Doors closed, armed and cross-checked

Doors closed, arm all doors and cross-check; the seatbelt light is activated and the cabin crew take their places. After an uncomfortable delay we may actually be moving, everyone is relieved - I certainly am.

It is uncomfortably hot inside the cabin and everyone is feeling it. The Captain comes over the intercom and informs us the tail turbine running the air-conditioner and electrics has failed on the inbound flight earlier today.

So we are without climate control and even though it is close to midnight in winter, it is uncomfortably hot. We are all in long sleeves and it is like a sauna in here, we are all dripping with sweat and just want to get moving.

Their plan is to crank up two inner turbines whilst the aircraft is at the terminal to get some air movement in the cabin, push back and crank the two outer turbines and then maneuver the aircraft into position - I think this is a smashing plan so let's get it done.

Storms over Perth, we still have wheels on the ground and we can feel it, some cross-wind and the aircraft is moving around. Wheels are off the ground, the aircraft lifts and drops, this isn't a nasty take-off buff you certainly know you are in inclement weather but we are off and everyone is happy.