Fire Fighting Nephew, his wife, their two year old daughter, their under one year twin boys, his mother and her mother flew to New Zealand today, well yesterday as you read.
FFN's mother, aka Ex Sis in Law, stayed last night and was due to fly out at 9.30am but the day before Air New Zealand changed the flight time to about 12.30. So instead of being up early to be at the airport at 7.00, it changed to 9.30. R wasn't' going to come to the airport but as the flight was later he did. I was dreading the traffic, but it was ok.
While we were just going to drop Ex Sis in Law, for better or worse we decided we wanted to see the greats and we are glad we did.
There is no way they could have checked in using the self check in machines. A staff member took it on board and had it all sorted an.....hour later. Passports checked, boarding passes issues for five plus two on the knee. There were 11 items of luggage to check in, from suitcases, a double cot, a pram, two strollers. A couple of items had to be taken to the oversize luggage department. What a nightmare, and that was before they got to Border Force. Goodness knows what fluids were packed in the about ten large carry on luggage and what medicines may need to be checked. My arthritis kicked in and I had sit for a time.
The visit is to attend the wedding of friends in Christchurch, where FFN will be best man.
We were home by about 11 after paying usurious $30 for short term parking, along with about $10 in road tolls. Ex Sis in Law did ask us what Scotch we drink, so we are expecting a large duty free gift when we pick her up upon her return next week. Once home, I felt out of sorts or using a good word, discombobulated.
We had missed brunch out, so I had some left over mashed potato, pumpkin and carrots.
I realised I had no wine left and so caught a tram to Prahran to buy some Chateau de vin blanc Cardboard. Coffee out and doing something normal, I felt better and forgot the morning.
I was hungry again and there was some left over nasi goreng in the fridge, so I ate that. I ate no fruit today as Australia's fresh fruit is rubbish. Plums and peaches go from being rock hard to rotten without ever ripening. I am trying some white peaches, but I don't hold high hopes.
R made an omelet, chips and vegetables for dinner. A little wine and I feel a whole lot better, ready for a worryless sleep and normal routines will happen tomorrow.
Very hectic day you've had. Some worryless sleep should do you some good.
ReplyDeleteKirk, it did indeed.
DeleteYes, white and yellow peaches go off very quickly. I wonder why
ReplyDeletepicked too early, stored too long "ripened" by gassing then sold .
DeleteRoentare, I hope you enjoy the superior fruit back where you were born when you visit.
DeleteAll that River, plus being bred to stay firm during transport. You would no believe how good fruit can be in Europe and much of Asia. They would not put up with such poor quality.
DeleteWhy did Air New Zealand change the flight time suddenly? That seems to be happening all the time these days - changed, cancelled, luggage missing etc :(
ReplyDeleteHels, I have no idea and they weren't told. I suspect a change to maximise numbers on flights.
DeleteQuite a day. I have problems getting good fruit too. My daughter goes to the Farmer's Market for hers.
ReplyDeleteSandra, I have tried farmer's markets and they can be patchy.
DeleteYou need to find someone with a peach or plum tree in their back yard. Or maybe a farmers' market. I won't buy stone fruit (apart from cherries) at the supermarket.
ReplyDeleteWhen I worked at a posh rehab hospital in Brighton the patients were allowed wine with their dinner. A snooty cow asked me what the wine was. I told her Chateau Cardboard. She actually smiled.
I admire FFN and his family's adventure but the very thought of it made me want a glass of CC and it's only 11am!
Caro, Ex Sis in Law has a lemon tree which we raid when we visit but otherwise we don't know of anyone, except for FFN's mother in law who has an apple orchard. It is a long drive to get there. What fruit trees do you have? I remember getting wine in Masada Hospital a decade or so ago. It was the real thing served in half bottles, Chateau Cardboard there. I remember being surprised at getting a ham sandwich for lunch. I could see stress and panic levels rising for FFN's wife. He is always so calm.
DeleteI've taken to freezing chopped fruit on a tray, then bagging them. Thawed, they're mushy but make great breakfast yogurt smoothies. FFN seems like a pretty good guy, as do you and R. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteI don't mind mushy fruit at all. It is often best just before it starts to decay. I am very fortunate that all of my family are kind and decent people.
DeleteWhat a nightmare at the airport and they have to go through it all again when coming home! No pictures of the twins yet?
ReplyDeleteI agree most of our fresh fruit is no good, like you said, rock hard or rotting, but yesterday I ate a very nice banana, it actually tasted like banana instead of rock hard and tasteless. That's rare these days. The only fruit I buy now are cherries in January, grapes if they are Australian and Granny Smith apples which I cook with brown sugar and cinnamon, then freeze in serving size portions.
River, hopefully not as bad when they return. I will temporarily put up some photos of them in the near future. Mostly I find bananas ok and they do tend to ripen but I've gone off them for some reason. The mandarin season seems to be about six months with different varieties and that is what I was eating up until a month or so ago. Grapes are good, and must be plentiful now. Thanks for the mention of them. I should do something like that with Granny Smith's.
DeleteI'm surprised at them taking the double cot across, could they not hire or borrow a couple for the short stay? Strollers I would take, but why a pram as well?
DeleteWedding or no wedding I just don't think I would embark on that ourney with all that luggage and hassle. All credit to FFN and co.
ReplyDeleteMarie, I am sure it would not have been possible with the two grandmothers to help. Just travelling on our is hard enough. Mind, the staff will be very helpful boarding and during the flight.
DeleteYour "adventure" sounds very familiar, rather normal to me ! We have that here all the time strikes, or being over correct with passport control, last week the luggage people went on strike and lots of people flew without luggage and the airport was full with suitcases and other luggage. And once you have checked in you can't get out ! And it is everywhere the same, and you confirm even on the other side of the world ! I started to think taking the train, it's shorter because you don't have all this administration time to waste.
ReplyDeleteGattina, so many bags disappear here even without a baggage strike. Trains in Europe are now vastly superior to flying. Even if taking a little longer, you arrive so much more relaxed.
DeleteI think that's a universal problem with store-bought peaches and plums. They're hybridized to ship and look good on a store shelf, but not to eat! It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a rather chaotic morning altogether. Glad you got some down time afterwards!
Steve, the almost rotten plum today was awful. One bite and I threw it out. The peach was fantastic.
DeleteSounds like a nightmare. I hope the return journey will be easier. Thank goodness for grandparents, eh?
ReplyDeleteShe writes the last sentence with knowledge.
DeleteHard to imagine traveling with that much baggage.
ReplyDeleteTP, it blew my mind, but they did it.
DeleteFlying is a nightmare these days!
ReplyDeleteME, we'll just catch a train together, hey.
DeleteOne of my favorite words....discombobulated. My goodness, I can't imagine the hassle of flying with all those people, luggage, babes, etc. You better rest up for the return of said family!!
ReplyDeletePeace Thyme, my plan is a quick pick up of Ex Sis in Law outside the airport. I hope!
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