Seems like a very long time ago now.... but want to keep a record of what we did! Photos will be uploaded soon (I know I've been saying that for weeks- there's a lot of them to sort through!).
So last post we were in Bristol- a busy week involving trips to the Zoo, Chepstow Castle, Playing with cousins, playgrounds, a family swimming trip (had been promised to L since she stopped swimming lessons- left D with Granny. Mental note swimming trips with toddlers are better in AM), me trying to squeeze in as much shopping as poss (not enough, just as all other kiwi/UK trippers report!). Also a celebration (no2) of C's Birthday.
Sat morn we motored up to Leamington- not a great journey getting stuck in roadworks with screaming baby! Great to see friends and similar age children- a happy afternoon, then T spent evening throwing up- very ill, I spent the night alternating between praying he'd get better and that no-one else would get sick (6 children under 5 in house throwing up just wouldn't be good!!). No-one did- phew! I then did 'single parent' in strange (for children) church- it was fairly unrecognisable for me too- nearly double the size that it was when we left- very encouraging! Off to more friends for lunch (also minus T) and back to Leam for Birthday tea for C (celebration (and cake) no3!). T managed to get up for an Open House that evening, though looked a bit grey. Lovely to see everyone but frustrating not to be able to catch up with everyone's news, and that T missed out on so much of the little time with friends.
After squeezing in a little more shopping, we left around lunchtime for an epic jouney to London- 4 hours, 3 stops (for various reasons), we were very glad to arrive! I made comments about numbers of people in my previous post, but here there were 'seas' of people crossing the road!! Had a wonderful day in London- bus to transport museum (excellent- kids got to 'drive' tube and bus), walk to river, boat to Greenwich, DLR to Stratford where the Olympic village is being built (like how many cranes??) and tube back to Stepney. C loved it, L enjoyed some but endured other bits I think. The next day we met a friend (and lots of dinosaurs) at the Natural History Museum before catching a train down to Brighton for the afternoon (I said this end of the trip was busy!). Lovely journey- kids enjoyed multiple tracks, passing trains etc (have a few railways here but only double track!) First major rain of the trip- was pretty wet (sorry that's a bit obvious but we did end up borrowing dry clothes!). Again good to see friends and L looked nicely relaxed in company of 2 girls!
That takes us to leaving day! A last trip to Sainsbury's! Pack the cases. Carry them down stairs (lift out of order). Crawl through London to Heathrow. Realise we left something behind. Kind Sister-in-Law races accross London to reunite! Wait an hour to discover that yes we are on flight- Yay! A good flight (I think- can't really remember!!).
Arrive in LA..... Queue.....Queue some more.... arrive at check in for next flight to find many other staff waiting...... told no chance of getting on a flight that night..... find shuttle bus to hotel.... arrive at hotel about 11 pm- parents struggling to keep eyes open, children bright eyed having had a good sleep on the plane! I learn that Hollywood is in LA. I realise how ignorant of US I am!
Next day visit beach and pier at Santa Monica- hot and sunny! Consider rowing home! Return to hotel to pick up cases, back to airport to join crowds of fellow standby travellers- discover family who have been there 7 nights to try and get on flight. Children do well at falling asleep. Only 4 of 100+ staff waiting get on flights (there's 2 flights most nights). Return to hotel. Have nicer room- bit more space and view of rental car depot!! Day 2 in LA discover another beach- a little too sunny- miss pohutukawa shaded NZ beaches! Keep same room but still go to airport just in case. Again children cope well at sleeping and being returned to hotel- C very matter of fact about there not being space on the plane. Crews squeeze as many as poss on flights- about 40 (we were about no62 on the list)! We consider all alternative options eg pay to fly to Vancouver or San Fransisco and get flight from there.
Next day- Decide not to. Find a children's playground. Clothes being recycled, pleased I'd bought so many new socks! Running out of battery and credit on phone! Back to airport in the evening. Just about resigned to staying a 4th night- only seem to be fitting 1s and 2s on- how would they fit all 4 of us on? and then we get called- Yay! Scoop up sleeping children and check in with help of other sociable standby travellers (became a bit of a club meeting up every night!). Race through security (shoes off, child out of pushchair etc), arrive at gate as start boarding, get on plane with 2 crying children and boarding passes for 4 seats in four different parts of plane... and relax into care of ANZ crew (They rearranged us and I got a bassinet seat again-4/4! ).
We were pleased to get a stopover even if an enforced one, and enjoyed the opportunity to see a (tiny) bit of US. The children coped really well and for the first couple of days we were happy (as in not stressed) to be there. By the last day though we wanted to get home and were very relieved to get on that flight! Also thankful D not weaned! Many theories put forward about why it was SO busy- some people paid $1000s to get back on time for school/work. I guess we'll look even more carefully at loadings in future, but September/Oct was traditionally a quiet time!!!
A lovely time seeing family and friends- a busy time too- we get spoilt seeing people for so long when they visit here, time with people felt so short! But glad to get home- no doubt accentuated by the stop in LA but also with small children it was good to get home in own beds etc. Interesting that UK felt strange but NZ familiar- was suprised at how much that was the case.
Look out for the photos and hopefully I'll soon blog about life since.....
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