5am Tuesday morning

5am on a Tuesday morning and an audible reminder that New Zealand is back to normal. Almost.

Oh my word, why is the alarm set so early? In fact why is the alarm set at all? Our post-lockdown routine doesn’t demand such annoyances. Ah of course. I have a meeting in Wellington. Face-to-face was requested so that’s my day. Or two. Fly-in-fly-out was out. Or FIFO if you are into the whole brevity thing. A night away just adds to the joy. An unwelcome break in routine. I know it’s only a short trip but I judge the day by the place I rest my head at the end. Suddenly wish lockdown hadn’t ended so I wouldn’t have to do this. Feel guilty at that thought and blame tiredness.

Reluctantly I slip out of bed and head downstairs to the kettle and caffeine. I am a morning person, always have been, but remark to no-one in particular that this would be a whole lot easier in the summer. And if rain wasn’t lashing at the windows. Sure the days are now getting noticeably longer but there’s little evidence of this at 5:05am.

Doing my best not to disturb my partner - she wisely opted for relegation to the spare room - I make my coffee and head back upstairs to gather my thoughts. Having to travel by air is casting a dark shadow over my day. Haven’t done this for so many months. Haven’t missed it. Haven’t needed to. Welcome back to the modern business world. The convenience of air travel. Yeah, right. I’ll snap out of it. Or at least I hope I will. 

A warm shower eases my melancholy revelries a little. Warm water and a hot drink. Is that what keeps society going? Feel lucky. 

Dressed now and downstairs. Can’t face breakfast but I know that it’ll be a few hours before I’ll get another chance. Cereals. Fuel. That’s all. It’s 5:30am and a little closer to a more civilised time. Fleeting thought for those who have to work at night. The day-sleepers who’s nights are coloured headache grey. Like the taxi driver who is hopefully on their way to pick me up. Airport drive in sleepy silence no doubt. 

Work phone already airplane mode. Not looking at you mate until I land. You can wait. Whatever news your carrying can remain your secret. At least until it gets light anyway. 

Final check of the bag. Laptop. Wallet. Boarding pass. All present and correct. I know I put this all in there last night but I’ve slept since then so need to double check. Could’ve fallen out during the night. Maybe I dreamt the whole thing and didn’t actually pack this stuff. Best to check. I know I’ll check again before I leave the house. 

Grab a jacket from the chair and stuff it

in my bag. Wellington will be an overcoat colder than Auckland. Possibly two if the wind is blowing from the south. One will do. One is better than nothing. I’ve made that mistake before. Only an Aucklander would forget to take a coat to Wellington.

5:40am and my phone screen lights up. Taxis’s arrived. A little early but that’s okay. One less thing to have to think about. One less thing to go wrong: Plan for the worst and expect the best. Right, game face on. Door open and off we go.