Happy 21st!

I've just come back from my 21st return flight to Los Angeles with VAustralia! Another fun flight that's for sure! Great crew and no hiccoughs! Unlike my very first flight as a Flight Attendant where we had a medical emergency half way back to Sydney. We had to divert to Honolulu which made it not only my first flight but also the longest shift I've ever worked. One of the Cabin Crew happened to also be a registered nurse and we were able to find two medically qualified volunteers so we were in good hands.

On the way over we had a group of strippers in economy called "10 Inch Toys". 'Should come see our show', one of them says! Mmmm, I think not! One handed me a note asking me to 'drop him a line'. Alot different to the notes I'm used to being passed in my previous occupation as a nanny which consisted of mostly "I love you", "Thanks for being my babysitter", or "Do you like my colouring?".

My third trip was a little more exciting! Got to experience my first earthquake on the 9th floor of our hotel. They say it reached 5.1 on the richter scale! Pretty cool! Thankfully there were no injuries, just a bit of excitement!

I've learnt alot so far including but not limited to; how to get red wine out of white shirts. I managed to spill half a bottle of Shiraz all down the right side of my shirt and then managed to clean and dry it while on rest! Good as new!

We have had many delays due to different reasons; freight placed in hold too aggressively causing dent in door, medicals, guests being off-loaded, aircraft been hit by lightning, dust storms, etc.

The dust storm was the most exciting so far! After take off from LAX on route to SYD we were told there may be a delay landing as Sydney is expecting a storm. We accepted this and continued working. Half way during our flight we were updated that we may have to land in BNE as storm is 'quite the storm'. Darn, another few hours added to shift but not to worry.

Just before landing Captain gives PA advising guests that we will attempt to land in Sydney but if unsuccessful we will have to land in Brisbane. Business as usual in the cabin, securing items, tidying and double checking. I've attached a few photos of the clouds from above. As you can see alot of dust! Captain makes PA " Cabin Crew seats for landing". At this stage I am in disbelief! What land?! I can't see a thing out the window!!! Its red/orange and that's about all. We all sit silently waiting to hear the thud of the landing gear hitting the runway but no such thing happens. The Flight Crew decide it is not safe and take off again! Huge adrenalin rush for Cabin Crew!

We land on second attempt and thank pilots for there efforts. Always amazed how unfazed they are!

21 return flights so far and so many stories to tell. Its certainly an eventful job! Arriving to our hotel in LA one day we see a man hanging for dear life on a nearby building after his window washing equipment fell from beneath him. There were fire trucks, police cars and media everywhere! He was rescued after an hour or so- What a day for him hey?!

Wonder what the next 21 flights will bring? Ill leave you with this interesting article I found in The Age;

"The first cabin attendants were men who helped maintain the planes and moved cargo, such as mailbags. Then in the 1930's female attendants were hired to provide sandwiches and drinks and to hand out gum and cotton to help with passengers' ear pressure. These flight attendants were originally registered nurses, but this requirement was dropped in the 1940's. In those days when the stewardesses got married, they were sacked. Both sexes now work as flight attendants and apart from maintaining passenger comfort and serving refreshments, their main role is one of safety." MARK ELLIS