[wilson182]

Hi guys

Just a quick note to say i'm back!!!! Had a just a few problems getting here, and the worst thing was that my computer decided to crash about two days before being packed for shipping the nz. I must say I have missed you all. But I have finally battled through with the UK Mortgage companies, managed to get tennants for my house in the UK, and am now back in Chch trying to get over the jet lag.

I notice we have loads of new members which is great, and am now preparing to spend a couple of days reading through all the posts I have missed.

Great to be back.

:cheers

[jesselyn]

hi wilson,

welcome back! :yes
and nice meeting you... ;)

jes :angel

[karltsmith]

Welcome back Wilson! :clap

How was the flight? Any stories? We met Mary Peters (ex Olympian) on our flight over in March....lovelly lady doing some fundfaising work!

I'm sure you will love ChCh...it's a great city!

Karl :nice1

[lindajax]

Hi Wilson,
Acouple of days reading posts since you've been gone - you must be a super quick reader. I'm off for 2 days and it takes me houra and hours catching up.
Welcome back to the forum any news of how you found your trip would be great

love linda xx

[wilson182]

Thanks Guys

The trip over was ok. I was travelling with a 12yr and 4yr so I wasnt sure what to expect. They were great though. We flew into Dubai, the so first trip was quite short (well 5hrs) and at night so little one slept through most of it. The oldest watched a couple of films. I hated Dubai though (sorry) I got a little bit lost, and the people were SO unhelpfull. I asked for directions and then they would watch me walk the wrong way!!!!! I also had to have my baggage xrayed to leave the airport (i had to go out and back in again.....as I said I got lost) and then have it xrayed again to go back to get my flight to Melbourne. At that time they decided to conviscate a tape measure I was carrying for my husband!!!! The second flight was very long....(18hrs) but the kids handled it well. The oldest got bored cause I didnt have time to buy her a book at Dubai, but the little one slept quite a long time again. On the change over at Melbourne, I met up with a kiwi family who were fantastic, and really helped while away the hour we had to wait there. On arrival in Christchurch, I wasnt sure what to put on my immigration form either, hubby has a two year work visa, so I put down that I was staying for two years. I must have had an immigration officer on a good day, cause she was really nice. I explained that we would be applying for pm, and that hubby has a work visa. She asked to see my return tickets, and just said that we had to apply for pm before my 6mnt visitor visa is up. No worries. Then on to meet hubby, and that was great, we havnt seen him for four and a half months.

So as flights go, I really prefered Singapore airlines. Even down to the little things like the stewards/ess taking the time to learn the kids names. Also having two flights taking roughly the same time, rather than one short and one long.

(Are you bored yet!!!!)

[wilson182]

Sorry - Jet Lag.

For pm read pr

[Diny]

Sounds like quite a trip. I've been through Dubai with 2 young kids too .... it's abit of a worry isn't it. I found 'toilet trips' the most stressful experience. Over here I take my young boys into the ladies loo with me but in Dubai I was NOT allowed to do this. They had to go into the mens loos by themselves which worried the life out of them (and me). I got a few strange looks as I lingered in the doorway of the mens loo, craning my neck trying to catch sight of my boys.

I agree that Singapore Airlines are by far the best, Emirates profess to be the THE airline, SA knock spots off them !!!

All the best.

Diny