Morning world.

I’m in Perth.

And boy do I have a story for you. Stick around for a minute and let’s get into it.

After the big storm in the Wellington Region, I was wondering what the roads would be like and if I’d make it to the airport on time.
The roads were busy. So busy. Super Shuttle worked their magic and I got to bag drop just in time! I was already checked-in, as I would be.

It didn’t take too long before I boarded the first flight. Wellington to Auckland. A little bit bumpy taking off and then pockets of turbulence on the way. I wasn’t bothered. Turbulence is par for the course.
I got to Auckland International Airport with zero time … it’s a long walk through what amounts to a fecking duty free mall to the gates. Needless to say I arrived as the flight was boarding. No worries. I boarded. Had an aisle seat because that’s what I always choose. And off we went into the sky for the final leg of the journey.

AirNZ so there was great food and excellent service – and of course New Zealand wines. Jolly nice trip. We landed half an hour early. Hooray!
I wandered into duty free and grabbed two litre bottles of Jose Cuervo for $100. Excellent. I was pleased with that. Off I went to join the throng of people going through the Smart Gates. Then out to the baggage claim.

I was slightly worried that I wouldn’t find my suitcase because it is one of Dad’s and I’d never used it before. It’s grey. GREY. Anywho, I stuck some of my stickers to it prior to leaving home to it and they were still attached! Found my bag.

So, off I go to join the customs queue.

The zigging and the zagging went on forever then we turned a corner expecting customs and finding more zigging and zagging. All good, we were moving along until we weren’t.

Everything stopped.

People who were on their way to the exit were stopped. Nothing moved.

None of the many customs and biosecurity officers said anything. It just stopped.

We were talking amongst ourselves trying to work out what was going on. (You do not want to be a crime writer when a customs line stops and doors are shut … )
We landed early. So it was just after 4 that the line stopped moving.

Sometime after 5:15, they said there was an ‘incident’ in the arrival area and the entire airport was shut down while AFP dealt with it and conducted their investigation.

Great. No details just be patient.

My phone wouldn’t work. I could not connect to the airport wi-fi because you’re not supposed to use your phone before exiting customs.
I know that Geoff is out there waiting somewhere. But I couldn’t contact him.

Anywho, time marched on. We could only sit on the floor or stand. There’s no toilets on the exit side of baggage claim. There’s no water. Everyone was in the same boat. We all chatted amongst ourselves, and had a few laughs.
Some of the officers started bringing around cups of water. Others were checking for people who had declared things and stamping their cards.
At 6:25 we were cleared by customs officers, they opened an extra exit for those of us who were stuck in the second line. Off we went …

BUT, when we got out, AFP were there. There were no people waiting. I had no idea where Geoff was. We were ushered outside by AFP. Fair enough, I suppose.

There were police cars, lights, dogs, it was glorious or it would’ve been if my phone had worked.

So, outside.

Waiting. Patiently waiting while trying to text, and call, but my phone refused to do the roaming thing. And then I couldn’t sign into 2 Degrees to make it do it, because it needed my password. Why would it need that when I am permanently signed in on the app and use facial recognition? Yeah, no clue.

But also, no Geoff.

At 6:45 I went back inside, in case he was there.
Nope.
Back outside I went. Thinking he maybe went back to the car?
Nope.

It was starting to cool down. I was not having the best time. Tequila is heavy. My backpack was heavy. My suitcase was being a dick and not wanting to roll properly … and there were some decidedly creepy blokes lurking outside the airport … and all the police had gone.

I went back inside again.
This was the third maybe fourth time.

It was after 7:30. I had been waiting for over an hour at this point.
I walked over to lean on a wall and looked across the now sparsely occupied Arrival hall and there he was!

We still didn’t know what had actually happened. But we were sent if different directions and there was a huge lack of communication from the Airport and AFP.

So, we got home, much later than anticipated. Had a couple of tequilas, took painkillers, and discussed the whole mess.

Here’s the back yard (yesterday):