Jo’s secrets of travelling!
Some time ago Jo asked me if she could write a post for the old travel blog and she has finished it. Here is Jo’s first ever blog post! Be forewarned she uses some pretty aggressive language, Grampa Hunter you may want to have a chat with your grand daughter.
I’ve been asking Chris for a while if I can write a guest post on his blog. He very nicely said I could but asked what the subject matter would be. I had an epiphany a little while ago while on my third glass of wine: write about what I have learned from Chris or by being Chris’ ‘plus-one’ in travel. Here forth are the lessons that I have learned from Christopher Jeffery Payne, ESQ.
CHILL OUT
The first time we took a significant trip together he made fun of me mercilessly for getting on the plane as soon as I heard the boarding announcement. Chris looked at me with my boarding card and passport – flipped open to the photo page – ready to go. He said something that is burned in my brain forever “We’re going to be on that plane for 6 hours, what’s the rush?” He was right. It’s ok to wait – as long as you are not worried about overhead luggage space.
Jetlag is a BITCH
First – sorry for the expletive Grampa (my Grampa reads Chris’ blog, because my Grampa is on Facebook. Grampa Doug is awesome.)
Chris came home from the Middle East and was determined to slip back into our home life without missing a beat. He really, really wanted to go for a walk with our dog, Howard. The day after he returned home I found him on our stairs, trying (unsuccessfully) to tie his shoes to go out for a walk with Howard. I gently asked him if he would really like to go to bed and I would walk Howard. The look on his face was like I had told him he had won a million dollars. He went back to bed and slept for 10 hours.
Travel = great gifts
The same trip that Chris went to the Middle East he also stopped had a layover in Frankfurt, Germany and stopped by the duty-free. He came home with a Haribo Advent Calendar and a litre of Glen Livet Scotch. Anyone who knows me know how much I love Haribo gummy bears as well as scotch. This man knows me so well, I am so lucky to have married him. He presented me with both gifts proudly at the airport when I came to pick him up.
Time changes is funny
One month after we were married Chris had to go on a work trip to China for 21 days. It was sad when he left but he made a calendar where I could check off the days he was gone. The first day I saw the calendar I cried, 21 days seemed so long, I was a little fragile. About day 19 Chris called me early, early in the morning Vancouver time. The conversation went something like this:
Chris: JO! I AM STAYING AT A SEX PALACE!
Jo (bolts upright in bed): …pardon?
What Chris meant to convey was that he was in a very swanky hotel. He was very tired as he had a long day and I was very tired as it was very early in the morning. Excitement led him to be overdramatic (Chris? Never) and led to a very confusing conversation. Again – note to Grampa – I promise he wasn’t staying in a real sex palace.
Routine trips to Boston = lots of Red Socks/Patriots Gear
Chris knows that I am not into pink sports wear. He found a store that sells all women’s Red Sox and Patriots sports gear in Boston and so excited to spend our disposable income on clothes. He also came home with a Boston Lobster squeaky toy for Howard and a stuffed lobster for Penny. He is always thinking of the people (and dogs) he loves on the road.
Airport Lounge access is THE GOAL
Aeroplan miles are like crack. Once you taste lounge access there is no way you can go back. I have been at the dinner table and witness to Rachel Toyen and Chris’ discussion about Lounge Access. I never really understood until I tagged along to the NYC trip. We had a 5 hour layover in TO. I dreaded the layover but Chris was confident because we had Lounge access. Little did I know what that meant. It meant:
- Guinness on tap
- All the olives and crackers I could eat
- Free magazines
- Comfy chairs
- Wi-Fi
- GUINNESS ON TAP
Travelling makes him happy so it makes me happy
Chris loves to travel. He loves UBC. To travel on behalf of UBC is a dream come true for him. Although it keeps us apart for some periods of time he truly loves his work and takes full advantage of the places to goes. And if it keeps me in Haribo gummy bears, scotch and my favourite team sports wear – fantastic.
Where is CJ? 