Lets do this thing ......

20/12/12
LETS DO THIS THING.......

Even on waking at 1:30am this morning it still didn't feel like this dream was about to become a reality. It was only as I stood anxiously at check in did the enormity of what I was embarking on start to feel like reality

As you may know from previous posts I was fortunate enough to have been awarded an additional 10kg luggage allowance, but due to the generosity of so many, even this increased allocation was being eaten up, bit by bit with more and more aide items and requested supplies for the children's home.  Before I knew it,  yet again I was over my allowance, and still no clothes had been packed.

My massive bags drew many sideways glances, I'm sure my fellow passengers we're thinking to themselves "geeeze that woman really needs to learn to pack lighter" little did they know my entire wardrobe for the next six weeks consists of; the clothes on my back, 3 pairs of shorts half a dozen T-shirts and a sweatshirt... But I had to laugh at an article in this mornings New Zealand Herald, about a young man on a recent flight out of China, who coincidently was also headed to Nairobi, who in an attempt to circumnavigate his obvious luggage dilemma choose to adorn in excess of 60 items of clothing, including 19 pairs of jeans.... Whilst I didn't resort to these measures I did pop a cardigan under my lightweight jacket, and it must be noted neither were necessary in the balmy 19 degrees as we made our way to Auckland International Airport at 2:30am 

Somebody, somewhere, really is looking out for me lately and this morning was no exception, when it came to check-in ground crew I certainly got one of the best.  Llets be honest, it's 3:30am, who really wants to be at work at that time of day? But a young man by the name of DJ certainly gave me a fantastic first impression of Virgin Australia, DJ went above and beyond the call of duty to ensure everything went smoothly for me, when he learnt of the reason for my trip, and how much over my weight allowance I was, he repeatedly sought advice to obtain permission to waive the surcharge I should have received......  And he did it!!!!!!   Im over the moon to say that right now in the cargo hold of flight DJ51 to Sydney every single item that's been donated, gifted, or obtained for this trip is winging its way on the first leg of this epic 46 hour journey..

For reasons I'm not entirely sure of, after boarding, our plane we had a delay of over an hour, and with the 3am check in time taking its toll, we all sat there like zombies.  Though unlike many on the flight, the delay was of little to no concern to me, with nine hours to kill in Sydney airport, an hour on the tarmac in Auckland just cut that down a little...

At 7:03 after taxing down the runway this tin bird finally took flight..and on this beautiful summer morning, with the freshly risen sun reflecting off the Manukau harbour, as the the beautiful rolling hills of the Bombay's dropped away from us, I'm reminded again me just how blessed I am to call Aeotearoa home, and suddenly with a wave of emotions crashing through me, I realise I really am living my dream... "  Dream big, dream without fear" - Randy Pausch

............So, here I am, surrounded by more snoring passengers than I've ever experienced on a single flight, winging my way across the Tasman with dozens of Kiwis off to spend the holiday break with friends and family, only a moment ago the little boy next to me travelling with his mum, excitedly shared how they are going to Sydney to surprise his big brother for Christmas, I think he too is living his dream.

Asante

"It's always the right time to do the right thing"