Whakatane, New Zealand

I had my final exam for the paper I have been studying this morning and the feeling of walking out when finished with the dawning realisation that this is the last one I intend to sit was magic. Now I could only enjoy that for a fleeting moment as I had a plane to catch in 3 hours and I had not packed yet. I almost get anxiety attacks thinking about it being a highly planned and organised person usually complete with spreadsheets detailing the macro. Well now all of my dear ones that think me a little odd, I have just shown you that in fact I can live dangerously after all.

Added to the stress I had an extra trip to town to post about 20 packages (Trademe clean out – why did I list them just before holiday ?), and a shop for some toothpaste etc for trip. No sweat, I can do it, yep. Vern was working today, but knocking off early – also to pack last minute.

Fast forward we made it, only thing forgotten as we headed for the airport was my camera tripod – which I need for my moon pictures. No worries I will just have to buy one en route or Vern will have to make something for me and improvise. Dad Latham got us to the airport in plenty of time for our 4:50pm flight from Whakatane to Auckland.

We asked for express baggage at Whakatane airport as we only had two hours between arrival at the Auckland domestic airport and international departure. This meant we got our bag on disembarking the plane and wheeled it off the tarmac. Good tip if you are time economical.

Our transfer went well, check In very smooth, friendly, and efficient with no lines and we relaxed into waiting for our plane after a light snack and coffee at departures. Our plane was a ‘small’ 737 but modern, clean and comfortable. Service genuinely warm and professional and I enjoyed 1.5 movies by the time we landed. I watched ‘ how to be single’ and thoroughly enjoyed it, the other was based on the exposure by a journalistic team of the sexual abuse of children by the Catholic Church. The latter movie ok, shocking to see the extent of corruption and cover up by the church. The dinner was not so good on the plane, a bit dry and uninspiring, but everything was generous and served with a smile. They even offered to make me herb tea which was awesome. Nothing is too much trouble, including giving you mini water bottles instead of stupid half filled cups…

We arrived at around 9pm local time and had a short walk across the road in the lovely cool evening to our hotel, the Holiday inn. It’s older style and carpet a bit shabby, along with paint due a spruce up, but service was great, beds and pillows spotless and very comfortable. We hit the pillows tired and happy, setting the alarm early for our 8am flight in the morning with excitement to be on holiday – again.