A big thanks Tracy Gray,an independent working for the Travel Centre.  Tracy put our trip together and last night at midnight Margaret and I were eating the large chocolate fish that had arrived with our travel pack.  We almost had everything packed and sorted.  You would think now that I had retired I had all the time in the world to get things ready, well it doesn’t work like that.  Getting this blog sorted, getting email sorted, getting European maps for John’s Tomtom and trying to preload our trip, arranging accomodation,  Working through Google Translate as we booked a roof top apartment in Genoa that was on the 6th floor, had no elevator and was in a pedestrian only area so needed to find somewhere for the car.  None of that was simple and all took so much time.  ThanksMatt for your help

Vaughan, Gil and Emily took us to the airport where we had an enjoyable snack at Mojo’s and a decent coffee,maybe our last for a bit. We parted ways as we went through the doors into security.

It has begun, but it was not going to be without a little hometown excitement. We are two minutes away from being called for boarding when the fire alarm goes off.  You know what it is like the alarm starts up and you say that is the fire alarm but nobody moves until they start actually saying over the address system to vacate the building.  Is it a fire? Or is it that other thing you are not allowed to utter?  The first exit door we find is locked and I am very tempted to break the glass as it says to do in an emergency.  It didn’t quite feel like that. We never did find out though it was probably a fault in the fire system.  Just as well it is a great Wellington winters day as it wasn’t unpleasant out on the Tarmac. 45 minutes later we got to file back inside to go through immigration and security again.  What a shambles with a queue that stretched way back out side. People turning up for their flights had a long way back to go.

On board Virgin flight VA107.  I don’t think they could get the seats closer together if they tried, it’s almost impossible to be able to relax and dose off.  Fortune shone on us thanks to Tracy and we were on the list for list for a snack and a glass of wine.  A chicken Rissoto which was very nice and a pretty dry bun.  No screens on the flight, onboard entertainment was through an IPad app.  A bit different.

Well sitting here at Brisbane Airport,another 2 hours before our 14 hour hop to Abu Dhabi.  Yippee I hope the next plane has a bit more space, especially legroom or it’s going to be a long 14 hours. It is dark outside and quite inside.  I must have pick me written all over me.  Got picked and checked for drugs at Wellington.  Got picked and got a full body scan at Brisbane.