Apr22017

Posted in NZ • Travel

On our way 2017

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Anne here… YIKES there is no getting away from it. It is a very,  very long journey from the UK to New Zealand. And I genuinely can’t decide whether it is better to come more or less straight through as we have done this time. Or to have an overnight stop over half way. Pros and cons for both.

AirNZ Premium Economy Seats

AirNZ Premium Economy Seats

BUT I can’t praise Air New Zealand enough. Just the loveliest staff, fantastic customer service throughout, great food. I have to say Premium Economy seats were worth every penny AND they were expensive, so that is saying a lot.

AND NOW WE ARE HERE IN AUCKLAND… let the fun begin. Although I might just have a quick nap on a real bed first. Lol.

Mar252017

Posted in NZ

Off to NZ again in a week

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Welsh Daffodils

Welsh Daffodils

So 3 years ago I posted some nice Welsh daffodils in our sunny spring garden and here we are again. A week to go before Anne and I jet off to New Zealand for a month.

We’re only doing North Island this time, which is a bit of a shame as we love the scenery in South Island. But even so we’re having trouble fitting in everything that we want to do north of the Cook Strait.

We’re flying from Heathrow next Saturday to LA, a 3 hour stop-over there and then going straight on to Auckland. About 29 hours in total which is pretty daunting. Though we decided to splash out and pay for Premium Economy on AirNZ this time. Their seats on the US route look pretty amazing, so I’m hoping that we will cope OK.

Keep an eye out for regular posts, though WiFi coverage can be a bit poor in some areas. NZ hotels still charge for wifi access which is a bit old-school these days.

On with the packing….

AirNZ's Smaug 777

May32014

Posted in Travel

Arrived Home to Wales via a Dragon

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Well, after a long flight from LA to London Heathrow we arrived home on Saturday. We flew on AirNZ’s Smaug liveried 777-300 which is a great plane. Given that we’ve travelled on 6 different planes over the past few weeks we were pretty impressed by AirNZ overall. Comfortable planes and great service.

But the jetlag is already kicking in. Shattered on Saturday evening and then woken very early on Sunday.

More photos on the way 🙂

Academy Awards by Rachel Jackson - https://www.flickr.com/photos/chickpokipsie/6932103167/

May22014

Posted in Thanks

Heading back home and thank yous

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Anne here . . . Friday 2nd May

So it’s time to go home. We have had the most incredible five weeks, genuinely the trip of a lifetime.

And as we are in Los Angeles, I am going to take the opportunity to make some Hollywood style thank yous because without all the following absolutely wonderful help and support, this trip genuinely wouldn’t have been possible.

  • our employers for letting us take so much holiday leave in one go (thank you Kath)
  • the help, support and trips out for my mum (especially Audrey)
  • my team in work – a really huge thank you
  • Pat and John for looking after our grumpy cat, also many thanks to John for the lift and for looking after our house.
  • The absolutely wonderful friends who have hosted and looked after us at various times along the way especially Gregg, Liz and Graham, Chris and Belinda Amelia and Ben, Kate Hayden, Max and Zac, Lisa and Gordon, Kate in Coromandel and finally Mike in Fiji. Your friendship is very very special to us and enriched the trip immeasurably.
  • Our family who are special beyond words, particularly Kieran, Sue and mum
  • Carole, Sandra and others who have popped in to see Bryn
  • Everyone else who has helped and supported us, we really appreciate you
  • But finally two ginormous thank yous – to my sister, Sue, genuinely without your support we wouldn’t have made it to Heathrow let alone around the world, you are an absolute hero and we are hugely indebted to you
  • and secondly to my travelling companion and the love of my life, Paul.

Hope I didn’t go on too long and no tears unlike Hollywood stars.

Thank you for being interested in our trip.

Some factoids to finish: we didn’t see a kiwi bird, the only kiwi fruit I ate was in the US, we were away for 37 nights, we drove 3,900 kilometres in New Zealand and Paul took 3,500 photos throughout the trip.

 

Post photo – Academy Awards by Rachel Jackson on Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/chickpokipsie/6932103167/ with thanks.