On the way!

I'm on my way to Wellington! Now at Melbourne, using freebie internet in the Qantas First lounge and sipping tomato juice (alas, not the spiced stuff). Kerri's nearby - a change for her to be my guest instead of the other way around.

No books to drop off to leave a trail - they are all in my checked luggage, being hauled into the trans-Tasman plane by teams of sweating labourers.

Kerri travels with a half-empty carry on bag. Me, I've got a big yellow duffel, a BookCrossing tote, and a backpack stuffed to the gunnels.

My last passenger last night (or rather, early this morning) was a Kiwi, and we spent a pleasant fiteen minute ride enthusing about how wonderful New Zealand was. So glad to be heading back. Sherlockfan, it might be raining, but I'm gunna have a wonderful time!

Be there in about four hours. Oh yeah, I'll be taking a taxi from the airport.

BookCrossing the Tasman

It's 0230, a time when I'm usually up and about, and I've actually doubled my sleep total for the past two days. I'm in Wellington, and in heaven.

Wednesday and Thursday were short shifts for me, ending around 0100, once I'd made my target. My final passenger on Wednesday was a Kiwi, and I mentioned to him that in 24 hours I'd be in Welington. We then spent the rest of the trip exchanging fond memories, he gave me a generous tip, and I returned home full of pleasure and anticipation.

I can't say I got much sleep in the few hours before dawn. I rarely do before leaving on a big trip, I had a lot of packing and computer stuff to do, and I've come down with some sort of wog-falling-short-of-a-cold which kept me awake.

My daughter drove us to the airport, and we waited with cappucini in the lounge, looking out on various Boeing 737s. I'm a planespotter nerd, and this is my idea of a good way to spend a half hour. The flight down to Melbourne (despite its title, Canberra International Airport doesn't actually have any overseas destinations) was short and marred by seats over the wing, which pretty much blocked out most of the view.

A short walk through what amounts to a shopping mall to the international terminal (a pleasant contrast to the timeconsuming shuttle bus in Sydney) and I was able to use my oneWorld Emerald status to get us into the Qantas First lounge, which I can report is much like the normal lounge, except less crowded.

Again, we had seats over the wing. Our seats had been changed several times, and despite a telephone promise that we had 4A and 4C, these turned into 9B and 9C. Overwing exit row seats without the legroom and one back from the window (there was no 9A) on the wrong side of the plane. However, the meal was good, I was pleased to see that Mr and Mrs T were flying with us, and the movie was good - "The Queen".

Straightforward arrival - if you count a somewhat wobbly landing as normal for Wellington - and a pleasant taxi ride, of which more later. The hotel is fine, and we have a suite, allowing me to do internet stuff in the wee smalls without disturbing Kerri.

On heading downstairs for dinner, I diverted into the conference room, hoping to find the organisers there. I was not disappointed, and a round of hugs ensued as I greeted friends of several conventions, and made one or two new ones. Rarsberry showed off her sparkly new engagement ring, and Wombles lamented that she had been to Christchurch twice and hadn't seen the place yet. Or not more than a few night-time streets, anyway. By all accounts, the road trip up had been an epic.

We went out for Asian tucker. Yummy, but spicy enough to bring tears to my eyes.

Back to the hotel for more hugs, tables full of books, a brilliant talk by a local writer, snacks, drinks, and talks on the floor until my weary brain cried out for bed. But the smile never left my face - it is a joy to be with BookCrossers, talking books and book-releasing, conventions and comrades.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I must fall into bed again. The hotel corridors are starting to become unsilent, and I have a long day ahead with a trivia night at the end.