I stare at the newspaper. It wasn’t me. I gawp at the television. It wasn’t me. I trawl through the internet. It wasn’t me! I listen to the radio, podcasts, and conversations on the bus. It WASN’T me! At least — I hope it wasn’t me? Continue reading ‘Trails of the Unexpected’
Archive for the 'New Zealand' Category
It was close to midnight as the pilot mumbled that we were about to descend. I looked around the cabin, a gallery of oval frames. In a dozen of them, I glanced the burning embers of Wellington. Street lamps flowed in channels off the rumpled hills that shepherd the city to the southern coast New Zealand’s North Island (Te Ika-a-Māui). The plane’s wheels clunked into place and soon after we bumped onto the runway. It’s a pleasure I always hide, that reconnection with earth. Continue reading ‘Returning to New Zealand’
Heart thumping. Eyes sweating. Palms clenched. Girlfriend weeping. People staring. Lady smiling. Jaw gripped. Foot shuffling. Mind racing. We were checking in one hour before our scheduled departure, and the lady at the check-in desk was telling us we weren’t getting on the flight. Lady smiling. Palms clenched. Continue reading ‘A Haphazard Birthday’
Have you ever pre-applied for a visa while on the road? If so, you’ll know they always say “don’t make travel plans until your visa is confirmed”. As always, when I was recently applying for New Zealand’s 23-month working holiday visa, I respectably scoffed at the small print. Six weeks to secure a working holiday visa for New Zealand, while based next door in Australia? No worries, mate. Continue reading ‘Flight of the Cockheads’
