Yes - finally underway. Had a very pleasant flight to Shanghai - Robin bunked down next to that National party stalwart Jerry Brownlee - Jez that b***** can put the tucker away and .. snore. For NZ. He slept for exactly 6hrs 27 min I knew exactly when he dropped off and when he woke up by the change in decibels in the cabin. We had a great flight and superb Air NZ service. I still had a raging cold & sore throat when we left NZ so was grateful for the pleasures of business class (with or without chez Jerry). Only problem was that during the flight I picked up conjunctivitis in both eyes so when I woke up I was deaf, dumb and blind (blocked ears/no voice/and both eyes glued shut!!)

Unlike my father (and possibly brother) I quickly lose my sense of humour when I'm unwell - which might account for why after only a two minute interaction with the Chinese customs officials Robin & I were taken aside for "special stamps". Highlights of Shanghai would have to be the doctors surgery and the six prescriptions I'm now taking to cure the aforementioned deaf/dumb/blind symptoms. I suppose the Shanghai architecture, tastes, smells and sites and other delights warrant a mention but regaining all ones senses tops it for me.

Off to Geneva via Frankfurt - settling in to take off and a good sleep (sans Brownlee) and some other b***** pulls a sickie and wants off the plane. Brakes on, park for two hours while he and his long suffering wife and bags are disembarked. Now two hours late we miss our connection to Geneva so spend the night in what seemed converted barracks used by Luftanza to put up (economy) passengers suffering delays. Worst part was most my drugs were in the checked baggage being kept safe by LH overnight at Frankfurt airport. Our 20 euro stipend was hardly tested as the restaurant had closed when we arrived at the barracks and had not yet opened when we left in the morning. While only cold water was running it provided some comfort for me to clean my eyes out.

Have just arrived Geneva and been re-united with my meds!! Things are looking up! Real challenge starts now as the now only somewhat deaf/dumb/blind guy (& still very little sense of humour) takes to the roads of Europe along with his long suffering wife. More to follow....