Dans l’avion a Hong Kong

My holiday has started, in fact it starts the minute I check-in. I think that is why being able to be in control of my seat is so important and to have a nice comfortable flight.  Otherwise it is nearly three days of time that is sort of nothing and painful.  I like the fact that when I have a bit of room I can write, read and even watch a movie.  Speaking of which the TVs in B777 really seem old now when compared with the ones on the A320 which are touch screen and seem bigger somehow.  I guess they get a bit bashed around given on this flight the plane will be in the air for a total  of about  twenty three hours out of about 26 hours before being on the ground for about six hours and then doing it all again

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I flew up to Auckland on the black A320 and it was nearly completely full.  I sat next to this very interesting and extraverted woman who is a lecturer in bioethics.  Lives in Hamilton and works out of the University.  So we had a very interesting conversation that made the time go very quickly.

After a nice walk in balmy air to the International terminal I got myself some NoJetLag tablets and some herbal sleep tablets to see if they would help me on the plane.  I am not sure whether the latter did but I did manage to get about three hours sleep which is quite good for me.  The plane is packed to the gunnels.  Both Business and Premium Economy are full and in my walks to the back of the plane it would appear that cattleclass is also full.  Fortunately I am sitting next to a very nice couple from Auckland coincidentally live in St Heliers.  The room in Cattleclass is really tight and it does make it rather uncomfortable.  The seats aren’t too bad but the space is a real issue between seats.  My knees are just about on the seat in front of me and when I try to bend down to get something off the floor it is not possible.  Thank  goodness it is a night flight at least I am not wasting airpoints on one where I don’t eat much.  This time I only had a mouthful of wine and I feel much better for it.  I had to manage my water drinking to make sure that I did not have to go to the loo which is a climb over my neighbours.   The meal was OK; I had lamb, peas and kumara which were really nice as I was a bit hungry.  The dessert was some steamed pudding like thing.  

Now that I am on my way my anxiety has gone down a bit.  I am still a bit worried about the language bit but that is a nice challenge and I am sure that once I begin to listen and practice I will be OK. 

I had about three hours sleep and it was better sleep than I usually have so perhaps the herbal helpers worked.