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Monday 28 April 2014

Faith in people: Restored


I'm a mum of three.
And I just flew, twice, in the space of 11 days.  With all three.

Single mums who travel with three?  My hat comes off to you, that is for sure.  It was a lot to juggle even with Ty there!

We flew Tiger Air amidst lots of well-wishes from friends - expect very little, I was told.  Hell, I was told to not even expect our flight to leave.  I was anxious.  Really, really anxious.  What if our flight didn't leave?  We couldn't afford to rebook with another airline, and well, who wants to explain to the 4 year old jumping out of her skin with excitement because she is mere hours from seeing her grandmother?  Her favourite person in the universe?

The stars all aligned though, and although we had a half hour delay (and we've had MUCH worse than that on other airlines), we were underway and headed to Melbourne.  With 4 very lovely cabin crew who were chatty and interactive with the kids and happily let me sway and rock the baby in the galley at the back of the plane until he zonked off in to a peaceful slumber.  

Coming home, that anxiety returned a little... I really didn't want to be stuck in Melbourne.  I desperately missed my pillows.   And my cat.  All good though - off we went, excited to see one of the same cabin crew from the flight down who had kept me company during my galley-sway-session on the previous flight.  The kids were CHUFFED to be on a plane again - they loved it.  And we had cabin crew who loved kids and babies.  And a half full flight, so less people to annoy hahaha.  


Taylah, Aaron, Jye and Mitchell - AMAZING FLIGHT CREW!  AMAZING PEOPLE!



AWESOME CREW!  THANKS TIGER!


These guys were amazing!  They bent over backwards to help us out as we juggled the kids and way too much luggage (bag of Easter eggs, anyone!), fell in love with Memphis, and gave my two very well behaved bigguns a hot chocolate each (much to their delight!)  It was amazing having people so interactive with the kids because it made the trip for them a whole lot more enjoyable.  


We were chatting about Memphis and his size, as he's small for his age - not a lot bigger than a newborn at almost 6 months old - and searched our phones for a teeny Memphis picture... of course we'd wiped our phones before heading down to ensure that we had them backed up and free storage space.  So we had a whole one.  But I showed the newspaper article/pic that Alexis and Memphis were in, because that's just what a proud Mama does!  They were all excited for Lexi, who was sitting at just over $2000 (towards her $2500 goal)... One of them decided they were going to tell the other passengers about it!  We weren't sure of the response we'd get but said sure, why not!  Every dollar counts!

Aaron held up a waving (totally adorable!) Lexi, whilst Jye got on the speaker and told everyone what Miss Alexis was up to!  She seriously was up there waving like she was the Queen or something.  Over the speaker they told everyone who she was, why she was raising money, and who she was raising money for.  Most of the flight had met little Memphis as the crew had stolen him for a wander and cuddle and to head up to meet the first officer!  Was a wee bit cute!
At the end of his little speech Jye told the passengers that if they wanted to donate, to press their calls bells and they'd come along and collect.

And then, the most amazing thing happened.

ding

ding
ding
ding
ding
ding

you get the picture....




Orange lights are call bells, and that wasn't even all of them!  Some had been turned off (collected from), others hadn't rung yet. It went on for ages!!!  Was amazing!

The call bells just kept dinging, the aisle lights lighting up.  Our plane was not full, there were HEAPS of spare seats/rows.  And yet nearly every single row that had a person/people in it, lit up.  People were getting out of their seats to open the overhead lockers to get out their wallets and purses.  One even sent Lexi back a chocolate with her change!!!  The crew walked Lexi down and they FILLED a bag with coins (mostly.. so it was heavy for her hehe) and notes.  $191.75 later - the passengers on flight TT572 Melbourne to Gold at 6:35pm Saturday 26th April, you are all AMAZING!!!


I can't even tell you the emotion when those bells started dinging.  The look on Lexi's face as she walked down and people encouraged her, praised her, and donated.  To a cause that is so close to our hearts, to a child trying to make a difference.  There's no words.  I cried, not going to lie.  Until Ty laughed at me for it, so I sucked it up.  But I couldn't stop smiling, and I will never ever forget.


As people disembarked that plane, instead of the usual rush and grumble, anyone who passed her spoke to her.  More encouragement, more enthusiasm.  People were happy.  As we stood waiting for the car we even had a few wave out, call out, honk their horn as they drove past us!  

It was an amazing and surreal experience.

So if you were ever wondering if anyone ever had a good thing to say about Tiger Airways?  The answer is yes.  I do.  And no I'm not sponsored to say that haha!


As of midday today (28/04/2014) Alexis' fundraising total sits at $2880 ($500 of that in cash, the rest online donations).  She has exceeded her $2500 goal and is now powering towards $3000.  People are quite honestly amazing, we've had so many generous friends and family jump on board and donate, and we've had so many strangers, also.

I am so incredibly proud.


Click here to donate!



Thanks Tiger & Passengers! <3

1 comment:

  1. Ok I have actual tears in my eyes so I can only imagine how emotional you must have been on the plane when people were pressing there bells! People are so generous. Omdz.. Really well done to Alexis. I can tell how proud you are. Just wow, I am truly amazed. Aww <3 Bless her and bless you too! xx

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