The Final Episode!

As I was being driven home from the airport last night I was just composing my last post in my head - you know, the usual stuff..... flights were fine, bit long but I managed! Very quick changeover in Dubai, had to walk from one end of the airport to the other, and when I got there, they were up to the final call... Food was Ok on the plane.... blah, blah, blah......

The last journey - Dublin - Dubai - Perth

But Wattle's Wanderings were not going to go out on  a whimper.... I saved the best drama until I actually got home!!!

During my time away, my good friends, Shelley and John, had been looking after my place for me. Checking the mail, opening up on occasions, running the car etc... I am VERY grateful for all they did for me whilst I was away.

In the last few weeks before I returned, we had a few issues with my alarm system. It was having issues and wouldn't re-set etc.... S&J had rung the company and we were on the verge of getting it fixed, but we all decided it wasn't that long till I came home, so we would leave it until then.

So far so good.... they were able to reset it and it was working!

Now for the drama.....

Arrived home safely about 1.15am on Thursday morning - or in the still of the night as they say! But it wasn't still for long after I got in, because I couldn't de-activate the alarm and I set it off.... and it was soooooooooo loud!!!! And it just kept going and going.... I kept trying to push in my code but I think the keypad is stuffed and the buttons weren't beeping as I pushed them, as they usually do.

After what seemed ages, I retreated to my bedroom and luckily I took all my cases and stuff in with me, because when I went out to try again to turn it off, I set it off again, because I was moving within the range of the sensors!!!

So I ran back to my bedroom (where there are no sensors!) and realised I would just have to stay in there for the night.... (Luckily I have an ensuite!!!)

Trouble was - I think I left the front door open and unlocked and if I went out there again, I would set it all off again!!! So I decided to just lock myself in my bedroom and pray to God and hope for the best!!!

But there's more.... ( set of steak knives!!)

About 3.30am I heard someone knocking on the window and a male voice said "Are you alright in there??"

I opened the bedroom door and yelled back, "Who are you??? If I come out I'll start the alarm off again"  And the voice came back "As long as you're alright - I saw the blue light flashing and all the lights and thought I'd just check."... so I said thanks etc..  I still don't know who the voice was!!! But somebody was very kind to get up at 3.30am on the strength of an alarm and a flashing blue light and a bit of concern for a neighbour!

I also rang the security place, but because my alarm was not monitored, they couldn't do much. They advised turning the power off at the  switch for the alarm, then I had to go into the little box in the linen press and actually take out the battery...  To do all this meant setting it all off again, so I decided to just wait it out until morning and bunkered myself in my bedroom!

I had set my clock alarm for 9am this morning so that I could ring the actual company (not the night service place who couldn't help) and make an appointment for today to get the keypad fixed. I was telling the lady my predicament and she said they probably couldn't get anyone out today.... so I told here how I was holed up in the bedroom and couldn't get out, so she was going to try and someone here. As of 12 noon I haven't heard!

But my heroes S&J came and helped me yet again...After I rang  security, I rang them and they came straight over, and Shelley was able to put the code in and it's all off now. Thank you Jesus!

In the middle of all these calls, I had another call from a childhood friend in Melbourne to say his Dad had died last week. I didn't have my OZ sim card in my phone until last night, so I didn't get his message. His Dad and my Dad were best mates and played golf together each week.

It  was all happening!!!

So..... Wattle's Wanderings certainly didn't go out with a whimper! I was more like a whoooosh!!!!

But I am home safely, and even though I saved the biggest drama until last, I'm very grateful for being safe and well while I was away (apart from a cold, which was ultimately manageable!). It has just been the best holiday and so many of you helped me out along the way! To all my family and friends in the UK and Ireland - thanks! I loved meeting up with you and meeting some new members too!
Thanks to all those who shared their hospitality with me too....  I have been so blessed on my journey and it's the people who have really made the difference!

And a special thanks to all the people who held the fort for me at home in various ways, and all those who have supported me with emails and messages and comments. When you're traveling alone, that makes all the difference, and really make me feel connected with people and not alone so much.

It's been a hoot and now I have a great record of it all....  even though it was a bit of a pain sometimes to commit to the blog, I'm really glad now!

So, this is the official end of Wattle's Wanderings to the UK and Ireland and Europe 2018.  Aussie breakfasts just won't be the same again. Maybe I should start a new blog and call it Moira's Musings!!!  (only joking!!!)

Thanks again everyone for your support and love!