Travel with a small child - phase three

It probably is not unusual for day flights to be half full and so I took the middle seat rows of the four seats between me and Dhairya and I think that it was a good decision. Dhairya was so amazed with the little TV screen, he watched Garfield for sometime with his headphones etc fitted well. He then did watch Nat geo for a while, had a little food and started to feel drowzy. It was a long flight about 10 hrs and I was hoping that Dhairya could sleep well. I stretched him out on the seats and he slept well for about 6 hrs. Meanwhile I tried catching some sleep but it was too difficult. I watched TV for most of my journey. I watched a few movies etc. I did have a good time in short.

Now it was an hour to landing . I woke Dhairya up and spent most of the left time tending to him. It was a smooth landing...and I reached London.

The easier part of the journey was done with. now began the most difficult part....I had to embark and walk for about a Km to reach the immigration check ...there was already a long queue by the time I reached there with my backpack and Dhairya in tow. Dhairya refused to walk all along and it was indeed a very tiring experience. At the immigration check queue, Dhairya would not let me put him down and fill the landing cards. It took me atleast 45 mins to get through that queue, the x-ray was more easier as I had chest plates ready with me from india.

I proceeded to the baggage claim and called the porter service to help me out and they asked me to wait as they were on their way. I waited for 15-20 mins and there was no one who came along. So I got a trolley and shifted all the luggage myself , put the back pack on, held Dhairya in one hand and pushed the trolley and went to the exit gate...indeed it was a herculean task......

Ashish was probably waiting at the exit gate for more than three hours .......we met...after a long long time of about a month and a half.....the journey now over, I was back with my dear hubby and happy that i made it safe, sound and in full piece.... :)

The last bit of travel did include the travel in the cab from Airport to home......It was cold outside, I did feel the chill all along the lobby upto the car. It was about 7 but pitch dark as thou it was 11 in India.....yes...for me though it was 11 as in India....and i was sleepy and tired....

That was the 20th of Dec 2006