Yes I was up at 0100 as we had an airport pickup at 0200!! These couple of days I am suffering from jet lag and sleep deprivation :). Yvonne and I were dropped at the International AP departures, but we were too early to go through to check-in so we tried to rest and snooze - very difficult on metal chairs, with people all around and bags to guard. The whole AP is being redeveloped and there is building work everywhere - inside and out, airside and landside.
Once we got into the terminal we joined the Q for security and then the vagaries of Indian bureaucracy and intransigence came to the fore - the whole line was shut down and we were forced into another 2x as long a Q and had to wait to get through passport control and security. My feet were pounding with pain and heat intolerance, but once on the other side, we only had about 1/4 hour to wait for boarding. Once I was on board I put my watch to GMT and our travel time was reduced from 9hr25 to 8hr15 which was great. I was not impressed with the service of the BA cabin crew tho - give me Qantas every time.
As we headed west and got into Europe, I got more excited about getting home, and crossing the Channel and seeing the green of England for the first time, I was nearly crying to get there. I danced a little gig of excitement where I stood at the back of the plane. We came into LHR along the A4/M4 and the plane was floated in. The soft light of an English spring filtered in through the windows and yes, I was home.
I heaved my heavy rucksack onto my back for the last time out of a plane and walked down the empty aisle through to First class - if only I had the money to travel like that! I got wheelchair assist through to Arrivals - give me Australian hospitality every time, as my welcome home by the BA staff was not exactly very "welcoming". Due to the chaos with the opening of T5 (altho we came into T4), our bags were delayed and I was itching to get out of the baggage reclaim, but had to wait even longer to see J,J&M.
As I walked out of the Arrivals door I could see J&M standing at the end of the line, with J in his buggy and they were waving and arms outstretched and huge smiles. I moved as fast as I could (with painful feet) and dragged my 26kg bag behind me, and suddenly I was there - I was home with the people I love and missed so much. Little J was sleepy but absolutely gorgeous to behold and hold. I couldn't get and give enough hugs, but there is time enough for all that. Outside the air smelled sweet, not polluted, out of a clear sky, and the sun peeking through the clouds.
I'm home.
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