Day 90 - Leaving Sydney, beginning the long road home

I woke to my last Sydney sunrise, easing gently into the day and letting it sink in that this chapter really was closing. The morning was all about packing and one very important mission: recovering Joe’s missing bag. I’m pleased to report that both were successful. Joe jumped in a taxi to the pier and retrieved his bag, which had been kept safe for him—huge relief all round.


Then it was time to vacate the room, with the concierge collecting our luggage. I checked us out, and just in time Ellen and Joe arrived, so we managed to share one last coffee together before saying our goodbyes. Never easy, but always filled with gratitude.

And then… the travel fun truly began.

Despite the travel company having pre-booked a saloon car, it was clearly never going to take four suitcases and two carry-ons, so we had to grab a street taxi instead. Off we went to Sydney Airport, only to discover another complication: our luggage could not be tagged just to London. It had to be tagged all the way through to Gibraltar, exactly as per the original ticket. That means a conversation with ground staff at Heathrow Airport to retrieve it—otherwise we’ll have a real problem. One more thing added to the mental checklist.

Naturally, the next stop was the pharmacy (of course). Joe’s hand luggage probably rattles with medication at this point. From there, we went in search of a lounge. The American Express lounge was… disappointing, especially compared to T3 at Heathrow. British Airways doesn’t have a dedicated lounge here, instead directing passengers to the Aspire Lounge, which was marginally better, but still nothing to write home about.

Soon it was time to board. The seat layout on the screen didn’t match the aircraft, so Joe ended up with a window seat while I was in the middle section, separated from another passenger by a divider—which actually worked out fine. There was plenty of legroom, which mattered most.



Our first flight, to Singapore, took just over seven hours. We started clawing back the time difference, gaining three hours on arrival. Dinner was a let-down—the menu veggie options looked far better than the pre-ordered vegetarian meal, and it got so cold that I ordered a coffee just to warm my hands.

On arrival in Singapore Changi Airport, we had to disembark with all our hand luggage. With just 45 minutes, we took a quick wander—during which Joe spotted a Lacoste shop and may (or may not) have made a few purchases. Then it was straight back onto the plane for the next leg of our journey.

🌿 Daily Reflection

Today was about transitions—closing doors gently, accepting a bit of chaos, and trusting that things will sort themselves out, even when they feel inconvenient and tiring.

⭐ Highlight of the Day

That final Sydney sunrise—quiet, grounding, and the perfect bookend to an unforgettable chapter.

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