16C

Siberia. 

Back of the back door plane. 

Off to the tron 

12D

Half of Auckland appears to be on this flight. The other half are out there driving around. So far no neighbour but I expect that to change. 

Long day but a good day. Dunno When I'll do all the rats and mice emails tho. They're stacking up like planes on the tarmac. 

Had a lovely gin and tonic at koru. It gets made for you as well. 

Emergency exit row. Time to go.  

9D

Think there's an mp next to me - well, across the currently empty seat. Am fretting that she's Amy Adams the anti-feminist minister for women (or is that Louise upston?) clearly I need to upgrade on my pollies 101. 

Possibly she is neither but what I can confirm is her pair of red fuck me shoes. They are a lot - esp first thing of a day. 

You may note my more sensible rocker boots peaking in from the left. Always keep left. 

1A

Front row. Hassle with bags but hei aha. Longish day but a good one and Maria was fun to travel with. 

Traffic was remarkably ok for labour weekend Friday - I think Maria has powers...

Dodged Ian's request that we drop him at Parnell and then hit the road hard. 

I am sooo happy it's Friday and a long weekend. Good times. 

No snarks here. 

Sneaky view from the porthole

10C

It's raining for to bust but hopefully not in Auckland. 

I have my trusty blunt umbrella just in case (thanks Geoff). 

Today I have a travel companion - Maria is coming along for a day in my working life. Sorry that's way more fun already. 

10E

I don't know how late this flight is running but it worked out super well for me. Can't even bring myself to be annoyed about being the jellybean. 

I do think that it being 459 and almost half past six it's pretty late. 

Good day. Glad to be heading home. 

Two irritating things. Woman in front appears to verbalise - even explain - her every thought. Also she laughs excessively. 

Harsh. Judgy. That's the way it goes. 

Now. Stop it. 

One more thing. She says parra-parra-oomoo and notes that it's very hard to say. Well. She should know. 🙄

9D

Gate change and a late charge across the terminal and thru another security check. 

Gah. 

Still. Looking like my neighbour is an empty 💺 

8A

Window 

Seat next to me blocked - apparently

So. Koru hour and a view. 

6D

Woo hoo!

Not the jellybean and an empty seat as my neighbour 💺 

Auckland here we come

3E

very unusually for me I'm heading home mid-morning.

Have to be the jellybean and there's a lot of school holiday traffic, but otherwise I quite like it. Feels like travelling against the rush hour tide.

Ok. So it's a ladies row. One asked if she was in the correct seat; the other was keen to sneak past rather than wait for me to move so she could access the window seat. Urgh. 

Oh well. Door shorting. Away we go. 

6D

So far no neighbour.  Hoping.

Quite like these middle of the day flights - time to have a bit of a catch up at work, no need to wake up early, and most likely fewer people on the plane.

I have a 60 page pre meeting document to read today, so will have to work during the flight - not my favourite thing.

Also, as ever have stacked extra meetings into the day. Because, why not?

13C

Off to Hamilton in a back door plane. 

Greens behind and beside me. Wonder what's happening in the Waikato today?

Late call due to captain going off sick. Replacement had to fly up from chch. 

Cabin crew has a nifty short blond do. It's a nice change from buns and French pleats. 

10E

Men and their pockets at security. I have things to say!

Meanwhile the 5.30 is a miracle!

And now, post takeoff in the largely empty plane, here I am the sole occupant of row 11. 

Ahhh, that's better 🍾

8D

Arrive at airport at sparrow fart for early flight. 

There's a fire thing on the Tarmac and a massive queue to get thru security. 

Finally make it to koru and get my coffee only to find we're at gate 22. Other end of the terminal and another security queue. 

Not my finest ever start to the week. 

Phew. Made it. And not the jellybean. Like Charlie.