Day One Sunday 17th September

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 Every journey begins somewhere and ours begins with a trip to the airport. Arrange our bags in the back of the Honda crowd into the car and we're off. This time only three are going. Myself, Melody and Ruby.

The family have been invited to my great niece's Ellie's wedding in the North of England. Because Remi is right in the midst of Year 12 exams he can't go and Liz has stayed back in Melbourne with him. So it's just me and the two girls. What could go wrong?

Got our bags checked in although the automatic check-in wasn't working that well and the Virgin person had to keep resetting it to get them on. But we got there, grabbed some Macca's, said our goodbyes and quick as a flash we were going through customs. 

In the waiting area, it became quite clear that the plane was going to be crowded. And it was. The girls were in two seats together in front of me and I was in the middle. Squashed in. It was horrendous. I felt guilty every time I had to go to the toilet. And the guy on the aisle seat never went. Middle seats are the worst. 7 hours patiently waiting. all the things I had prepared to help me on the journey were crammed into an overhead locker.

The plane had left late so when we reached Singapore we went straight onto a new plane. No time to get myself together. However this time I was in an aisle seat with Mel next to me at the very back. So much better. And the 14 hours wasn't as bad as the shorter journey. But damn it got cold. At one stage I put blankets over my head. Watched a couple of films, listened to music and read Stuart Coupe's autobiography. And then it was touchdown Heathrow.

As usual when visiting the UK touchdown was 6.30am in the morning. Yuk!


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