In the air...

Elaine and Claire at Christchurch airport.

Chance encounters with people are one of the things that make travel fascinating...

On the flight from Christchurch to Singapore I was sitting amongst a large party of Germans, wedged in a middle seat between two well built men who did not speak English (or felt uninclined to). Neither aknowledged my presence and I gave up trying to make any sort of conversation. One drank solidly the entire flight and I thought darkly about my precious $ subsidising his addiction!!

From Changi, Singapore to Heathrow I talked with Niki, an English lass who was returning from Sydney with her partner to an uncertain relationship, no job and the care of blond, curly-haired four year old Harper. Niki was downing valium to cope with her fear of flying and (I think) using me as the therapist she normally visited. I enjoyed her company.

Watched This is it (Michael Jackson), The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Kurt Weill opera) and In Bruges - the latter a strange mixture of genres and very violent. Loved the Weill and, as someone who has never followed Michael Jackson, found him unexpectedly fascinating and 'out of this world' (literally!).