Nice post - and yep to the care thing.
I have had my own encounters with Auckland Hospital A/E - the arrival late in the evening - wheel chair at the door - clothes peg on the finger and then the run down the corridor to find the man with the mask.

It is both scary and totally calming - and in a strange way - life affirming.

You can even learn to love the food.

And definitely your grateful - oh man are you grateful!

Bonus geek points: can you identify which novel the "T'were well it done quickly" quote is from.]

answer : aint a novel - its from Macbeth.
If it were done when it is done - twere well it were done quickly - if the assassination could travel up the consequence and catch with its surcease - success - blah blah -
Quit apt really - One politician [ macbeth] trying to find the courage to murder another [Dunca] .

My experience of Air New Zealand is slightly more nuanced. I fly up and down the country a lot, and find the cabin crew and check in staff just brilliant. Really helpful.

However, when something goes wrong - it all turns to custard - their feedback number aka known as their complaint line is just rubbish - on the three occasions I have used it - nothing - thats zilch - nada has ever happened - no follow up - resolution, contact.

I have tried to tell them this - but guess what - no reply!

So - if anyone from Air New Zealand is reading this - and its to be hoped that someone in there is smart enough to know they made Public Address for all the wrong reasons - big ups to the checkin/cabin crew but can you please sort the complaints side - it really is rubbish!

I have permission from Mr B to go off topic to tell folks about the Read While Waiting project which happens tomorrow , Saturday, 23rd August, 2008
see www.peopleppoints.co.nz for the embed video that goes with the detail, or just read on:

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Okay - this is my final Friday afternoon attempt to drum up interest in the Read While Waiting project which is happening at 3pm tomorrow , Saturday, 23rd August, 2008

Basically its easy - at 3pm tomorrow , wherever you are in the world, or closer to home, New Zealand, you stop what you are doing - head to a public space, either alone or with friends and start reading for 15 minutes.

The idea being to celebrate and participate in the world wide happening, Read While Waiting project, being organised globally by the lovely people at Random Alphabets in Malaysia

The detail - Auckland - Wellington - Christchurch
You can do this anywhere - either alone or with friends. However, if you live in Auckland , Christchurch or Wellington and want to make it more of a group happening thing - then head to either Aotea Square - Cathedral Square or Civic Square -- i.e outside the City Gallery.

FaceBook
The guys from Random alphabets have also set up FaceBook pages for each location, here . As well as KL,Sydney, Melbourne, Perth etc, there are pages for Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
http://www.new.facebook.com/event.php?eid=20394646490

Random Alphabets
There are also a whole bunch of new videos and other news at the Random Alphabets site. check them out afterwards for photos etc. Even better take a camera and take some photos/videos of your own.
http://www.randomalphabets.com

There you go - spread the love!! I will be at the Aotea Square one. Hope people join in.