Blog 136

As we left a cold -1°c Bulgaria yesterday, we stepped onto the final plane of the trip. An extremely long 3 and a half hour flight. The announcement 25 minutes before landing said:
"We're pleased to say we will be arriving into Manchester 5 minutes ahead of schedule to a paradise afternoon in England with barely a cloud in the sky". What a gorgeous welcome home from old blighty!
With a feeling of sick excitement in my tummy we 'endured' the flight, clock watching the whole time. After 15.5 months we were finally going to see our families again. :-)

Landing in England invoked tears as our trip of a life time came to an end.

More frustrating waiting while we queued for customs and our baggage...Bryn helped me lift my rucksack on my back, before swinging on his own for the final time. Hand in hand we rounded the corner to see...well actually I don't remember seeing that much as the tears started again. Banners, hugs, kisses, tears...the most amazing welcome home we could have asked for!

One flat tyre for Michael and Glenn's new car at the airport sadly meant AA calls and an airport lunch for them, while the rest of us headed to the prebooked pub. Fish and chips and a pint of English ale for me, followed by a shared plum crumble with grandma, and Bryn had sausage and mash and a pint of ale as well. No better pub grub on earth right then!

For 15.5 months Bryn and I hadn't really been separated, although that night was our first while we spent time with our own families in Sedbergh and Manchester.

Lots of love for the last time, Jo x x x

The things we missed while we were away:

Family and friends is the most obvious one

Home cooking and baking

Sewing (Jo)

English ale

English seasons

Snuggling up on a rainy day with a duvet

Pet dogs to play with, without the risk of rabies

Lounging on sofas in PJs

Dairy milk chocolate

English home cooking

A normal routine

Cafe catch ups with friends (Jo)

The beautiful English countryside

An English accent!

Hot water bottle

Nursing and Teaching (Jo and Bryn)

Not having to scrape your brain for how to say hello and thank you every time you see someone, and generally getting it wrong and saying thanks when you meet someone!