All packed and ready to go

Well, almost.
I have done the on-line check-in for the Emirates flight to Dubai and then Manchester.  I don't think it had really sunk in until today just how much further this is than a flight to Los Angeles - yes, I know, a simple look at a map would have shown me.  However, it's quite clear to me now - 14.5 hours on the plane, then a bit over 2 hours in transit in Dubai, then another 7.5 hours.
The good thing is that I'm told now that flying this direction is much less draining in terms of jet-lag than flying towards Los Angeles.  We've never had a huge problem with jet lag anyway, but this time both of our long flights are in the 'less bad' direction.
Nothing more to say now - I'm going to try to post again in Sydney, then again from Dubai just to prove that the holiday really has started!