Well I've done it! At last after all these years I've made it to NewZealand! I am staying in Auckland for one night. The flight was good in that having splashed out for business class I travelled in some luxury. My chauffeuse Jeanie Bruce arrived at 4.00 pm on the dot. By the time we got to Manchester air port we had swapped our life stories the way women do when they first meet.
No long walk through the airport. I was dropped outside the Emirates checkin and was soon in the executive lounge. There was all the alcohol you could drink including on tap champagne and all the food you could eat. Very comfy chairs and toilets to die for. Emirates
The flight was a little late leaving due to the de-icing procedures but hey better safe than sorry. After a couple of glasses of champage and a very nice meal I slept. Loads of leg room and a comfortable reclining chair.
The arrival at Dubai brought us down to earth! Long queues for a pointless security system where the operatives chatted away whilst supposedly looking at the screens. More luxury in the Emirates lounge though and then off again on the second leg to Melbourne. 13 hours!. Very good sleep though of 4-5 hours and lovely on tap food and more champagne. I was offered access to the first class suites which were even more luxurious beds in cubicles. I decided against as I had settled into my seat in plain old business and there was nobody at all in the first class section which felt bit strange.
I came to regret my decision when I returned to my seat as the man behind me had obviously overdone it on the good food and was producing the most obnoxious, sulphurous gut gas you have ever smelt in your life! Rotorua could not have done better!! It was so bad the attendent had to come and spray airfreshener. You are never far from humanity even in business class.
After a shower in the Emirates lounge at Melbourne and a quick phone call to my friend Pauline we set off on the last leg to Auckland. I sat next to a really nice man called Eric who lived in Auckland and who gave me lots of interesting info about NZ and maori culture and language. I made a bit of a mistake though as in hindsight I probably should have forgone the long wait for the food and the chat to Eric and got some sleep as the flight was relatively short at 4 hours and by the time the food was served we were close to landing. It meant that on arrival I was very tired and my head was swimming. I've learned my lesson. Coming back I will do more eating in the lounges and more sleeping on the plane.
