I'm Always Right.

Well, hello there.

I survived and I'm back in Australia - sadly free of an upgrade, thanks to a full plane with about a thousand (slight exaggeration?) passengers on board. Almost 24 hours later and without even a hint of sleep, I staggered into Sydney airport, looking slightly worse for wear and then had to endure the panic of waiting at the luggage belt for almost an hour.

(I swear, my suitcase is always the VERY last one to come out on the belt. Every time. It gives me heart palpitations. I'm sure it's since I am super early on every flight, so my suitcase is at the bottom of the pile... but I get incredibly nervous waiting around for it while everyone else has theirs. All good though. The suitcase got there in the end.)

I managed to get a good eight hours of sleep last night and mum and I were off in the early hours to get started on the wedding venue search. The first place we saw was okay - but really was just okay. It had ugly carpet and pink curtains (gag) that wouldn't match any of the colours I had in mind... and was in a historic house, so had its share of interesting quirks. It wasn't the one, but it was only the first visit so not too worried about that.

We also ventured right into Sydney city to visit another venue; one I've been super excited about for weeks now, as its location is AMAZING. It's literally right under the Harbour Bridge and it's got an amazing view! We arrived early and had a walk around in the sunshine and stopped for some lunch in The Rocks, heading back to the venue just shy of our 2pm appointment time.

This is where things went pear shaped.

There was a function on inside, and so we had to ask a staff member for help - so they sent out the manager. He turned us away.

(!)

(Pause for dramatic effect.)

I told him about the appointment that was booked, and he told me that I couldn't possibly have had one, as there were functions on in both rooms and that it was impossible to go in and view them. I tried to get the email up on my iPhone while we were talking, but my lovely phone decided not to turn on, which was very helpful. Manager-guy also told me that the venue co-ordinator was away on holidays that weekend, sorry,so it must have been wrong and no, you really can't come in today.

And that was it! Talk about a let-down.

I walked away furious and may have had my first Bridezilla moment in the car on the way home - because what a waste of time, money, tolls, parking tickets! My stinking iPhone decided to turn on then and hey, GUESS WHAT THE EMAIL SAID? Let me give you a clue.

Something along the lines of 'Hi, 2pm is confirmed, I'll be away but there will be someone there to give you an inspection, just walk inside and ask any staff member. Here's our address, and see you then, kthxbye.' (It may have been slightly wordier than that. And with better grammar.)

So, blah.

It doesn't help that I had my hopes up that this was the venue. The one where you walk inside and just know that this is where you can see yourslf getting married. This is where you can picture people sitting, and this is what it'll be like. The one that can convince you to stop looking elsewhere and be happy with what you've got.

(I know, I know, high hopes for Day One, but that's kind of why I planned this visit at the very beginning.)

Not even getting a look inside the door was just plain mean. Plus, the manager guy gave me a look. Not just any look, a look. The kind of look as if to say, 'Sorry lady, you're wrong and I'm busy... please leave.' And seriously! I was right! I knew I was right! I am the world's most organised planner - so when I say I have an appointment, I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT. Geez!

Not a great start to the fortnight of wedding extravaganza, but it's early days yet - and I'm so happy being back here. How could you not be when you are visiting a city this beautiful?