Leaving... On a Jet Plane...

Part of working for a national organisation is knowing that somewhere along the line, you're going to have to travel. For me it's not a problem, especially with the enjoyment of flying through turbulence. Anyway, the opportunity came up to do some work in Auckland (or Dork-land if you're a Wellingtonian), so I volunteered. Well, myself and a colleague.

The initial travel arrangements were flawed, and having received confirmation of flights about 36 minutes after the plane left the airport on Tuesday, rearrangements were made for a Wednesday flight. Up via Air New Zealand, collect hire car, stop over at hotel, return via Qantas. What could be easier? Oh, yeah..... do some work in between!

The weather in Wellington when we left was usual for this time of year. It was wet, with a cold southerly battering anything not bolted to the ground. Flying in this weather can be a daunting task, as you can see in one of my previous postings - but for an adrenalin rush there's nothing else like it!

Take-off was a touch on the bumpy side, and I'm sure it looked worse from the ground. Once up in the air, it was smooth flying until the descent into Auckland.

Once into Auckland it was time to collect the hire car from Avis. The car was a shiney and reasonably new Hyundai Sonata. Although not the Porshe 911 Turbo I was hoping for, it served its purpose well!

After making our way to the Auckland office, we spent the afternoon racking the monstrous servers, fiddling with the corporate ADSL connection and installing a Netbotz unit. Just to prove that we did actually do some work, here's me.... doing some work!

After a hard afternoon at work, we headed back to the hotel to check in. At least the company had the decency to provide us separate rooms - or I'd have been sleeping in the hire car. The room was fine, double bed, Sky TV and a bath. A bath? That's nothing to blog about surely? It is when your house only has a shower and you haven't seen a bath since last September!

Anyway, I can't mention the bath again as Marrisa is jealous, so let's not mention that again.

Bath!

Anyway...

After a few beers in the hotel bar, I retired back to my room for dinner via room service of course! Nothing quite like a steak and beer, especially when someone else is picking up the tab!

The next day it was back to work to cable the hardware we'd installed, and tidy up a few other jobs. We did however find the time to do a spot of sightseeing. Well, sightseeing and mini-golf.

After a bit of a tour, it was back to the airport and for a beer and the flight home.

Now I don't know how many people this is relevent to, but on the off chance you actually own a Furby, Qantas don't allow them on their flights!!

Then it was sit back, relax and enjoy the non bumpy ride home! Although, the sunset leaving Auckland almost made up for it!