Kelly's World

Take a trip on a train was no. 36 on my 52 things in 52 weeks challenge.

When I was down in Sydney a few months back for the NRL grand final with my friends, we caught a train to the game. When I originally added “Take a trip on a train” to this list, I had visions in my mind of going on a day trip on a train, or travelling somewhere interstate. That’s just simply not possibly right now, so this train trip will have to be the one that fulfills the task.

Although I really don’t like the way I just put that, as if “it’ll do”.

Initially looking at this train trip, I was disappointed that I was going to use this one to tick the box on the task. Yet when I think back on it, it was a train trip to a sporting grand final, it was packed with fellow supporters, there was a bit of chanting and jeering, and a fair bit of laughter. It was also a sad trip, as my friend had just discovered the passing of his grandmother only seconds before boarding, so our little group rode in silence.

This train ride does more than tick the box. It invokes memories, and that’s all I could have ever hoped for from my 52 in 52 challenge.

After having spent the previous two days packing (yes, I procrastinated quite a bit during this time) when I woke at 5am in the morning it felt quite surreal knowing we were going on an international holiday. I’ve dreamt about it for a long time, but when the day arrived it just didn’t feel right. I kept wondering when I was going to wake up and discover there was still 6 months to go.

We got up, showered and double checked our bags for the 50th time. Dad arrived right on time at 6am to pick us up, as he was kindly driving us to the airport (saving us about $50 in shuttle costs in the process). We had dropped Turbo off at the dog kennel the day before, so the house felt very empty. After double and triple checking the house was locked up, we packed the bags in the car and we were off! For a few minutes at least. Thankfully we hadn’t driven very far when Mat realised he’d left his (only) jacket back at home, so we turned around so he could collect it. We all teased him about being the one to forget something, then headed off again (I later discovered on the plane that I had forgotten the pashmina my mother had given me, but purposely neglected to tell Mat this for several days).

My dad's flatmate, my dad and Mat - just before we left for the airport

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