On The Move, Stage 1 - Wellington to Singapore.

The long-awaited day has finally dawned, and I'm on my way to Norwich with excitement. This journey is estimated to take about 34 hours, but the adventure is well worth it.

Mike, drove me to the airport bright and early, setting out at 7 am to ensure he wouldn't be late for work. The morning in Wellington was truly picturesque as we followed the scenic route along the bays to reach the airport, and fortunately, the traffic was quite manageable.

The initial leg of my journey took me from Wellington to Auckland, with my AirNZ flight scheduled for 10:45 am, giving me ample time for some people-watching and easing into holiday mode.

As the plane took off from Wellington, I couldn't help but appreciate the beautiful morning. 

During this flight, I marked a few personal milestones that filled me with excitement. Why, you ask? Well, this year, I've been making significant changes in my life, and before leaving New Zealand, I proudly achieved a weight loss of 35 kg in the last six months—a remarkable milestone. So, the most noticeable differences during this flight were, first, I didn't need to request a seatbelt extension; my seatbelt fit perfectly with room to spare. Second, I could fully lower the tray table, and there was plenty of space. These seemingly small victories meant the world to me, and I couldn't be happier about feeling more comfortable while flying.

Room to spare!!!

Next up was the journey from Auckland to Singapore.
Upon arriving in Auckland, I opted for the JetStar exit, but what I witnessed was a shocking JetStar queue for checkin that nearly stretched out the door, all the way back to the security entrance. It was clear that many in this queue were far from pleased, giving me another reason to appreciate my choice of airline.

Navigating through the bustling Auckland Airport, I couldn't help but marvel at how busy it was. With flights checking in left and right, it was a bit of a challenge to reach the escalators leading upstairs. Stopped for a photo under the departures board

After successfully clearing Customs, it was now time to proceed through Security. Here, I found myself in a bit of a wait as they were training newcomers. It turned out to be quite an interesting experience as they had the chance to thoroughly inspect all the tech items in my bag. I was intrigued to learn about what they were specifically looking for and the various shapes that popped up on their scanners. I encouraged them to take their time and explore any shapes that caught their interest, as I was in no rush and happy to help them gain confidence in their duties.

Following my time at Duty Free, I was reminded that there would be no access to the Premium Lounge on this particular trip.

As many of you are aware, I have a deep fondness for fountain pens, particularly the exquisite MonteBlanc pens. So, I couldn't resist the chance to explore the latest models in the MonteBlanc store I must clarify that I wasn't in the mood for making any purchases today (which I'm sure will bring a smile to Mike's face), but it was nice to take the time to admire these fine writing instruments.

After enjoying a small meal, it was time for me to make my way to the departure gate. Interestingly, this gate was located in a newly extended section of Auckland Airport that I hadn't had the chance to explore before. It seems that Auckland took advantage of the COVID period to expand and enhance the airport facilities.

Our flight departed on schedule, and I located my seat, all set to embark on the journey to Changi Airport in Singapore.