Tuesday, September 08, 2020

TAKING OFF!

 Here it is finally.

Today I'm flying off to Australia.



ABOVE:  Like... who hasn't seen this yet?  It's so funny.  Kinda creepy, but funny too.

Now, I have no idea when I will be able to update this blog.  It might not be until I'm in the hotel/motel in Sydney?
So... be patient!

It is 6 am here and we are getting ready to leave for Auckland airport soon.  Not taking any chance on getting stuck in traffic... best to get there early eh?
My nerves have kicked in BIG TIME... flying really does give me the shits.  Usually it's the take off's and landings, and when a plane does a big turn... that all freaks me out.  I'm sure I'll be fine once we are in the air.

And that is me for now.  I'll catch ya ... LATER.

ONWARD...
Well I'm at the airport.  All booked in. Just have TWO HOURS until my flight! Certainly got here in plenty of time.


ABOVE: AUCKLAND airport... it's  like a ghost town. 


ABOVE: Final step till I get on the plane. 30 minutes to go till boarding.  NERVOUS!!!

I'm HERE! SAFE and SOUND. Sitting on a bus waiting to be transported to a hotel. God knows where.

Its stifling on this bus! I've had a mask on for about 6 hours now... my God I'd hate to have to wear one all day, every day.

Sitting. Waiting. Waiting...

Finally... we headed off to our hotel.
I am staying at The Park Royal in Darling Harbour.
It was quite a process from start to finish today.

So many check points to go through, so many questions, passport checks, temperature taken and so on.  At every point that all happened... Auckland Airport, Sydney Airport, On the Bus, Off the Bus, Checking into the Hotel.... but finally, at around 3 pm, I arrived at my room.

The VERY first thing I did was rip off that bloody mask!  OMG it was so hot wearing it all day.

But I'm glad I did as it kept me safe... and well... the POLICE AND ARMY MEN AND WOMAN kinda INSISTED we all wear one.

Yep, heaps of Police and Army people out in force making us all keep to the plan.  Very well run I must say.  No hitches ANYWHERE.

Now... I DO have some photos to share... but seriously, all I want to do right now is eat my lunch (delivered to me at 4 pm) and relax for a while.

ABOVE:  The Park Royal does not have Diet Coke... so I ordered some Coke No Sugar.  It will do!  Kinda EXPENSIVE, but oh well... I gotta drink something.

I am now going to lie on my king size bed and relax.  Might even have a nap.

Gosh... I feel so clever!
I just got myself a Woolworths account and ordered some DIET COKE, and a toothbrush and some grapes to be delivered to my Hotel room!

Yeah, I brushed me teeth this morning and left the damn toothbrush there eh?  That wasn't so clever.
But I feel good.

I've had a little nap.  I have talked to a few people, LOTS of messages and comments to read, which was lovely.

It's been a very long day.  

And I've just had a lovely chat with a nurse... they ring to check up on you once you are settled in your room.  Mostly just checking your health, making sure you ain't got the dreaded Covid.

When I mentioned WHY I was here, the nurse got a freakin' psychologist to ring me as well.
Looking after my mental health too it would seem.

It's good though, cos I'm thinking being here on my own for two weeks is going to be a bit hard mentally.

I'm a pretty tough person though, so I should be OK.  
And on that note, my dinner just got dropped at the door, so I'm off to see what delights are in the bag!

I'm going to play 'Rate The Food'.
So, tonight's dinner:

ABOVE:  Dinner tonight was a beef stew, three huge potatoes, a mixed leaf salad, a bun and a sweet slice.
The beef stew was inedible!  So dry and tasteless.  I ate half a potato and the salad.  The sweet slice... very, very average.
I left the bun and the WATER.  *snort*  

FFS, seems you get a bottle of water with every meal.  I might have to tell them not to bother, cos otherwise there will be 44 bottles of water on the counter when they come to clean my room after two weeks! πŸ˜•πŸ˜’πŸ˜‚

So... tonight's dinner got a 4/10.  I hope they are not going to be that bad every day!

And that is it, I'm done for the day.  Time to... see what's on the telly I think.

51 comments:

  1. Safe Journey Chris, take care xx

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  2. Anonymous6:49 AM

    Love ya Ma xx
    #Lacy πŸ’™

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  3. Have a safe flight mum.. love you and our family will miss you.. heartπŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™

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  4. Have a safe trip. I'm sure it will all go well and it will be so good when you finally get to see your mum.

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  5. Safe travels, you will be happy to be on your way❤️❤️❤️Margaret

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  6. Bon voyage ... and travelling blessings- you are going to be the "best medicine" your Mom can have-
    Barb in Texas

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  7. Thinking of you today. Safe travels πŸ›©

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  8. Safe travels, I hate flying too. Take off is horrible. You’ll be right though. I guess you’ll be flying either Air NZ or Qantas, two of the safest airlines in the world. πŸ›«✈️πŸ›¬

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  9. Safe travels! Hoping you have a smooth and safe flight.

    Lucy

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  10. Enjoy your flight Chris, I love flying :) Thinking of you and yours xxx

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  11. Exciting day!! I'm looking forward to more updates. Only two weeks until you get to hug your Mum :)

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  12. Anonymous9:29 AM

    Safe travels Chris, hope it all goes smoothly for you x
    Ally S Melbourne

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  13. Kiwionholidays9:48 AM

    You will be half way to Australia now and will be all relaxed and feeling good cos you know from now on all will be the goal of seeing Mum and Ron and having some great time’s,,
    Stew n Lacy Steve Bex Kelly Brylee etc will all keep the home wheels turning smoothly,,


    Kia Kaha

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

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  14. Safe journey ☺️

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  15. Travel safe and relax. Much love xx

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  16. And you're off! Can't wait for all the updates. Really weird seeing the airport that empty.

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  17. Best of luck and safe travels πŸ’›πŸ€žπŸ˜

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  18. Anonymous11:49 AM

    Take care Chris, scary but exciting. Jo

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  19. Safe travels Chris I will be checking back all day for updates! Not long till you can hug your Mum xx

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  20. Anonymous12:30 PM

    Welcome to Australia! Hope everything goes well and you enjoy your quiet quarantine time!

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  21. By the time you read this you will be here in Australia. Welcome!!

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  22. Safe travels Chris. Thinking of you x

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  23. I'm guessing you will be landing in Sydney about the time I am writing this. I hope you had a good flight and found a good movie or two to keep you occupied on the plane, and which made the flight go quicker for you. Will look forward to hearing about your accommodation when you are settled in.

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  24. Kiwionholidays2:49 PM

    Welcome to the land of the Koala 🐨
    and Kangaroo 🦘

    I hope by now you are settled in to your Hotel n feeling one step closer to Coffs Harbour and seeing Mum and Ron

    Cheers πŸ₯‚

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  25. Welcome to Australia,,, love reading the updates😊

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  26. Anonymous4:24 PM

    So glad your in Auzi safe and sound and off the plane ✈ xx
    #Lacy πŸ’™

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  27. Anonymous4:34 PM

    Glad you made it here I hope by now you are safe in your hotel room and the next 2 weeks flies by
    Dee

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  28. I am spending an insane amount time checking to make sure you arrived in Aussie safely (tick), and to see what your home for the next 2 weeks is like ...

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  29. Barbara Anne4:47 PM

    Glad you're there safely and am sorry the bus is/was stifling - especially with the mask on. Hope your hotel is a 5 star one and is sheer bliss while you have to be there.

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  30. The Park Royal! Lovely. I'm sure you can order in some Diet Coke from the local Coles or something - might pay to check if the coke there is expensive. Glad you are there safe and sound... looking forward to photos.

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  31. Anonymous5:01 PM

    Hi Glad you arrived safely...I always drink Coke no sugar...lol

    Peta

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  32. Get yourself set up with online shopping so hopefully you can get stuff delivered to your hotel. Park Royal sounds nice enough. Rest up now, you have had a pretty long day :-)

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  33. Pictures of your new "home" please? How is the Coke No Sugar?

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  34. You made it!!! Enjoy that king size bed and coke. Lovely to see you can blog it all!!

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  35. Well done you the time will go fast be safe be kind stay strong all my love and hugs to you the old Moo and Ron x
    Blondie

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  36. Welcome to Sydney! I warn ya, tomorrow is going to be a bit cooler, but you'll be comfy in your room. If you're allowed out for exercise, take a walk around Darling Harbour, it's a beautiful place. Hopefully you have a view from your room? Very lovely at night.

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  37. Glad u arrived without to much problem...was someone on news in Auckland airport looked out for you.does your 2 weeks start today or tomorrow? Hope u have a comfy bed.

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  38. welcome to sunny Sydney!!! Coke Zero: mmmm my favourite! Is it wrong that I can imagine nothing more thrilling than 2 weeks alone in a hotel room???????..... xxxxx

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    1. I thought that too.. but coming in here and realising I am stuck in this room for two weeks, not allowed to set foot out the door for even exercise? Instantly depressed.

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  39. It's hard to believe you've finally reached the quarantine hotel. I remember when you frst gave us the heads up you were planning to go and started the first countdown once your application was approved, its gone fast. I hope your 2 weeks quarantine flys by too!

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  40. Anonymous8:50 PM

    Think of how slim you will be after 2 weeks of those dinners..iol.you better order in some more snacks etc from woolies..

    Peta

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  41. Glad to see you arrived safe and well, hope you can relax a bit and dont get too stressed. Hope you get a good nights sleep too xx

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  42. Glad to hear you have arrived safely. Hope your stay at the hotel is not too arduous. We are seeing lots of spikes re covid in Scotland. Some parts of Glasgow city have had to be put back in lockdown as too many stupid people are having large social gatherings. We are safe and well here in the Scottish Highlands. Very busy with airbnb guests but taking all precautions, gloves, masks etc and all working out ok. Kind regards
    Jane G

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  43. Anonymous9:30 PM

    Welcome to Oz! Darling Harbour is beautiful ... do you have a view or a verandah ? Michelle from Oz.

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  44. Anonymous10:43 PM

    3 potatoes wow, lucky you don’t have to watch your carbs or anything like that haha. I’m looking forward to you food diary

    Dee

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  45. Glad to hear the travel went well. Looks as though you had a super busy weekend. Belated Happy Father's Day to Stew and the rest of the gentlemen. Have a good quarantine!

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  46. Glad you arrived safe and sound. Hope your meals are better than your first one. Do you have a T.V.? Hope the time goes by fast for you.

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  47. Yeah you made it!! Love the rate the meal you always make things fun! I knew you weren't going to be liking that coke no sugar lmao.

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  48. My Piece of Earth5:27 AM

    Glad you arrived safe and sound. I wish we had the police and army here to make sure everyone wears their mask.
    Dinner didn't look all that great. Look on the bright side. you will emerge from jail, a new slimmer you. I see a shopping trip to buy new clothes.

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