Return to NZ

Saturday 10 July, and it's during our final morning souvenir shop that Pauline starts to feel unwell.  Heading back to the lodge we lay her down on a sofa in the foyer while a migraine starts to set in.  I rush out to find a doctor - unfortunately he closed ten minutes earlier.  But there's a clinic on the way to the airport - expensive, but the best in town.  We pile our gear into the taxi, and with Pauline as white as a sheet and about to throw up at any moment, it's a nailbiting ride.

Scenarios of missing our flight flash through my mind.  Rebooking, insurance claims, letting people know, missing my first day in a new job.  It's not worth thinking about.

Pauline's feeling a bit better as we limp into the clinic.  After an anxious half hour of filling in forms and waiting around, she gets to see a doctor.  She's a lot perkier now, and the doctor prescribes some pills for headache and nausea similar to the ones we're already carrying and sends us on our way.  And no payment for the consultation - amazing!  I'm anxiously looking at my watch, but we get to the airport in plenty of time to make our connecting flight to KL. 

And apart from a slight panicky moment when Pauline loses her passport down a deep pocket in her handbag, it's smooth sailing all the way back home.  Pauline's feeling a box of birds by the time we get to KL and is wondering what all the fuss was about.

Fiona's there to meet us as we step out of the plane into the Auckland chill.  It's been a great holiday, but as always when you've been away it's good to get back to family, friends, familiar surroundings and a bit of a routine.

I didn't score my slippers while I was away, but I did find a couple of very nice paper knives in Java and Borneo to add to my collection.

Now it's time to start planning my next tramp abroad.  My contract at Vodafone finishes at the end of March 2011.  Where in the world should I go in April?