Desperately seeking Gandad

All being well, we're off to New Zealand next week, having rescheduled our aborted trip from last Easter, (thanks to the lovely people at Emirates who let you change bookings made with airmiles). Alice is the only member of the family who is excited about taking her on a plane. I, meanwhile, am frantically stocking up on things that will keep her entertained for as long as possible (hey, every 5 minutes of a happy toddler is 5 minutes less time until we get there).

Alice is also excited, because to her, getting on planes and going to New Zealand is what Grannie and Grandad Y do. So every time I start to try to brief her on expected plane behaviour, she starts up with a chorus of, "Allie see Gandad". "Soon", I reply, since we do have 5 days with the Ys in Portugal in July, which really isn't too far away. "Yes", she says. "Allie see Gandad on a plane in Noo Zealand". I'm going to have to start saying we're going to Kaikoura or there's going to be trouble next week.