We were up early for breakfast on Monday as we had a taxi booked for 07.50 which in the event was much too early given that when we got to the airport check in and bag drop took all of about 2 minutes.

A relatively short flight of 90 minutes on Air New Zealand to Auckland, plane was full and because of that loading people and luggage took longer and so we were a bit late leaving Christchurch but as our flight from Auckland wasn't until 14.45 we had plenty of time. We then got a message from Cathay to say the flight was delayed until 15.20. But we had access to the Air New Zealand lounge. I took the opportunity to get a shower but Fiona was too busy sampling the SB. There was a good selection of food and drink and it would have been rude not to sample it.

When the boarding notification came we headed to the gate only to find that the plane couldn't get into the bay for some reason and so we were having to be bussed out which normally isn't that bad except it had started to rain a short time before. It was torrential, but when the bus pulled up to the plane the door opened in line with a covered walkway so we only had 2 steps to take in the rain, 2 very quick steps. Take off was delayed some more by the need to bus everyone out and then again because of the weather, we eventually took off at 16.30. We did make up some time but we didn't land in HK until 22.15 local instead of 21.00. It didn't affect us as we originally had 4 hours to transfer so that was ok, but there were some passengers transferring to flights to Munich and Frankfurt who were met at the gate to be rushed through.

As on the leg from Auckland to Hong Kong the plane was an airbus A350 and was virtually brand new, the plans on the Manchester legs are Boeing 777's which are a bit older. On the Airbus there is slightly more space and the entertainment system has bigger screens which is important when you have 10+ hours to get through. We encountered some extended turbulence about half way into the flight and afterwards realised it must have been due to flying over the the cyclone that hit Queensland.

Once in Hong Kong we had to go through security to get from the arrivals level to the departures level but that only took 5 minutes or so, much quicker than when we had to do it on our Australia trip last year. We quickly booked into the lounge and the first thing we did was head to the showers. We both felt tons better after a shower and a change of clothes. We then went to get something to eat and drink, again a good selection but thats to be expected given HK is the home port of Cathay Pacific. We stayed until the boarding notification came up on the screen before going to the gate which was a good 10 minute walk away.

Take off was pretty much on time. Fiona was soon asleep, she had taken 2 Sealegs tablets, these are to prevent sea sickness but have a warning not to operate machinery for 8 hours. I had taken some prior to our aborted dolphin watch and they had no affect on me at all. Fiona slept for about 6 hours completely missing the first meal service. She had been worried about when to take them in case I had to carry her on board if she took them too early. She pretty much went to sleep as soon as were aloft and the seatbelt sign was switched off. I slept for about 3 hours but I had slept a bit on the leg to Hong Kong anyway.

We landed on time in Manchester, quickly off the plane, no queue at passport control and our bags were in the first lot to come through. We had used the meet and greet service as it worked out cheaper than using any other option for some reason so we were in the car by 07.35 after landing at 07.10.

Once home it was unpacking and putting the washing on. Lucy and co arrive Thursday so we need to be squared away before then.

So that ends another holiday. Flown about 23,600 miles in total plus driven about 2150 miles, not so much a carbon footprint but a size 12 boot.

China up next in September.