The land of the long white cloud and the big white sling

Aotearoa, or New Zealand, certainly made a sexy entrance into my life at 11am on January 5th. As we descended lower and lower over what seemed to be just an expanse of Pacific and I started to get a bit para about a crazy pilot or a faulty place GPS, the huge, straight, gorgeous coast of the North Island came into view and took my breath away. Turquoise glass gave way to white cliffs and crashing waves, which in turn gave way to green blankets and shimmering blue mirrors before we came to touch down. I was stunned.


Catching the bus into the city with my New kiwi mate Tor, I was stunned by the friendliness of, well, everyone. Smiley, at ease, chilled - I'd forgotten that people like this existed. I already liked it.


The night before in Sydney I'd managed to slice through my pinkie knuckle enough to expose bone and a lot of blood, and as I wandered around Auckland CBD I started to notice the blinding pain in my left hand; cutting off the bandage helped a little but an hour later, I was incapacitated and walking in the direction of the hospital.


Having been told by a kindly information lady that I would get free care there despite being British, I sat on the waiting room floor trying not to vomit everywhere and make a mess, holding my head in my hands and taking huge despairing breaths. They took pity - I was hurried through.


After some very welcome painkillers and a reduction of the massive swelling, it was decided that I'd not sawed through any ligaments or chipped any bones, but had been got by a nasty infection. The 3 doctors who crowded my room to make the decision were lovely, and along with my sling (for elevation) and anti-biotics (to make good) they threw in an overdue tetanus shot and some nice chats for good measure. The script only cost me $3, and I spent nothing else, not even on a drink. I was amazing and came out of the hospital practically skipping, though somewhat embarrassed by my be-slinged, pathetic arm which had been taken totally out of action by a cut not even an inch wide.


Body fail; NZ healthcare FTW!