Tour de New Zealand - March 08

We're back!

It's been over a week since we returned from our NZ tour and we've just about recovered! It was great to see everyone and do 'show and tell' with the little fella. He's now back into the swing of the Singapore time zone and (other than teething troubles) is glad to be home to see his dad.

Flynn re-acquaints himself with dad

The overnight plane trip to NZ started off badly with an appalling seat, no bassinet and a packed plane. I asked to be moved to a seat with a spare one next to it, which was possible to my great relief. Flynn then went ballistic as the plane was SO HOT and sat on the runway for half an hour while everyone else boarded (babies board first). After letting rip for some 10 mins (a long time for a baby to be hollering) we took off, the aircon kicked in properly and he calmed down. He was awake for the first two hours and then slept for the rest of the trip - phew.


I, however, did not get a wink of sleep because I had to watch that flynn didn't roll off the seat, and in any case I could not recline my seat cause the 6 ft 9 fella behind me already had his knees round his ears. All in all a very uncomfortable flight.

Once we arrived in NZ however the excitement kicked in and we were stoked to be there.

Auckland:
It was great to see friends again, catch up with everyone and introduce Flynn - and big thanks to Davina, Ali, and Sharon and Nathan for helping out with logistics for the Auckland trip!

We had a busy schedule most days, with lunches, bbq's, people round to our apartment, a trip to the old workplace and more. Flynn took a week to adjust to the new timezone (five hours difference) and didn't want to go to be until 11pm - 1am. Fortunately we did not have any early starts!

Amazingly I took few photos in Auckland - dammit! I did take some videos, but I can't upload them here as the files are too big. Here are a couple that I did manage to get.

The good ol' Cav - oh, it's been too long!

(Blair, Sam and Timo)

Sam, Timomei and Moi

Uncle Sam meets the lad (Blake's brother)

Nelson:
After Auckland I flew to Nelson to introduce Flynn to the rest of the Blake-Family contingent. After a fairly average week of weather in Auckland, Nelson turned on the sun and five days of beautiful blue skies. We had visits with all the Nelson family and Blake's dad and brother came up from Christchurch for the weekend.

It was also great fun to catch up (at Neisha and Brett's awesome new place) with Blake's old friends from Nelson and show them Flynn - and see all their babies and baby bumps (and puppy)! I got some great video footage of everyone but not one photo :(

Flynn had the worst of his first cold in Nelson (probably caught on the plane) and every night for the rest of the week sounded like a warthog struggling through a swamp. He seemed to feel fine during the day though - just as well since there was plenty of charming to be done.

Uncle Olly gets his first Flynn cuddle (Blake's other brother)

Olly and Rosie with a photogenic little Flynn - hmmm

Flynn meets Grandad Jim

Grandad Jim and Flynn checking out the local attractions

Anna and Flynn - Ooo, a toy!

Flynn meets Grandad Peter

Grandad takes him for a spin

Great-Grandma Shirley gets a couple of cheeky cuddles in

Wellington:
Unfortunately I got food poisoning the night before I left for Wellington (dodgy sandwich at Nelson cafe methinks). That made for an unpleasant night and a tough morning to be packing up and flying to Wellington. I was able to avoid vomiting on the plane but my sister's driveway was not so lucky.

But on the brightside, I was now enroute to my mother's place in Waikanae Beach, where the plan was to kick back for ten days, no hectic schedule of visits, just enjoying the last of summer with my mum, sister and nephew - who came to stay with us too. Mum and Nina (my sister) had sorted out all sorts of baby stuff, so Flynn was right at home!

Aw choice, a bouncer!!

Flynn and the cat play 'Simon Says'

Nana gets to see the Flynnmeister again

Auntie Nina gets to meet him for the first time!

Cousin Jordan and Flynn get acquainted
(Jordan even changed Flynn's nappies)

The Hungry Caterpillar - an oldy but a goodie

Flynn meets Grandad Pat

Sisters and cousins

Flynn kicks back at a local cafe

Flynn shows the first signs of teething!
(Check out the dribble flood)

Uncle Sam and Rachel are in Waikanae for a wedding
and come visit the little fella at mum's place


So after 10 great days of mostly beautiful weather in Waikanae, lots of fun times walking at the beach and hanging out with mum, Nina and Jordan, we headed back to Wellington for a night in a hotel near the airport, and then the next day back to Singapore, via Auckland.

It was a REALLY long day of travel as we left the Wellington hotel at 8am and arrived in Singapore after 11pm (NZ time). This time we got a bassinet, a bulkhead seat and the guy sitting next to me moved (hee hee, baby repellant) so we also had a free seat next to me! Ah bliss.

Being a day flight, I was not expecting Flynn to sleep much, and indeed he didn't (a couple of short naps). I entertained him for most of the flight with books, toys, games, and every desperate trick in the book and he held it together until three hours out from landing - when he lost his patience and literally 'spat the dummy'. After some embarrassing minutes of hysterical 'help! she's-torturing-me' screaming and ferocious struggling about, I decided to take him walkabout. It worked a charm and as long as I walked him around he was happy. He eventually conked out an hour before landing and woke a little happier at disembarkation time.

He was stoked to see his dad waiting at the airport for him and had prepared a big number-twos nappy for their reunion. So after operation-clean-up at the baby room, we hit the taxi stand and off home. It all got too much in the taxi and Flynn again went ballistic - while we sat in a traffic jam and the taxi driver looked increasingly desperate - but who could blame the little fella, it was a long day.

As awesome as it was to see everyone in NZ again, it was nice to be home, to see Blake and be staying in one place again too. The week since we've been back has good except for the teething, which is giving Flynn lots of grief. We're hoping to see the little pearlies appear soon so he can get some relief!