Coffee gives you wings

7.30am checked in and ready to fly! Dan and Lex shovelled me and my bags into the Ute at 4.30am and saw me through to the gate. In good Jaxon style “if you’re not three hours early you’re late”

So here I am in a much changed Auckland International Airport – three seats to myself so legs up – before the 38 hour journey ahead.

A last wander around wintery Waiwera yesterday afternoon – rugged up for the kiwi winter…after a long day of last minute panics, drowning myself in Petrol while filling the car, RAT test (not needed) visit with dad and a yummy lamb Roast cooked by Dan!

The calm before the storm, I leave my family and friends to another wet week ahead.

7.30pm Monday night I should be touching down in my second homeland, almost three years to the day since Russ and I left for what was his last time (sad face). It will be really odd travelling all this way on my own for the first time! The very nice lady at check in did advise me if I needed any assistance on my journey to just ask! So the old people thing is creeping up on me fast! Well really, getting up at 4.00am and no coffee, what do you expect!

So soon it’s off to Brisbane (first transfer) and the biggest hurdle of the journey …. forms etc.. unload baggage but after that my very helpful lady said I won’t need everything scanned – can stash away for the duration thereafter!

For now it’s goodbye to NZ, mask wearing and constant covid chatter to a world that has put this behind them…hallelujah! A big thank you to Dan Lex and Trudi for helping me make this happen xxx