New Years Eve

The journey from Denver to Tauranga needed just a little organising. Frontier (the airline) took me from Denver to San Francisco - slightly delayed due to Denver International Airport having technical difficulties, causing choas in the security area with a large number of people and not enough resources, resulting in LOOOOOOOOOOONNNnnnnnGGGGG queues. Then lift-off was delayed for half an hour due to late arrival of my plane. Frontier must like me as a passenger: they didn't charge me for my checked-in luggage (otherwise US$15), and I got to watch the TV and a snack for nothing. Might it have been something about my becoming a member of their frequent flyer program?

Arriving in San Francisco Airport after flying over snow covered desert (Utah and Nevada) there was a fog drifting over the hills from the Pacific ocean, giving the illusion it was warm! Still felt wintery enough.

Checked into Air New Zealand who made me feel welcomed and processed my ticket. A quick journey through security and I had a wait for five hours. Had a meal at one of the many food outlets.

The flight was familiar - meal, lights out, sleep sitting up and watching movies (I can't remember what I watched), breakfast and then lights on: Auckland loomed beneath us. We had arrived a few moments early. Twenty minutes later was out on the arrivals lounge waiting for my brothers to collect me. I was back in New Zealand! The vacation was coming to an end.

I start work again in Wellington Hospital Emergency Department on the 19th of January. Enough time to see family and friends in other parts of New Zealand.

Here is to a good and prosperous2009 to you all.