Frank's prediction was born out but it worked to our favour. A Lufthansa manager type arrived at check in and once the ticket stuff was done he escorted us, now sans bikes and cases, through security and immigration to the 'Lufthansa Suite'. While the others enjoyed the facilities of the First Class lounge, Paul and myself did the whole medal waving thing for the corporate photographer.

Bit of a pain but they were transporting us for free, in First Class, so I guess this counts as payment. On our own, together, with a couple of immaculately turned out air hostess types, you name it we did it. Another chap then did a sort of interview for their in flight magazine, I doubt that I'll ever see that, regular flier that I am!

I sank into one of the comfy chairs next to Tal, “Bleh!”
“The cost of fame,” my team mate smirked.
“Its alright for you, sat here drinking coffee.”
“You won't want this then,” Iz suggested arriving with a steaming cup of caffeine infused goodness.
“Never said that,” I told her, “Any of those Lotus biscuit things?”
“These,” she grinned digging a couple of packs of said biscuits from her pocket.
“Cheers Iz, some people know how to look after Weltmeisterin.”
Tal snorted, “Just hope you can get through the doors.”

I poked my tongue out at her, yeah very adult I know.

 
Our flight was called and once again we were given the VIP treatment, none of the tedious queing in departures for Ersten Klasse, nope another Lufthansa employee escorted not just our Federation group but the other first class passengers too, directly to the walkway. By the time they started loading the hoi polloi we were already, if not in our seats, at them. It was already effectively dark outside so my window seat gave no distraction for now, I reckon sleep will be high on the agenda.

Of course, its a long flight, and in this direction, on paper its a fourteen hour stint but of course a big chunk of that is regaining the time difference as we go east through the time zones. On the plus side, tomorrow will feel short, we are due into Frankfurt about one CET which would be, I dunno, six in the morning here in Canada. Talk about confusing, maybe thats why people try to travel east on their way around the globe, it lessens fatigue if you do it right.

I woke to the smell of fresh coffee but also the unmistakable aromas of a cooked breakfast.

“Wondered how long it'd be,” Tal smirked.
“Time is it?”
“No idea, I'm still on Kanada time, suns up though.”

I slid the window blind up and squinted outside, well of course, up here its always white clouds below and blue skies as far as the eye can see.

“I need a wee,” I announced, undoing my seatbelt.
“Don't be too long or you'll miss breakfast,” my team mate teased.

I returned to my seat just ahead of breakfast, refreshed and somewhat more alert, I took the opportunity to have a quick wash and tidy up, nothing worse than facing the day looking like you've just woken up. Okay, I have but that's not the point, what if Angela Merkel is waiting when we get off the plane? I'd certainly never hear the end of it from Mum or Gran for that matter.

They certainly look after you in first, real cups for the fresh coffee, proper china plates for the food which turned out to be a sort of omelette with a couple of those tiny breakfast frankfurter things. There was a slightly soggy croissant, a glass of orange juice and a tub of yoghurt too, okay it wasn't a huge amount but it was quite passable. Especially when the Hostess came round with more coffee, hmm, I could do breakfast that i've not made every day – in my dreams.

“So you going straight back to HamburgTal?”
“Not sure, Dad drove me down, we didn't really sort out getting home.”
“Perhaps they're trying to tell you something,” I teased, “What 'bout you Iz?”
“S-bahn to Frankfurt, then there's a direct train to Regensburg, dad'll pick me up from there.”
“Thought you lived in Munich?”
“I wish, Wenzenbach is miles from anywhere.”
“But it is in Bavaria?”
“Yeah,” she agreed.
“At least I got that bit right.”
“You live up Bonn way right?”
“Yeah, few K away but close enough.”
“So you getting picked up?”
“I hope so, i've got two bike boxes and my case.”
“Don't forget the Mooses,” Tal added.
“You need a truck to yourself,” Izzy opined.
“Didn't you see the Hymer,” Tal chortled.
“Its not just for me,” I stated in my defence.
Frank appeared at the end of the row, “Everyone okay?”
“Better for being fed,” I offered.
“I really don't know where you put it Bond,” he mentioned with a shake of the head, “I've spoken to the lads already, there's a fair chance we'll have a welcoming committee in Frankfurt, I know they aren't exactly fashionable but can you wear your tracksuit tops when we land please.”
“Reckon we can manage that,” Tal advised.
“You think there'll be someone important there?” I enquired, thoughts of meeting Chancellor Merkel at the forefront of my mind.
“Probably not, but I would expect some press, there's an option to give a press conference, we'll play that by ear.”
“Press conference?”
“Well apparently Bond, your exploits have garnered some interest at home.”
“Looks like you're famous Gab,” Tal suggested.
“Can I get your signature,” Iz hammed.
“I'll leave you to it,” Frank told us before slipping away.

 
“You really think they'll want a press conference?” I asked the others.
“Frank's probably just winding you up,” Tal told me.
“Yeah,” Izzy added, “After all, who'd want anything to do with a double Weltmeisterin?”

Sugar, what'll I say? Maybe I should write a speech.

The others started a daft conversation, you know the kind of thing, some sort of suggestion by one, a more ludicrous one from the other, back and forth getting ever more silly. I left them to it, looking out of the window my own thoughts drifted to just as silly speculation of how it will go down at the airport.

Of course you have to start at the top, the Chancellor but maybe I'm not that important, perhaps the Minister for Sport? There again perhaps I'm still thinking too big, it'll probably be someone from the State legislature, do they even have a sports minister, they must do. Nah, it'll just be someone from the Federation, probably some office bod, the President will likely be in Canada as we speak with the senior team.

 
“Gab?” Iz called over.
“I've seen that look before,” Tal suggested, “She'll be dreaming of lover boy.”
“Was not.”
“Bet you were.”

Well okay, perhaps I did get that far down the list of potential greeters but only briefly.

“So what's up Iz?”
“Lunch menu,” she passed a card over to me.
“We get a choice?”
“Dur,” Tal started, “We did on the way out.”
“A lot's happened since then,” I mentioned.

There wasn't exactly a lot of choice, Chicken Korma, chargrilled chicken salad or the vegetarian option, a plain salad. Much as the salads sounded tempting I think it'll have to be the Korma, I marked my card and passed it back over to Izzy.

 
Fifteen minutes later and lunch was served, the mild curry came with slightly annoyed rice and a mini Naan. Not only that but being sort of in Germany there was one of those little bottles of wine – white to go with the chicken but it was gratefully received anyhow. Cheers Lufthansa.

“Wish i'd gone for that,” Tal opined.
“You didn't have to have salad,” I pointed out.
“Some of us do have to watch our weight.”
“Since when? Didn't stop you eating pizza the other day.”
“Sort of rode that off on Sunday.”
“You on a diet too Iz?”
“Nah, I'm just not keen on spicy food, gives me heartburn.”
“This is hardly spicy,” I pointed out.
“A toast,” Tal proposed, “To us!”
“To us,” we chorused, clinking our glasses together.

 
The lunch debris was barely cleared away before the pilot announced the start of our descent and approach into Frankfurt.

'We've made good time ladies and gentlemen so we will touchdown approximately thirty minutes early. Local time is now twelve oh five, the weather on the ground is currently fifteen degrees with a fine drizzle. On behalf of myself and all the crew, thank you for flying with Lufthansa, we hope to see you again soon.'

Well thats put the kibosh on the whole welcome thing, no gracefully descending the aircraft steps waving to the assembled masses. Who am I kidding, that was never happening anyway was it – maybe in my dreams but never in reality.

 
The landing was textbook, there was a bit of turbulence on the approach as we descended through the cloud that had been hiding any view of the ground below. Then it was the seemingly endless taxiing from the runway to the terminal – most planes here at Frankfurt don't actually get near the buildings, the passengers bused to and from the terminal. However, the big birds doing long haul do and after trundling between the parked aircraft on the infield the engines finally powered down and as is usual, we all started preparing to disembark.

Of course, its a bit less harried in First, by the time we'd donned tracky tops and collected our stuff together Annika was with us to act as chaperone through the airport.

“Try to keep together girls, we'll meet up with the others at luggage reclaim.”
“Might need the facilities before then.”
“Yeah, especially if theres a big queue at passport control,” Iz agreed.
“We can stop on the way,” Annika told us.

Unlike the VIP treatment in Toronto, this side of the Atlantic it was more of a free for all. We soon joined the other passengers on the seemingly endless walk through the corridors to finally come up to the back of the immigration queue. There were some handy facilities, who knows, maybe the queue will be shorter when we emerge?

 
We shuffled forward, at least the EU line was moving faster than the Auslander queue. I waited patiently for my turn, smiled at the officer as I handed over my passport and waited and waited as he looked at his screen. What's wrong, will I be dragged off for questioning or something?

“Welcome home Miss Bond."

Phew, i know theres nothing amiss but you always have that slight nagging doubt right? Okay, all my paperwork is fully legit these days, its got my name, my actual gender and my picture, not like when i've ended up travelling on my sister's passport, that really was dodgy! Anyhow I took back my passport and passed into Germany proper.

“Problem?” Iz enquired when I caught up to the others.
“Nope, just the computer taking its time.”
“Yeah, there's probably loads of criminals called Gaby Bond,” Tal chuckled.
“The name's Bond, Gabrielle Bond, licensed to race,” I stated in my best Sean Connery.
“Now that,” Annika grinned, “Really is criminal. Come on, lets go find the bags.”

At least the reclaim was only a few metres further on, it was easy to find the right belt, Frank and the lads were already there waiting.

“About time,” Paul opined.
“Is the luggage here yet?” Tal asked.
“Not yet, screen reckons five minutes.”
“Well we're in plenty of time then,” she stated.
 
Maddy Bell © 18.11.2018