THEY'VE LEFT ON A JET PLANE

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Well Richard (of RBB) and Shelley his lovely and long suffering wife left today on a jet plane bound for Singapore en route for Italy.

"Bye Richard and Shelley. Wish there was room for us too".

Mike and I went to the airport this morning to meet them at the domestic terminal and to ferry them to the international terminal. This was just as well as being relatively inexperienced travellers they might have followed the 'wings' sign to Butterfly Creek which is a kind of fun park near the airport.

It was great meeting up with these two Wainuiomartians having not seen them for a couple of years.
They were looking dapper as prescribed by their status as Premium Economy travellers which puts them in a far superior class to the hoi-polloi who will be loaded in the back of the plane.

" I say Mr Prowse, your bath is ready sir. Do you want me to scrub your back?"

It was disappointing  though that neither of them had taken my advice and dressed in pyjamas for the flight. Oh well, you just can't help some people.

They had relatively successfully managed the first leg of their journey - from Wellington to Auckland with, at this stage only one reported resignation from the airline. The harassed employee was overheard saying as she was led away in tears "I can't handle two things at once"

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The intrepid travellers were safely (for all of us) out of Auckland just after midday on a plane especially commissioned to hold Richard's musical instruments which were apparently too long.

I suggested to Richard that foldable violins might be the way of the future and then of course remembered how baggage handlers treat delicate items. "Don't worry, they'll fold it in half for you no trouble" I said. Richard was becoming noticeably edgy. "I think I need a chardonnay" he croaked hoarsely.

The advantage of having superior seating in airlines means of course that the bar service will be of greater quality and frequency so no doubt they would have settled themselves in immediately on boarding.

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Next stop Singapore where they will stay for a night before taking off for Milan.

Those poor Singaporean airport personnel. What did they ever do to us?