Wake me up in 14 hours

Well here I am again in the Air New Zealand lounge in Auckland airport. In case you’re wondering, they still haven’t cleaned the showers from last time I was here three weeks ago. Again, I’ve drank my body weight in L&P. This time there was an added bonus – a free massage. I choose the foot reflexology. I’m all relaxed now, save for my banging headache (can you believe this airport doesn’t sell over the counter headache pills airside?).

Anyhow, a 14 hour, 7000 odd mile flight awaits me. I think I’ll have dinner, watch a movie then grab a nice long sleep (have I mentioned how comfy the beds are on NZ?)

Destination – Vancouver!

How cool is this?

I'm in the Air New Zealand lounge at Melbourne International Airport and have just discovered the automatic pancake making machine. You press a button and 20 seconds later 2 hot pancakes turn out. I wasn't even hungry but I just HAD to play with the machine. Is it me or is this just really cool!

On the down side, it seems like half of he flight is in the lounge with me ... all yelling in their oka twang :-(

Cool or what?

Playing dress up

My niece Ruby trying on some high heals (and no, they're not mine)

How do you like it?

People think I’m anal. It’s obviously a family trait. I found this list in my sister’s pantry. She actually keeps a list of regular visitors (and me) and their preference for tea and coffee along with milk and sugar. I’m honoured to be on the list considering it’s been nearly 6 years since I’ve had a cup of tea at her place.

FYI – My tea is back with one sugar. Don’t y’all forget!

Being an uncle is hard work

Being an uncle is HARD work. I took seven of my sister’s children to play mini golf yesterday. Try keeping them all in one place, refereeing who gets to go first, keep score AND take photos all at the same time takes some effort. It all ended without tears and a good day was had. Round it off with lunch at KFC and you’re onto a winner.By the end of the day I needed a beer to relax (and to cope with the hot weather) as well as an early night. Fun times!

Three of the tribe on the course

Lunch at KFC!

Hot, hot, hot!

Ever opened the oven and had that waft of hot air heat hit you in the face? If so, you know what it was like here today – ‘down under’. The mercury hit 119 degrees today. Thankfully there was no humidity, rather a stinging, dry heat. Oven-esque, I would call it. A cool change is due tomorrow, but ‘cool’ for Australians and ‘cool’ for us Brits are two very, very different things ……..

A day in the sun

As the mercury just nudged over the 100 mark today, a few of my nieces and nephews decided to head into garden to cool themselves down. All I wanted, was a beer :-)

Fun on the farm

An afternoon spent with some of my nephews on their farm in 100 plus degree heat

Bored in Auckland

Well bored I must be if I finally resort to finally blogging. It’s not that I haven’t wanted to blog, it’s just that so much has been going on in my life recently. You know the old adage, when it rains … it pours. And pour it does.

Anyhow, I’m currently in Auckland, New Zealand. In the Koru Lounge to be precise. I arrived at 0900 LT this morning after an 11 hour flight on the New Zealand national carrier Air New Zealand from Tokyo, Japan. I have a 6.5 hour layover before heading on to Melbourne, Australia. I had planned on heading into the city for a wee look however on arrival it was raining and not that warm (it’s supposed to be summer down here). So I headed to the lounge and decided to chill. I have been that board that I have:

• moved seats 6 times
• had a shower (have they not heard of bleach to clean?)
• worked my way through their beer selection (well, just 3 of the 21 on offer)
• photocopied my hand on the business centre photocopier
• plan spotted
• played ‘match-the-person-to-the-destination’
• drank my own body weight in L&P
• charged my laptop
• charged my cell phone
• charged my camera battery
• wondered why they haven’t replaced 2 light bulbs that have blown

Not long to go now. If I had any longer, I may well just have resorted to these ideas. Just 40 minutes until they start boarding. It’s another 3.5 hours to Melbourne from Auckland. Should it be movie or sleep?

Happy New Year to y’all!

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