Arrived here in New Zealand! Woo it feels good to finally be here after all the head-thinking over the past few weeks.. .

So where to start? Had a great family meal (in amongst the packing chaos) at the Highgrove Hotel in Troon - always gotta have a fillet steak & peppercorn sauce on these celebratary occasions.. .

After that on the Saturday night - it was indeed packing chaos. Emirates airline (despite being awesome) only give 30kg baggage allowance which is pretty poor even for a two week holiday in Spain. So queue packing some chaos - resulting in 18kg over weight coming down to 14kg - and then me throwing in the towel at 3am on the morning of flying.. .

Thanks to the kind check-in gal though for not spotting that my emirates silver tier membership card (which allows you and extra 12kg allowance) is 7 months out of date & turning a blind eye to the 2kg left! Normally its £35 per KG over = Score! Legend.. .

Flight to Dubai wasn't the easiest actually - didn't feel too hot (mentally and physically) and just wanted some sleep. Took me two hours to get myself outta the airport through visa & passport control - and into a taxi to go see my mate mark! Cheers for the free couch crash dude - that pasta sorted me right out hunger wise and the two hour sleep got rid of the prolonged headache.. .

The new emirate terminal 3 in dubai was quite eye-porny as i headed to the gate - and the costa coffee mango frap sorted out the dry puss.. .

Flight to sydney was rudely interupted by a stop in Bangkok (check me waking up only 5 hours into the 16 thinking i'd slept the entire way) which actually turned out ok - a chance to stretch the legs - and they did have some nice thai art bits&bobs slung around to look at.. .

The longest part of the whole journey turned out to be the easiest with me sleeping most of it. Banana cheesecake won the food award and flight of the conchords the tv choice.. .

Arrived in Sydney to heavy rain but the humidity dried it out for us taking back off for the 2hr 40min final flight to Christchurch. Was in good need of a shower at this point but didn't really care - just wanted to get myself there to the intended destination. The views of the southern alps was superb as the plane came into NZ - crystal clear blue skies - got the passenger to take a phone pic for me as we were buckled in - will post this up.. .

Don't reall know where this idea about immigration visa being hard to obtain and a nightmare to activate when you arrive - a complete peice of piss for me ha! Picked up the bags - declared Kath's digestives & crunchy cream biscuits - got the visa stamped and then stepped foot onto NZ soil a legal-man in about 15 mintues.. .

Cheers to Rich for the airport taxi role and then the random drive around taking in the new sights and enjoying the 24 degree sunshine! I love this country man! Pick-up trucks driving round with moto-x bikes slung into the back, horse-riders on the forest trail roads, cyclists aplenty, runners galore - awesome place like for the active person.. .

Queue a nice chill in the house (best shower i've had in a long time) a fresh set of clothes, a chinese takeaway and a few tui beers to round off the first day. Slept like an absolute baby to Kath's fav new artist 'Gin' on the cd player. Not sure on the music - but liking the cover picture ( :

So aye - first day in NZ complete. Its exactly how i remeber it being from my visit in 2008 which was real nice to feel - like an old friend.. .

Bo! x