THE BIG DAY

18/06/2024

Today was the day, I was flying back to Nelson, New Zealand. Time sometimes slows down and distances feel immense. Last month it took me 30 days to sail from Antigua in the Caribbean to France, but the 30 hours of flying from the UK to New Zealand felt longer by about a year.

I have schlepped my life out with me, paying an eye watering sum for one overweight bag and yet another check in bag. All valuable possessions were in the hold of the plane and I cannot wait. However, a long journey was first.

During my time in London, I in vain probably, tried to tempt friends to come and visit me in Nelson. However, I take it back. I would not wish the pain of getting here on anyone. Seven hours from London to Doha followed by 16 hours to Auckland. It is not right for anyone to sit for 23 hours. I watched karate kid, it gave me little joy other than the scene with 'wax on, wax off'. My back was sore, I was too restless, and I had it easy, with 3 seats to myself for the long leg. I tried to sleep, with little success. I missed the meal and was then hungry, HANGRY, and annoyed. I searched for things to do, and repeated the mantra for 16 hours, 'only boring people get bored'.

So friends, I would love you all to visit of course but prepare for discomfort. I'm amazed however that as soon as you land it's forgotten, seemingly gone in a flash. And now I was truly so excited, I was so close to seeing my boat! I've spent the last 6 weeks away dreaming of my boat, dreaming of sailing to the Abel Tasman National Park, spending the night at anchor, and waking up to the birdsong on Adele island. During nights across the Atlantic when I wasn't been able to sleep, I went through the boat thinking up neat storage solutions. My cutlery will stand up in empty spice jars in the spice rack above the galley. I will make notches and slide a plank above the battery bank, which will double up for a chart table. I've been looking for a captain's chair on Facebook marketplace. It's sad, I'm obsessed. The day I take her out on my own I will smile ear to ear for days.

Sweet sweet Mahana

But flying over I had other thoughts filling my mind too. It was part excitement and part absolute dread. I shed a tear leaving my mum standing behind the barriers at Heathrow airport. I was going back to a life that was entirely my own, but simultaneously I was entirely on my own. I'd just had a rushed week in the UK seeing friends and spending time with family and often looked around in a large group of my university friends laughing and wondered, 'why am I leaving all this behind?'. I love my friends but London doesn't make me happy. Nelson does. Being surrounded by the sea, able to swim, sail, attempt to wingfoil. Being by the mountains for hiking and mountain biking. And being in a fulfilling job that gives me a sense of purpose and lets me be outdoors all the time, challneges me beyond all else, and to work in a small team of great people. I'm so lucky to have it all in New Zealand, yet leaving my old life and my friends hurts. I tell myself it'll only get easier and I can always come back...it just takes two days and a thousand pounds. Ouch.

Landing over the beach