| A warm welcome today to Helen Bing with her first entry in the 2018 Travel Highlights Competition. Kia ora. My name is Helen Bing. Once upon a time I went on my OE, leaving New Zealand on the Northern Star, one of the Shaw Saville ships. I intended going to the UK and Europe for 2 years, however fate intervened, and my plans changed. I finally came home 5 and a bit years later with a husband and 2 children. |  |
The Marriage
New Zealand one week after our due sailing date. Generator problems. 3.45p.m., wearing our smartest clothes, my friends and I held on to our paper streamers - the norm for 1975.
A voice behind us said, “You’ll be holding on to them for a long time.”
“No,” we replied. “We’re sailing at 4.”
“If you’re right, I owe you drink, if not, you owe me one.”
He was right - inside information.
A week to honour the bet.
Four weeks - getting serious!
Five months - a wedding on the other side of the world.
Forty-three years - still sailing.
New Zealand one week after our due sailing date. Generator problems. 3.45p.m., wearing our smartest clothes, my friends and I held on to our paper streamers - the norm for 1975.
A voice behind us said, “You’ll be holding on to them for a long time.”
“No,” we replied. “We’re sailing at 4.”
“If you’re right, I owe you drink, if not, you owe me one.”
He was right - inside information.
A week to honour the bet.
Four weeks - getting serious!
Five months - a wedding on the other side of the world.
Forty-three years - still sailing.
