For those of you who know the horrors of the UK-NZ plane trip, you might want to avert your eyes for the next couple of paragraphs, while I tell of the delights of 'premiere business class' travel. I will completely understand and forgive any jealous reprisals you may wish to inflict upon me when I get back to the UK.
Ok, so my work has a policy of any flight over 10 hours automatically means you fly business class, and it was luxury. Even at the check-in desk they can't fawn over you or call you by your name enough. I got one of those pods that fold out into a bed, which alas is totally wasted on me as I simply cannot sleep on planes, but just being able to stretch your legs out and lie down is awesome. The lovely Daffydd (I can neither confirm or deny if he was the only gay in his village) plied me with champagne from the second I sat down, you can use your consoles straight away and - even more outrageous - THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHETHER YOUR SEAT IS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION!!!! I know, I couldn't believe it either. I'm quite sure that my lifeless body will be found in a ditch soon for revealing these secrets...
You get food from Providores (tre posh Mayfair restaurant run by a Kiwi), and they (gasp) put a linen tablecloth on your table. I think the best bit though, is you get to board first and get off first, and your luggage gets off-loaded first. I got through customs at Auckland and was on my way to the domestic terminal within 5 minutes of getting off the plane. I know, I know. I hate me too.
Here's my movie reviews of the many, many, many movies I saw on the plane:
Kung-Fu Panda: "Four Stars!" says Ange. " Well, I laughed!" - Ange
Ok, so my work has a policy of any flight over 10 hours automatically means you fly business class, and it was luxury. Even at the check-in desk they can't fawn over you or call you by your name enough. I got one of those pods that fold out into a bed, which alas is totally wasted on me as I simply cannot sleep on planes, but just being able to stretch your legs out and lie down is awesome. The lovely Daffydd (I can neither confirm or deny if he was the only gay in his village) plied me with champagne from the second I sat down, you can use your consoles straight away and - even more outrageous - THEY DON'T GIVE A DAMN WHETHER YOUR SEAT IS IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION!!!! I know, I couldn't believe it either. I'm quite sure that my lifeless body will be found in a ditch soon for revealing these secrets...
You get food from Providores (tre posh Mayfair restaurant run by a Kiwi), and they (gasp) put a linen tablecloth on your table. I think the best bit though, is you get to board first and get off first, and your luggage gets off-loaded first. I got through customs at Auckland and was on my way to the domestic terminal within 5 minutes of getting off the plane. I know, I know. I hate me too.
Here's my movie reviews of the many, many, many movies I saw on the plane:
Kung-Fu Panda: "Four Stars!" says Ange. " Well, I laughed!" - Ange
Prince Caspian: "A visual triumph" - Ange "Is it wrong of me to think the Prince is a total babe?" Ange & Verys (the 70 year old next to me)
Iron Man: "Three stars!", "Better than I was expecting"
The Bank Job: "Wicked!" "Choice Bro!" "Very clever and twisted plot"
Bridge to Terabithia: "Lovely and bittersweet, although by this time my brain had ceased to function normally."
Anyway, I finally made it to my apartment hotel in Wgtn at 9:30am only to be told to come back at 2pm as that's when check-in begins. Clearly the look of wild hysteria and welling up of tears convinced the girl behind the desk that I was in desperate need of sleep. While I was waiting for housekeeping to clean my room, I leafed through a random magazine only to find an article about Cliff Aitken, an old flatmate and good friend of Ariane's. NZ is such a village! Cliff now has his PHD and is doing all sorts of amazing things in Antartica. Knowing Cliff those legendary parties at Scott Base will be even wilder...
I was up at the crack of 4:30am the next morning so I went and watched the sunrise on the waterfront. Now I have seen a few sunrises in my time, but usually because I was on my way home to bed from a night out on the tiles. I think the last time I was up so early was to queue for Bledisloe Cup tickets.
I was blessed with a rare day of sunshine.
Vicious Wgtn Hoodie playing on swing...Anyway, I've caught up with some good friends, and have immediately reverted to the old 'seeing someone you know every 10 yards' down the Golden Mile. You've gotta love Wgtn. I've got more people to catch up with, including my family, and doing fun stuff like wine trails so I shall be busy. Oh yeah and I will try to fit that pesky work stuff in too.
Reason 1 to love NZ: My hair feels amazing again after 3 days of pure NZ water. Am tossing my hair about like I'm in a cheesy shampoo ad just because I can.
It's good to be home.
