Home again.....

Mum is doing as well as she can at the moment, still in Kenepuru hospital, and likely to be there for some time to come. The nurses are lovely, and Mum is pretty much away with the fairies. Its a terrible way to be, but at the same time, I don't think she is terribly conscious of how she is either.

So my sister and I made the trip home yesterday. Due to boredom on the plane we made up some haiku, Japanese poems.

Traditional haiku consist of 17 on (also known as morae), in three phrases of 5, 7 and 5 on respectively.^[3] Any one of the three phrases may end with the kireji.^[4] Although haiku are often stated to have 17 syllables,^[5] this is inaccurate as syllables and on are not the same. (Wikipedia). But while Haiku are 'set in concrete', in fact, anything goes, and the 5,7,5 is not always required.

So we put together some haiku to reflect our last day or so there and the flight home which was not quite to plan.

We got a shuttle to the airport, making sure we got there in plenty of time.

Shuttle bus alighted
Check in chicks on duty
Plane three hours late.

Yes the plane from Aussie to NZ was delayed three hours, so instead of landing in Aussie at 6 pm, we took off about 6.30 pm, and got home at 10.45 pm. One thing was good though, they said they would make up time and they made the trip 30 minutes quicker than usual.

Pilots heavy foot
Hurtling through thin air
Time made up


Once we had checked in our bags we had heaps of time to spare, so had a meal and wandered around the shops. We bought a bottle of water each. I always get caught out with this one, as the attendant stands at the entrance to the customs/immigration area.

Water bottle madam?
Refusal through this gate!
Chuck it out!

There was a northerly gale blowing while we were waiting. Planes were coming in and bouncing all around as they landed .Wellington airport is renowned for its terrible weather and difficult landings.

One of the things I miss when I am away is my normal meals. nothing is quite the same, and with using public transport a lot to visit Mum we ended up snacking or eating at cafes often. Its just not the same as home made food.

Goodbye healthy diet
Stomach discontented
Not more bread!

We did not get expensive flights....and yes...one of the problems is that we don't get a meal. We can buy food, but it is not a decent meal.

No flexifares for us
Egg sandwich is our lot
Or hot meat pie.

There were lots of children on this flight. They weren't too bad, although a young one was in the seat in front of us.

Noisy children farting
Nostrils narrowed
Egg sandwiches to blame.

Of course you also have to deal with the necessary visits to the loos. On a plane these are generally not the highlights of the flights. Especially when you flush them.

Busting bladders badger
Get me to the bog
Noisy sucking monster.


And then, home was not too far off.

Gold Coast skyline rising
Terra firma nigh
Landing gear.


Heavens gate behind
Radar homes us in
Runway lights.

Then of course you have to get your bags and do the customs thing, declaring anything you should not have.

Arrival card filled out
Don't you dare tell lies
Jail is waiting.

Immigration eyes are cruising
Sifting through the crowd
Someone's busted.

And then you finally make it through the exit to the waiting hall.

Husband stands there smiling
Holds out welcome arms
Home again.