  'You mean I have at least six hours?'

'Say! Are you English?' he asked....'No, I am Australian' I replied gloomily.

 'Ah well I am sorry about the delay M'am'.....and then he smiled 'Say! I'll bet you would love a 'cup of tea!'

Oh would I ever!... I thought to myself.....but I won't even be able to buy a cup of tea!......What can anyone buy here to eat for 30P?

'Oh no thank you, I'm fine' I uttered.

'Are you sure?... because I could get you one..I work here at the airport and my job is to help any passenger who looks as though they need it......and you sure look as though you could do with a nice cup of tea.'

Well I sure as hell did feel like a cup of tea, I thought.....'Well that would  really be lovely' I said gratefully.

'Come with me...by the way, my name is Tex....Tex Marshall.....and you are?'

'Bette'...Bette Watson' I replied.

A few minutes later I found myself in a V.I.P. lounge room, which was beautifully furnished and laid out with lounge chairs, couches, very upmarket style all the way. I noticed a couple of people resting, one on a couch, and the other lying back in what looked like a very comfortable arm chair.

An air hostess greeted us, and Tex said 'Jenny, this is Bette Watson, and she has a 6 hour wait or her connecting flight to Honolulu, and she would just 'love' a cup of tea, and Jen, how about a nice sandwich and cake?  Just make a plate up, and I will join Bette... I need a break now anyway, it's hell downstairs!

I couldn't believe what was happening to me.  This was so nice to be away from the crowds and in this lovely peaceful lounge.

After we had eaten Tex called Jenny over and asked her to get a pillow and a blanket for me so that I could have a 'nap' for a while. He had to get back to work and said that he would let me know if there was any change in my flight details.

I wondered what Tex would think if he knew that I had only 30 P in my purse!

As I was dozing off to sleep, I was wondering about Tex...Tex Marshall...... Where had I heard that name before?  If and when you are in trouble...don't you holla' for a Marshall?...a Tex Marshall?

 And he was quite cute too!.. I thought as I dozed off into a deep sleep.

A couple of hours later the hostess Jenny, woke me to ask if I would like to freshen up, as Tex would be here at around six pm for cocktails before my flight was to leave.

Am I in a dream? I wondered.......this is so friendly and very stylish! I thought........if my friends could see me now,  that little gang of mine!

Tex arrived, and cocktails and nibbles were served.......beautiful! ....And then it was time for me to leave. ...Do I have to?.......Do I want to?

Tex was such a very nice man, and very helpful. We exchanged business cards and he said that he would love to come to Australia some day, and if he did he would look me up.

When he took me down to the departure lounge for my flight, he introduced me to the crew and asked them to 'take care' of me and upgrade my seat.

We said goodbye, and I was shown to my seat...First Class!

I had been travelling economy!..So this was really special to me!

What a great flight we had.  I had been served a beautiful meal with champagne and everything was really lovely. I had another little sleep, and when I woke we were told that we would be arriving in Honolulu at around one am.

One o'clock in the morning I thought in panic!  There would not be any free transport I am sure at that time of the night or morning.  I asked the hostess if there would be any hotel transfer bus at our time of arrival.

'I don't think so, but there will be cabs. A cab would take you to where ever you have to go!

Yes they would.  I thought, but they will want to be paid and NOT with 30P!

I thought about the American dollars that were in my wallet that those muggers took from me...if only I had those 'dollars' now!

For the rest of my flight I was becoming resigned to the fact that I would have to sleep at the airport, on top of my luggage! Or in a ladies room! Oh god no!

When we arrived at the airport, it was indeed very late and it all looked deserted.  A bit scary if I have to sleep around here I thought.

Oh well, I may as well go and collect my luggage.  I was standing at the carousel waiting for the luggage to spin out on to the turntable, when I saw two men walking straight towards me.

'Are you Bette Watson?'

'Yes....Yes I am?'

'My name is Mike,' said one, and he then pointed to the other man.. 'And this is Steve.

Tex contacted us and asked if we could pick you up on your arrival here and take you to your hotel, okay?'

'Oh!' I was dumbfounded to say the least....'Oh how nice of you to do this, and how lovely of Tex to think of this for me!.....And it is so late for both of you to do this.'

They picked up my luggage between them and carried them out to their car, and loaded my bags into the boot, and we were on our way within minutes.

My hotel was in Lewers Street, which is right in the middle of Waikiki Honolulu. Steve and Mike carried my bags into the reception area in the hotel. They waited until I had checked in, and when I was given my room number they carried my luggage upstairs and into my room.

I thanked them for their help. 'Well it was nice to meet you Bette.  We will let Tex know that you have arrived safe and sound, okay? Here's our card, if you need anything just give us a call. Okay? Please enjoy your stay on our beautiful island. Aloha!'

When they had gone,  I opened my bag and emptied the coins on to the bed.......and.....................

there before me was.....30P!

                                                 

I had travelled first class all the way from London to Hawaii with only 30P!

                                                
                                            


                                                                 








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