{"id":374,"date":"2019-12-26T21:34:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-26T21:34:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/heading-to-new-zealand\/"},"modified":"2019-12-26T21:34:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-26T21:34:26","slug":"heading-to-new-zealand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scottysblog.com\/home\/heading-to-new-zealand\/","title":{"rendered":"Heading to New Zealand…"},"content":{"rendered":"

So that was the first time I\u2019ve flown quite so far across the world, feeling hugely lucky as a very special bucket list treat to be \u2018at the front of the bus\u2019, which makes it so much more possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

My slightly bleary learnings from First so far:<\/p>\n

There was no sign of anything to do with Xmas on an Emirates flight on Xmas day, apart from turkey on the menu and a bauble filled with gold chocs plus gingerbread popcorn in the snacks basket. My pre-trip visions of maybe a little Xmas tree and a hot inflight Santa bearing Tiffany boxes were sadly not remotely accurate.<\/p>\n

Having soup for lunch on the plane though, will always feel like a bizarre sign of being in First, having only done this previously on 1-2 AV work trips, when I got magically upgraded. Not because it\u2019s the most amazing starter to choose, but just because you can.<\/p>\n

The lifetime first of having a hot shower on a plane happened somewhere over the seas as we approached Australia. Bit odd stripping off in the huge bathroom space, towel and shower mat laid out ready, underfloor heating keeping the tootsies very roasty toasty.. ..really rather nice.<\/p>\n

Amused that the women\u2019s washbag has a small Bulgari glass perfume bottle in a silky pouch while the men get the rather more practical mini Lynx deodorant. Quite handy though after all these hours on board..<\/p>\n

And the Chernobyl series, all 5 episodes back to back, has been a hell of a watch en route, chilling, fascinating, terrible. Far more interesting to watch it now than when it happened, as a naive 17 year old who had no real appreciation of what actually went on there. No wonder it\u2019s won lots of awards..<\/p>\n

And a last minute Xmas surprise! Just been given a small snowman and tiny blanket by the sweet Asian stewardess… As a 51 year old it has slightly missed its probable target market by half a century but maybe we will bump into a toddler in the next few days? Strange choice of gift but hey ho….<\/p>\n

\"F431CE9D-D296-4869-A4A8-F72530228302\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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And we are now nearly in Christchurch – 3 hours from home to the first plane taking off, 8 hours from London to Dubai, 13 hours to Sydney and a final 3 from Oz to NZ, plus varied length changeovers between flights.<\/p>\n

The Down Under and Over A Bit adventure begins… x<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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