Adams is in a happy place when the Herald on Sunday meet her and Egger at the Millennium Institute, a venue where her image beams from most exterior and interior walls. Adams says "it's like 'Where's Wally?'". Earlier in the day, Adams had beaten the qualification mark for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games post-surgery with a standing throw (in excess of 18.30m).
"Three-and-a-half months is the longest I've gone since touching the shot as a professional athlete," Adams says. "But I'm an impatient patient. I wanted to check where we were at with J-P."
"The surgery is holding up well. I strapped my ankle for two years straight and didn't do that today. It felt great.
"Sometimes I think the only thing people remember are the medals but don't know what goes into that. We put our bodies through hell strapping ankles, knees, wrists and elbows. There are always niggles but we fight through them."
In the NZ Herald earlier this month, columnist Chris Rattue spoke of Adams' Victory March Fatigue and the notion people expect her to win.
"That's absolutely right," Adams says. "People assume it will happen but it's harder to stay there than get there. I'm always nervous at meets, so I pump myself up to psyche out competitors. I can't just walk in and win. The pressure is always on."
Egger has few commitments on his southern trip with wife Beatrice other than instructions to "be in Auckland by January 6" when he and Adams resume full training. He will celebrate Christmas in Queenstown before sampling the West Coast and Kaikoura's whale watching. Adams is scheduled to spend three days with family in Tonga. Her next international event is March's world indoor championships in Poland. Then it's a return to Switzerland in April.