Arriving in new country is always a bit strange. I remember landing in Canada with Damon a few years ago and we had no idea at all where to go or stay. We did eventually sort a hotel and worked out how to get there from the airport.Landing in New Zealand was a whole different ball game!!
I had a window seat on the small plane that took me from Sydney to Wellington. An amazing flight was had chatting with the old lady next to me and looking out the window at the amazing landscape as we flew over New Zealand.
From the Air the land is green like the UK. But its rugged mountains and coastline take your breath away. As you bank round to line up for Wellington you fly over the islands at the north tip of the north Island. Put it this way, when Jo arrives we are going there for sure!!!
My flight arrived at 2.30pm and i knew a representative from my new work would be there to meet me. I collected my bags and was quickly through customs after being told that although i was good of me to declare my Jar of Marmite i really didn't need to !
Matty from Weta was there with a warm smile and a firm handshake. We sorted the hire car and he drove me to the hotel.
My friend Pete had told me about the Duxton Hotel. He had nodded in appreciation and said
"ummm.... you'll like it there!"
How right he was !
I was warmly greeted at the 5 star hotels rececption and told i was in room 801.
"They sure are looking after you aren't they Mr Phillips?" said the guy behind the desk.
I smiled wondering how he knew that up to now i hadn't paid for a thing as ALL bills were going to Weta..
"801 is the Presidential Suite Sir!" he continued..
i looked at Matty who raised his eyebrows and smiled.
We headed up in the lift and reached the 8th floor. Directly in front of the lift door is a big board telling you which way certain room numbers are.
There in Big bold Letters..
Presidential Suite .... right...
At the very end of the corridor was a door. Unlike all the others it had a door bell.
In hindsight this should have given me some indication on the size of the rooms (plural!!!) that i was about to enter !
Card in door ... open and in we go ...
"Holy SH*T !" were Matty's first words!
The place was HUGE !
A massive living room, 2 sofas and two arm chairs. Dining table for 6. A bar! Two bathrooms, one with huge shower and jacuzzi bath. A big bedroom and the widest bed i have ever seen!
All in all i was wondering why they had put me in there on my own?
Its been great staying there for two weeks and they really look after you. They park the car, give you a paper every morning. Serve you amazing breakfasts in the 9th floor Club lounge.!
On my last weekend i went away for a couple of days with my mate Tim.(More on that mission Later!) On leaving the hotel i thought i'd let them know that i wouldn't be there for a couple of nights. It was like telling your parents that you are heading off for the weekend!
When i came back it was like i was coming home. Very strange!
So for two weeks i WAS Mr President. Ok , so i got some odd looks from people in the other rooms who would see me coming in and out and probably thought i was robbing the place !
One guy in particular had a huge shock when i opened the door with my crazy morning haircut and in my pj's to get my neatly wrapped newspaper. I m sure he thought someone older and more important looking should be in that room! Very funny.
I have resigned my duties now and have moved into more homely surroundings . The spare room at Tims place.
I had a window seat on the small plane that took me from Sydney to Wellington. An amazing flight was had chatting with the old lady next to me and looking out the window at the amazing landscape as we flew over New Zealand.
From the Air the land is green like the UK. But its rugged mountains and coastline take your breath away. As you bank round to line up for Wellington you fly over the islands at the north tip of the north Island. Put it this way, when Jo arrives we are going there for sure!!!
My flight arrived at 2.30pm and i knew a representative from my new work would be there to meet me. I collected my bags and was quickly through customs after being told that although i was good of me to declare my Jar of Marmite i really didn't need to !
Matty from Weta was there with a warm smile and a firm handshake. We sorted the hire car and he drove me to the hotel.
My friend Pete had told me about the Duxton Hotel. He had nodded in appreciation and said
"ummm.... you'll like it there!"
How right he was !
I was warmly greeted at the 5 star hotels rececption and told i was in room 801.
"They sure are looking after you aren't they Mr Phillips?" said the guy behind the desk.
I smiled wondering how he knew that up to now i hadn't paid for a thing as ALL bills were going to Weta..
"801 is the Presidential Suite Sir!" he continued..
i looked at Matty who raised his eyebrows and smiled.
We headed up in the lift and reached the 8th floor. Directly in front of the lift door is a big board telling you which way certain room numbers are.
There in Big bold Letters..
Presidential Suite .... right...
At the very end of the corridor was a door. Unlike all the others it had a door bell.
In hindsight this should have given me some indication on the size of the rooms (plural!!!) that i was about to enter !
Card in door ... open and in we go ...
"Holy SH*T !" were Matty's first words!
The place was HUGE !
A massive living room, 2 sofas and two arm chairs. Dining table for 6. A bar! Two bathrooms, one with huge shower and jacuzzi bath. A big bedroom and the widest bed i have ever seen!
All in all i was wondering why they had put me in there on my own?
Its been great staying there for two weeks and they really look after you. They park the car, give you a paper every morning. Serve you amazing breakfasts in the 9th floor Club lounge.!
On my last weekend i went away for a couple of days with my mate Tim.(More on that mission Later!) On leaving the hotel i thought i'd let them know that i wouldn't be there for a couple of nights. It was like telling your parents that you are heading off for the weekend!
When i came back it was like i was coming home. Very strange!
So for two weeks i WAS Mr President. Ok , so i got some odd looks from people in the other rooms who would see me coming in and out and probably thought i was robbing the place !
One guy in particular had a huge shock when i opened the door with my crazy morning haircut and in my pj's to get my neatly wrapped newspaper. I m sure he thought someone older and more important looking should be in that room! Very funny.
I have resigned my duties now and have moved into more homely surroundings . The spare room at Tims place.
1 comment:
I hope you're enjoying Camp David now. And I don't mean the waiter from the 9th floor
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