Dear reader
The saga continues but with a health warningā¦you may find this tale sad or hilariously funny. Iām the subject and I donāt know where I sit on that spectrum.
The story so far today sees me catching a 1.00 am (yesā¦after midnight) additional flight from Singapore to Auckland. It means that as I write this itās 30 hours and counting without any meaningful sleep – thatās on top of the hours between Saturday morning and whenever I arrived in Singapore but I think that was before time began!
The overnight flight (Singapore Airways food seems to be beyond description) was uneventful and due to a tail wind landed 30 minutes early. Thatās when things went pear shaped in a big way.
Gabrielle is still letting NZ feel the after effects of her windā¦so much so, we sat on the tarmac gently rocking whilst we wait for our parking space to come free from a double-parked plane.
So arriving early meant arriving lateā¦in time for even more fun! Given the high winds itās too dangerous to unload or load luggage and had been so for the previous handful of international arrivals before mine.
A scrum is not the word and I regret to say that whilst being British and queuing in case a queue formed, it was every person for themselves and whilst there was no shoulder barging I was not as āBritishā as I should have been but it worked!
I got through in what will be a short time (60 minutes) but am told, like everyone else it can be up to seven days before my bag reaches me on this tour. And thatās assuming it was on the plane in the first place!
And being the nerd I am I know exactly whatās in the case (having taken an inventory back in the UK). The question I have, dear reader, and you have 12 hours to help is – how many and of what do I buy tomorrow since Iāve only got the clothes Iām wearing now plus a couple of new T-Shirts I bought yesterday, just in case.
To any readers in NZ I am still showering etc so am squeaky clean (if increasingly unshaven) but my clothes need a launder and no! Iām not reprising the jeans adverts from the 1980s!
So if you been in similar circumstances and can advise, please do! How much of my missing wardrobe do I replace and bear in mind a complete replacement would need another suitcase and you can be sure that if I did, the original will turn up and Iām paying excess baggage on my remaining six flights this trip!
Sorry no pictures – just me getting so stressed that I never got this stressed at work and Iām supposed to be on a calming cricket tour.
I know I shouldnāt complain when compared to Turkey and elsewhere but modern life can be such a strain at times. And Iām writing this in the hotel restaurant sitting by myself surrounded by Valentine celebratorsā¦commercialisation gone mad!
Back to better things tomorrow but what odds I donāt have my luggage by the end of the week?
Cricket51days 
Dear lord Funcle, not the best of starts is an understatement.
No luggage bloody sucks even more so when the airline canāt tell you when your likely to get it.
Iād go to Kmart for undies and t-shirts quite cheap but not bad quality. Either way they will definitely tide you over and can be left behind once your luggage arrives.
Hope things pick up for you very soon. Take advantage of the mini bar and try to take each day and minute as it comes.
Love Kay š„°
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Bruce. Just seen the impact of Gabrielle on the news. Our luggage failed to arrive in Mauritius some years ago & we bought far too much (I was being goaded by my teenage boys) and Iād recommend less is more. Charity shops good idea and the odd sour odour will guarantee you plenty of space in the stand!! May your stresses soon subside. I reckon your luggage will appear first day of cricket.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanksā¦yes, the impact here is significant. My ābasic needsā pale into insignificance compared to some people and communities both here and elsewhere. I suppose itās a ānice problemā to have but hopefully weāll have a good game on a damp green top tomorrow – techniques (old and new) will be tested! Bring it on! šš¤£
LikeLike
A pal of mine is in NZ and has been for a few weeks. Sent me this yesterday.
Made it to Auckland. Seven and a half hours for. 300km. Landlips, floods trees down the lot. We were turned back 6/7 times. Ended up having to ford water in the car. Bent cars on the side of the road. Crazy wild drive. But we made it and never gave up. Off to Tauranga tomorrow for the cricket on Thursday š¤£
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh dear -not sure what to say! I would suggest that a few items of undergarments might be a wise investment and perhaps a foray into the world of track suits ( easy to wash and quick to dry) and disposable razors but other than thatā¦!
Hope the cricket is of a sufficient standard to make up for all the trauma and helps restore your equanimity š
LikeLike
Op shops the answer, hope you get your suitcase soon. Iād be bereft x
LikeLike
Poor Bruce. Did laugh and smile but ended up very sorry for you. Cant help on what and how much to buy.
Don
LikeLike
May be you should approach the team and ask them for some spares. I bet they have plenty. Though whether you want to look like part of the vets team is another issue! Next suggestion is to hit the charity shops, worse case (pun intended) is that whatever you buy you leave behind. Simples! Good luck, at least you might now get to see some cricket!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now thatās a great idea – charity shops that is, not approaching the team! The next crisis in NZ will be a National underwear shortage as a few thousand need to be āclothedā.š¤”š
LikeLike