[MotherBear]

Hi folks,

Finally managed to find time to get on the PC. As some of you may know, I do tend to attract problems in that area and, true to form, have already had trouble signing into the forum from NZ and also getting into my Yahoo mailbox. It must be a gift I have. :D

We arrived here on time after a 4-leg journey i.e. Muscat, Dubai, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Auckland. We flew with Malaysia Airlines - the plane from Dubai to Karachi and Kuala Lumpur seemed to be very old, seats uncomfortable and everyone appeared to be restless and squirming around trying to settle so we didn't get any sleep that night. The 'personalised entertainment system' consisted of a pull down screen at the front of the plane and the picture was very blurred and the sound atrocious. Never mind, I don't like the look of the new James Bond anway. ;D

The airline didn't give us breakfast before we left the plane so we looked forward to eating when we arrived at the transit hotel they'd booked for us. We were staying in KL 12 hours but were told we were only entitled to one meal during that time, either breakfast or lunch, not both. This was very disappointing considering how much we'd paid for the flights and, when going with Thai Air last year for much less money, we were given all meals. Our hotel room in KL, too, was very dingy. Because of our horrendous difficulties with the travel agent during the run up to the flights, it only added to our dissatisfaction with Malaysia Airlines and hubster has been swearing never to fly with them again. I'm keeping an open mind as I've heard good reports about them in the past and think we just drew yet another short straw. The final and longest leg of the journey was on a much better plane and we saw something more encouraging in the way of service and comfort.

Fortunately we have managed to escape jet lag again and the sun was shining as we arrived in AKL to a lovely sunny day. Pity it didn't last but, then, we do have that effect on the weather wherever we go. There is a terrific din from all the cicadas all around the house so they must be very busy doing whatever cicadas do. After a lazy couple of days we're now gearing up to getting on with some work on the house.

Very many thanks to Paul and Julie (firing1) who entertained us at their lovely home and gave us a good start to our holiday. It was a very relaxing afternoon but sorry about the weather guys. Living, as we do, in sunhine for at least 10 months of the year, fate always deems that we experience a bit of wet and windy stuff whenever we leave Oman. I knew I did right to pack my umbrella. ;D

Below is a run down of the problems we had before getting to NZ as I ran out of space on this post. This is an account of how not to book a holiday. ;)