I can’t either! But I was there recently, and most of the younger generation speak good English, the older generation, not so much.
And I used translation apps on my phone for phrases and used the camera to convert signs and menus to English, so it wasn’t a big issue.
Maybe I could manage then , I just assumed most French people can’t speak good English.
I still have a passport application form that I’ve had a year and I haven’t applied for one yet, if I do get one it would be my first one ever
Go for it. And if you don’t use it, don’t use it. The options it opens up are massive. Plus, it’s an incredible ID document (100 points).
I got my Passport just before Covid and it turned out to be the best decision I made. Still haven’t travelled but as an ID its well used.
I have been to Flushing Medows and Wimbledon - not when the slams are on unfortunately. if you can snag tickets, go to Wimbledon. Its beautiful and you can feel the history in the air.
Pretty much anywhere in Europe that attracts tourists you can get by with English. I’ve extensively travelled Europe and never had an issue or really made an effort to learn any of the languages (of course you pick up key words but don’t really need them). The only place I can think of that was hard where not speaking the language was Russia (that was 10+ years ago so long before the current conflict).
I’ve been to the same - although I went to the actual US Open tournament when it was on but only toured the Wimbledon grounds. I was actually in London when Wimbledon was on but it was in it’s final days and it’s close to impossible to get tickets with that ballot system so opted for a grounds tour the following week instead (which was super interesting anyway).
I know that didn’t use to be the case. My sister went to France in 2006 and she had trouble with the language barrier.
I think we probably also have social media to thank for the prevalence of English, since there is so much of it in English.
Changes are coming over the next twelve months to Virgin’s Velocity Frequent Flyer program.
The program announced today that they’ll create two new status - Forever Gold and Platinum Plus. Move towards spend base status earning - the more the ticket costs, the more status credits earned. And three benefits axed from Gold and Platinum status holders. Along with an increase of point redemptions.
I’ve just returned from a quick 3 day getaway up to Cairns. I travelled up on a Qantas Boeing 737-800 and returned home this morning on a Jetstar flight.Airbus A320.I like Qantas for a change because you get free meals and drinks,also Qantas have entertainment screens on the seat backs for watching movies,etc,Jetstar don’t have screens on their aircraft .I had the flight tracker up on my screen,it was fun being able to track the flights progress .
As Cairns is another old stomping ground I had a look around,checking out old haunts like my old family home and primary school. I hired a Kia Sportage at the airport and I was lucky to get a rental car as they didn’t have many available the other day.
I do have relatives there (Mums side)but I’m not as close to them as I am to my other relatives down in Canberra so I didn’t see any of them and I wasn’t there long enough anyway.
I can’t be away for too long because I have to work my volunteer hours for the RSPCA every fortnight.I’m such a plane nerd 
too
I did the Skyrail yesterday,the cable car system that travels up the mountain range up to Kuranda.The views are amazing,I first went on it way back in 1996 ,not long after it opened
I love these too, I think they actually help me to manage flight fatigue.
Since I usually travel with Jetstar ,it’s a novelty for me
A couple of times I’ve been on flights with free/included wifi.
That is even better as I can use a flight tracking app and that gives you all the details you could want eg. age of your plane, your geo coordinates, how far you’ve travelled/distance to go, time elapsed/remaining, everything… and they are very accurate too… you can zoom in/out on the map and see what towns are near you etc too.
I’ll have to look up on Flightraider 24 the progress of my flight this morning , I usually do that anyway.one of the pilots did say which way they were travelling,not all of them do that
Biggest problems with this are
(1) Business class is the same earn rate now as a Choice and Flex fare, now there’s little point in even booking a business class seat to aid with status (and Qantas has much of the business class clientele anyway)
(2) Those on the fringe but looking for cheap getaways will now be discouraged from booking early, with flight prices always increasing the closer the flight date is.
(3) Still haven’t got an answer on if someone books a return flight if the status credits are calculated on the total price and are allocated after the 2nd flight (now that there’s no sector requirements)
(4) Still haven’t got an answer on how credits are calculated if someone uses “Points + Pay” which earns credits (as opposed to reward flights which don’t), are they credited on the price paid after allocating points or the normal fare?
I’ve probably got enough credits from 2013 onward to obtain Forever Gold (earned close to 3000 since January 2021, and would have more pre-2020 to count even if the international flights only count for half). But if the spend credit rate was applied this year rather than next, I’d be twice as far away from maintaining Platinum status than I would be currently (160 credits required before mid March, with a Singapore trip, Hobart trip, Brisbane trip and Melbourne Christmas trip upcoming this year)
Landing yesterday morning my aircraft travelled past Brisbane CBD,then over the south western suburbs,I was trying to spot the RSPCA at Wacol where I volunteer as I see aircraft fly overhead when I’m there sometimes .Then they turned around and landed from the south so it would have passed over where I live too.The Brisbane River looks like a giant snake from the air winding through the city.
You can create an online account with Flightrader 24 and log all your flights,I’ve been doing that for the last 4 years.I’m sure my log is very small compared to someone who travels for work or can afford multiple overseas flights 
its still interesting to do it though
Currently, the booking website shows there is no availability from Geelong to Devonport for a motorhome that is 10-metres long and 2.1-metres high until March, and no return trips until June.
The government commissioned a report into the issues with the Devonport berthing facilities, which it received last Friday.
The report is expected to outline the cost of the temporary port upgrade and construction timings, as well as an assessment on storing the boats overseas until permanent infrastructure is ready.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the report was being considered and he would “outline the plan forward” on Thursday this week.
