Made it to Dunedin

This post doesn't have any photos because I haven't downloaded them yet. I left SF on Tuesday night. The flight to Auckland was pretty empty, and there was loads of room in the cabin to stretch out. I actually got a decent kip on the plane, as I watched "Ballet Shoes" followed by "Midsommer Murders" (those of you who know me well know that Midsommer is guaranteed to have me sound asleep in about half an hour). So I salute Air New Zealand for having the sense to put it on their on demand video system. Maybe all the airlines should try it...it was an episode I hadn't seen before, where Cully gets married. Anyhow, flight was uneventful, and we landed in Auckland at 5.25am on Thursday, having crossed the dateline. I took the walking option between the international and domestic terminal, and enjoyed the early morning weather. It was dark, but surprisingly warm, with the smell of trees and flowers in the air. I wandered round the domestic terminal, waiting for my flight to Dunedin, via Wellington, which was on time, and again uneventful. I didn't see very much as I was on the aisle, but did manage to see the sheep grazing in the field beside the runway in Dunedin. The sun was shining and the hills around the airport were covered in gorse and it looked pretty much like home (Tullibody).

Phil and Debbie met me at the airport and I actually managed to walk right past them. We went to the house, I dumped my stuff and we went for a coffee at the beach. Mmmhmm, it's in a really nice spot. I thought I was going to be jetlagged, but Midsommer had done its job and I was fine. I unpacked and toddled about until bedtime. Andrea was right - the flat is FREEZING at night.

Friday was ANZAC Day and a public holiday so I wandered into town in the afternoon and bought my priority purchase - a fluffy dressing gown. It's lovely (mmm). Black and fluffy with a Kookai emblem on the front and a HUGE WHITE LOVE HEART ON THE BACK!! What were they thinking? I'm just glad I can't see the back.

Saturday, Lisa, one of the other teaching fellows came to take me out. She and Graeme took me to Signal Hill, and Baldwin Street (steepest street in the world) and the uni campus and the botanic gardens. Then we went shopping to Pak'nSave for groceries. Then she dropped me off at the house.

I've bought a hot water bottle.

Japanese Tea Garden and a pair of shoes

One of the things I intended to do in San Francisco was buy a pair of Dansko sandals. I love them, but can't get them at home, and it's a hassle getting them online, so I try to take advantage of being in Cali and buy a pair... but it wasn't easy! Nordstrom's had the shoes and the mules but no sandals, and the little shoe shop just outside Chinatown Gate only had the sandals I had already. However, I was on my way to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and had noticed a shoe shop at the streetcar stop on Irving (just where it turns up to go on to Judah at The Little Roaster). I went in and, lo and behold, not only did they have Dansko sandals, but they had them on sale! So I got the sandals, and I got a pot of genmai cha as well.

The incident with the streetcar

This is a picture of the historic tram that fell off its wheels this morning. I'd got on it at Ming's Dry Cleaners, and was just thinking that I should get off, as the driver had just announced that she was going to the Castro (I was hoping for Market Street) when there was a crunching sound and the driver shouted, "Oh my God!", brought the streetcar to an abrupt stop and jumped out, leaving the bus listing slightly to the right. I thought we'd hit a dog or a child, as we were right at a crossroads, but the driver came back on and told us that the tram had slipped off its wheels. Luckily there was another (newer) streetcar right behind, so we all got on it and watched as the sad little broken historic tram limped its way to the Castro, to go where the broken trams go to be fixed.

I was so shaken that I headed to the Embarcadero, and had to have a pistachio and bourbon pecan ice cream at Ciao Bella Gelato in the Ferry Building. That also came as a bit of a surprise, as I was thinking "bourbon - vanilla" whilst Ciao had another kind of bourbon in mind. Whisky and nuts goes surprisingly well in ice cream, I have to admit.

A beautiful sunny day in San Francisco. What a change from Glasgow. Got here yesterday afternoon - the flight was the best part of an hour early, and they got us through customs in a record half hour, despite the moaning Scotswoman behind me (Try Texas, love, you'll still be standing in the queue in two hours). Homeland Security now requires ALL fingerprints and I had a bit of trouble with the thumbs, as you have to present them at the same time, and the machine was a bit high. Despite now having a full set of fingerprints, they still haven't been able to pin anything on me (FBI and CIA note: that last sentence was ironic. I haven't committed any crime, and this blog is not intended to be a confession). 

I wasn't in any hurry as Dave wasn't due home until eight, and I was supposed to get his keys from his next door neighbour, Mark. So I had a gander at the exhibitions in the airport and had a cup of tea before taking the BART to Mission & 24th. Then I toddled on up to The Liberties and sat outside in the sun, drinking coke and reading a strategy document (yes, I was working). There was a furniture lorry with its hazard lights on, parked on the opposite corner of the street. Out of nowhere, a man fell over and rolled under the lorry. Then he appeared at the other side of the lorry, and rolled over again, into the oncoming traffic. It was quite surreal. He must have been wasted or drunk as he didn't seem to be able to get off the road. The police turned up, and one of the officers had the biggest feet I've ever seen. By that time, I'd had enough, so I phoned Mark and went off to collect the keys. He was waiting for me by the time I got to the house, and was a bit worried, as he could remember that Dave has an alarm but he had no idea what the code was. Luckily, I had asked Dave the day before if the code was the same, and he'd said yes (now wouldn't it have been funny if he'd changed it?) so Mark let me in, and I rushed about the house listening for the alarm, as I couldn't remember where the control box was. I found it, punched in the code, and nothing happened...

...then it switched itself off. Phew. I said goodbye to Mark, had a shower, and fell asleep until Dave came home. He asked me if Mark had understood my accent (Dave has terrible problems with it, even after thirteen years) and I said yes. "Ach," he said, "he's probably been watching Jane Austin movies."

T minus 3 days (and counting)

I am off to New Zealand on Wednesday to work in Dunedin, as a Visiting Fellow at Otago University. I'm really looking forward to it; my colleague is there now and from what she has told me, it's a good place to be. I'll be teaching on the first year biology course - pretty much what I do at home, but with twice as many students. Talking of which, I started telling my students that I was leaving, and got hugs and thanks and "you're not going forever, are you?" What a bunch! They are something special.

I have loads to remember to do before I go, and will probably forget something (as usual). Top of the list is marking and a case study to write. While I'm gone I have a report to start on (take data with me, or else!) and a Masters' thesis to write. Not a problem then. Just a normal day's work for me.