BAD BAD TIMES

ABSOLUTE DISASTER: WE MISSED OUR FLIGHT TO NEW ZEALAND.

The day started off beautifully, we did some last minute Tokyo shopping, then headed back to the hostel to pick our rucksacks in (what we thought) was plenty of time. We got on the tube, happy as larry, and followed the exact directions the hostel AND tourist information had given us: we changed when we were supposed to, crossed the platform like we were supposed to, and got on the train we thought we were supposed to. The train definitly started off on the right track, but it took 20 minutes (which we spent laughing at sleeping school girl who was falling on the woman next to her) before we realised that we had managed to get on the only train that changes line and heads out into RURAL JAPAN. My heart sank as I noticed the little black line that moved away from the airport.

We got off as soon as we could, and got straight on a train back the way we came. I was still pretty sure we were going to make it. We finally arrived at the airport half an hour before the plane was supposed to leave. We ran up 3 escalators with our rucksacks (I thought I was going to collapse or have an asthma attack), the desk had already closed, so we grabbed the first people we could find. "I'm sorry, the gate is closed, you can't get on the plane". We must have looked so upset lol. Absolutely fucked.

We asked what we were supposed to do and they vaguely replied "phone your travel agents?". Extremely disheartened we wandered over to some payphones and dumped our stuff. I went to the information desk thinking they would sort us out, only to find that Air New Zealand do not have a desk in this airport; there is a number we can ring, but the office will close in about an hour. We spent the next hour trying our hardest to fathom the payphones (all the instructions were in Japanese). Literally no one in the airport would help us with the phones (I asked alot), and they wouldn't even give us any change). Eventually worked it out and Air New Zealand were not answering no matter how many times I tried. Abi got through to STA, and spoke to our very good friend Ben, who intitally said we'd have to wait until Wednesday. The thought of spending 5 more days in the most expensive city ever was too horrible. I rang back and asked how much it would cost to get us on an earlier flight: 319 pounds each [sigh]. We reluctantly decided we'd have to do it.

It cheered us up that STA said our insurance would cover the flight... we rang the insurance company straight away who said that they only covered "missed departures from the UK" BRILLIANT. We were very very glum, and decided it was time to ring the parents. As soon as Henry picked up the phone I burst in to tears (obviously). And of course he was very nice, and said not to worry. All in all we'd spent 10,000 yen (70 POUNDS) on phone cards - so annoying that Japan is one of the only places where our global sim cards won't work.

So we'd decided that we wanted to stay in the airport overnight - I think we were too scared to leave the airport in case we somehow missed the next flight. But then we found out that the airport was going to close completely within an hour. Suddenly I thought we were going to end up sleeping on the streets. Instead we ended up in a horrible, and expensive hotel: Narita Airport Rest House. So depressing.

We've spent today in the airport, watching Japanse TV with no sound, and reliving yesterday's trauma, and are slowly coming to terms with our stupid mistake. This reminds me of the Mum in the airport in Home Alone.

I feel like such an idiot. It was some comfort that a group of Australians had done exactly the same thing: turned up half an hour before, missed it, and been given a phone number for phones that would not work. We lolled over our shared experience.

Now can't wait to get on the bloody plane and ge to New Zealand. I spoke to Mum this morning who was as wise and comforting as ever. Things are looking up though: a man just paid Abi and Rachel 1000 yen (7 quid) to do a survey on the rail system - they told him it needed clearer labels :-)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

P.S. Stacey killed Archie?!?!?! And Bradley's dead?!?! This is worse than the time they killed Dennis off. WTF? No more bad news please.