Claire eating yoghurt. It’s quiet. Lots of empty seat as. Light streams in from the window. The tails of the flying kangaroos roll past the window. It’s that time again. Our second international trip but it’s only the same time travelled as a trip to the west of this sunburnt land.

The airport is empty, it surprising. People slowly stream through as we get nearer to check in. It’ll be midnight when we arrive, well ten really the two hour time difference loses us a couple of hours.

I can’t remember if it’s my third or fourth trip to New Zealand. I can remember two times so in all honesty it’s probably my third. This time is different though. To travel with a kiwi as your partner is bound to offer a different experience much as I’d imagine someone visiting the UK with me would be. There are relatives to meet, events to attend and an insiders view to appreciate.

And so just past midnight (NZ time) we crawl off the plane into Auckland airport. The journey was relatively uneventful and quick. I suppose having travelled to Berlin a few week ago the near four hour flight was relatively insignificant. It doesn’t feel too unusual as it does sometimes when you land in strange new lands but that maybe because of Claire and her knowledge of this place it feels less unusual than it maybe should. We arrive at Claire’s parents house, security lights come on, I feel from Claire the comfort of home from the atmosphere that she creates which I dwell within. I have a quick scan around a home that is new to me but familiar after the many pictures I’ve seen.

We drift off to sleep in joint slumber with the rest of the house.

IJS 11/11/2016