By The Seat of Our Pants

My Dear Princess and Dear Friends,

So. Today's work trip to Christchurch started a little stressfully. 

The airport shuttle came to the house at half past six to pick me up. It wasn't our usual shuttle, which I thought was no big deal, but then the driver complained when I asked if we could pick up El Jefe on the way.

"Oh, that'll be $67 extra," he said. 

This is different from the regular shuttle service we use but I didn't care. What the hell, I thought. So we picked up Jefe and then we HIT THE TRAFFIC.

Oh sh*t. 

Then we started getting the messages from Losi, waiting for us at the airport. "Where ARE you guys?" asked Corrie, coordinating from the office. 

When we eventually got to the airport. We needed to run. But oh wait, there's that $67 charge. No problem. Here's my credit card.

"Oh, I can't get a signal on my credit card machine," says the guy. "Maybe if I drive further away." 

So we drove further away from the ACTUAL PLACE where I was DUE TO CHECK IN URGENTLY.

"Beep," said his machine. "Nope, that didn't help," said the man. Helpfully.

"I need to RUN," I explained. "Can't you just invoice us?"

"Errrrrr...." said the guy. 

Long story short. I had $50 on me. So I had to run and bring Jefe BACK (he'd gone to check in to try and speed things up) for the extra $17. So then I checked in. And THEN I realised I'd left his bags behind. (He'd left me in charge when he was paying the guy).

F*****************CK!! was my very non-stressed and calm response.

We found his bags in the place where I had abandoned them.

And THEN Jefe's carry-on bags (the ones I had nearly left behind) BOTH got double-checked by security.

And then....

....RUUUUUUUUNNNN!!!

We JUST made it.

We got on our flight and arrived in Christchurch later that morning to help with the hardware installs. 

Which couldn't happen.

Because the stuff the installers were to install hadn't turned up. 

AAAAAAARGH.

Jefe, however, is a genius and used the ONE wall bracket we happened to have to measure up and pre-drill ALL of the rooms. 

At which point it was the end of the day. And we needed to blow off some steam. Jefe found a steak place and we promised we would be sensible. 

But after just one beer we were all, "eff it". And wine was bought. Also mojitos, beer and a Baileys shooter. 

I shall say no more, except that a good night was had. Obviously we were all hilarious and the (very tolerant) waitress just LOVED us. Of course she did!

"Do you think maybe she just saw that we were likely good tippers?" asked Jefe.

Oh Jefe. You are such a cynic. Bah. Perish the thought.

So anyway, I took this picture at about 2am later that evening. I actually felt fine, it was just that early morning alcohol waking thing happening EXTRA early.

But I got back to sleep okay and felt remarkably okay the next morning. Losi was also good - he even managed to go to the gym. Jefe emerged at 9.30. But I can report is doing very well today.

The stuff still hasn't shown up though.

So that was day one of our Christchurch trip. Not much progress thus far. But a LOT of fun.

S.