Day 2 of our holiday – or is it? – always weird when you’re still en route and between time zones.
I went straight to sleep as soon as I could on the flight, I didn’t wait for dinner, nice as it looked. My screen wasn’t working so I couldn’t watch the safety video, which made me feel vaguely naughty. The stewardess told me to watch the screen of the person across the aisle from me. Unfortunately their screen was turned away from me so I couldn’t see it at all, which left me vaguely wondering if the stewardess was lacking in theory of mind. Luckily it was the same video I’d seen on the flight from Wellington to Auckland so I could pretty much follow it from the audio. Air NZ have been through tough financial times lately and haven’t made a new safety video in a number of years, which is a bit of a shame as they were once world renowned. I remember the first one which had the flight crew wearing body paint that looked like proper uniforms at first glance.
I had a great sleep without the aid of drugs or alcohol, for which I credit the fabulous sleep mask they gave me which blocked out all light, as well as my extreme sleep debt. They informed me at breakfast that they’d tried to reset my screen while I’d been asleep with no luck, so in apology they gave me a handful of credit vouchers! Talk about passive income. I was more than happy just to read my book but I suppose not being able to watch a movie might have annoyed some people. The tickets aren’t cheap after all.
In spite of our early arrival, Singapore airport was pumping. I guess it’s like casinos where they have no interest in keeping you oriented to place and time. We passed Simon’s favourite clothes shop on the way to the transit hotel and as it was open, we went in. There were two members of staff and no other customers so he was well looked after. He knows what he likes, so bought more shorts and trousers in the style he knows works for him, but in slightly different colours.
Boss used to be known as Hugo Boss, I’m not sure why they ditched the first name? Maybe it’s something to do with the rumours that they dressed the SS back in the Second World War, although they always look very stylish in the films, a bit like Keanu Reeves in The Matrix but with jackboots.
Have had a nice extra couple of hours sleep in the transit hotel and am now comfortably settled by the pool. It’s 30 degrees and a humid late morning here in Singapore and I’ve got another couple of hours before the flight leaves. Simon isn’t a pool person and has gone in search of the lounge where he can get some food and probably a Negroni. Breakfast of champions.
Simon has asked me to get to the gate with plenty of time so as not to cause him any undue anxiety. I don’t want to put his cardiovascular system under any unnecessary stress so I aim to comply. The next leg of our journey takes us to Paris, where we arrive late evening. Very civilized.