New Zealand Dec 2006

The above entry was written for me by Milky, I suppose I should pad it out a little more.

It’s 1144 on Thu 7th Dec and we are in New Zealand.

I had hoped to write this entry on the deck but alas this laptop has no battery power so I am writing this in the Tanner’s dining room with Milky next to me chattering away. I am not listening, but this does not deter him.

I had hoped to blog before now (we’ve been here for 7 days now) but in truth it’s been so lovely not using a computer on a daily basis that I’ve been a little remiss.

So, a little bit of a catch up on events is in order, I feel.

We were dropped at Heathrow on Wednesday 29th, very smartly dressed (suits no less) and hoping for an upgrade. Which never materialised. Note to self, do not travel for 24 hours in 3 inch heel, knee high leather boots. We were flying (not without some hesitation) with Korean Air. I had hoped to be travelling with Singapore Airlines whose service makes even long haul enjoyable. Unfortunately, they were unable to fly us on the dates we had wanted and so after a risk assessment from MTM ‘I’m sure you’ll be ok’ - we took the plunge & booked.

I hadn’t been particularly excited in the approach to the holiday, partly because I wasn’t at all sure it would happen & partly because I’d had so much to do beforehand. Being away over Christmas, I’d thought I could just ignore the whole thing but those more mature than I, namely Milky, pointed out that I would be able to fit in all my visits in November instead – and I almost managed it. I felt a strange, sick, glow as I posted my cards in November – even lovely Angie doesn’t do it that early.

Sitting down on the plane, able to catch a breath for the first time in a month, happy that I had everything ‘tickets, passport, money’ I finally believed I was going. The first 12 hours were on a par with Singapore Airlines, individual tv’s in each headrest, lots of room (not a full flight) decent food, sleep towels, hot eye masks, socks with toothpaste, you know the drill.

There was a slightly disappointing selection of films ( I was hoping to see ‘Casino Royale’ again ; never thought I’d say that about a Bond movie) the best of which was ‘Talladega Nights ; The Ballad of Ricky Bobby’. Don’t watch this movie if either a) you like sophisticated humour or b) someone’s trying to sleep with their head in your lap (not as bad as it sounds honest – it’s just my stifled sniggers kept waking him). However, if ‘Dodgeball’ or ‘Anchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundy’ float your boat then ‘Talladega Nights’ will have you giggling. Look out for his first tv interview.

After 6 hours of frequently broken sleep, we arrived at Incheon airport in Seoul which though not as glamorous as Singapore, still makes Heathrow look like a slum. After more sleep in the departure lounge we were decanted into a smaller, older airplane (I’ve no idea what make/model/engine size/colour - poss a 767 ?) for leg 2 of the journey. It was on this one that Milky made a foray, albeit inadvertently into World Cuisine. The hostesses, whilst every bit as beautiful as those with Singapore Airlines, had a limited grasp of English. I should admit that my Korean extends to er .. well nothing actually and so I’m not in a position to point the finger.

The stewardess offered us 2 dishes for breakfast, I distinctly heard her say ‘omeret’ as she gestured at one dish and did indeed end up with an omelette. Less happily, Milky thought he heard the word ‘mushroom’ as she indicated the other dish. Suspecting he was to be served some variation on a theme of a cooked breakfast he confidently asked for ‘mushroom’ To be served with mushroom porridge and shredded seaweed. Oh how we laughed. Well I did anyway. He ate it stoically, remarking that it was ‘surprisingly tasty’. He asked if I would like to share his dessert of ‘rice cakes’. They looked innocuous, 2 slightly flattened, 50 pence size, squishy balls, in the same pink & white colours of Western marshmallows and so I bit into one. Only to discard it hurriedly into my napkin as the taste became evident. Milky had been watching this performance & it is to his credit that he still tasted his. Missing the mark by some wide degree I felt, he offered up the analysis ‘Nnngh – not very nice are they ?’

Feeling surprisingly well rested we arrived at Auckland in heavy rain, bang on schedule at 1030 on the 1st December. If you understand time lines you’ll know that we were actually arriving at 2230 on the 30th November as far as we were concerned. If you’re like Eric, don’t worry your pretty little head worrying about it. Knowing Michelle, I had expected her to be there as we came through Arrivals and her absence threw me somewhat. Thoughts of the ‘They’ve forgotten about me/don’t love me anymore/insert appropriate motorway pile-up disaster scenario’ flooded my head and by 1035 I was suggesting to Milky that we hire a car & make our way South. Milky counselled against this with the advice ‘We’ve only been here 5 minutes’ which, in hindsight’ seems sensible.

Sure enough, as he headed off for refreshments I suddenly spotted Michelle and Alice and we had a big, huggy hello. Alice has grown at least 3 inches, shed a lot of weight and has now acquired the mannerisms of a young woman rather than a girl. I now understand how awful it must be for a child going through puberty to endure the amazed ‘You’ve grown’ comments from friends and relatives. It feels hackneyed and clichéd, but you just can’t help but say it.

After a quick coffee-break, by which time in true NZ fashion, the sun had come out, we trotted over to the Mistral, loaded it up & headed for the Waikato. Even in the built up car park, I was immediately aware of tasting wonderfully clean air and noting the painfully bright colours, which led me to realise I’d forgotten my baseball cap, without which I am constantly squinting. I deliberately hadn’t told Milky much about the geography & history of NZ, knowing that Michelle would do a much better job. She didn’t disappoint and as we listened, I gazed around me & soaked up the sights. Everywhere that we’ve been in the meantime, I’ve been trying to see things through Milky’s eyes.

That’s the end of my post for now, as we’re heading off for the races shortly, I’ll finish this tonight…

Cx