Signing books at all 6 stores in the complex, addressing crowds when they came through, I did this till 7pm. Round and round, round and round, round and round and round – If anyone needs a pedestrian map of Melbourne Airport, I can do you one in my sleep. For the staff of Watermark Books, Virgin Books & Entertainment and all 4 Newslink stores, it must have felt like “Groundhog Day”. Towards the end of it, I, personally, felt like Tom Hanks in the film “Terminal”.

Yet it did go well, store crowd reaction was really excellent at times, and a lot of copies of “Goodbye Crackernight” sold.

A massive thanks to all Melbourne Airport bookstore staff involved for their co-operation and patience: Cheers to the following…

Angelo, Lagardere Area Manager. Troy, Manager of Watermark Books. Raeleigh, Airport Book Manager. Courtney, Christopher and Anton of Watermark Books. Alex and Alice of Newslink Domestic. Karen of Newslink Terminal 3. Josie, Anna and Mel of Newslink, International Terminal. Helen of Virgin Book & Entertainment, for placing copies of the book front & centre at the Virgin counter. But most of all, thanks to Laurena of Newslink, International Terminal, for contacting me on Australia Day and saying, “Your books. They’re here!”

Tired but happy and with sore feet, at 7:15pm I sat at the counter of the Pendulum Bar, Qantas Domestic, and sipped a beer overlooking Qantas aircraft as they performed their tarmacal ballet under a bright blue evening sky. It was one of those ‘nicest beers I ever tasted’ moments.