Since I last blogged I have started my 'Early Years Teacher Training' which is ironic if you think back to my last post on 'The Passage To Peru'. In fact I should be starting my first placement on Monday but instead I'm flying to Beijing today!
I had a last supper with the girls on my course last night and didn't get to bed until around 3.30am (not by best idea).
After a few hours sleep my 'Holby City' (iphone, circuit) alarm was going off. I literally jumped out of bed!
It had finally hit me! Today, after months of planning and numerous conversations about how I wasn't too fussed about the trip, I was going to China.
I jumped in the shower and added the last few things to my bag before heading down for breakfast. It was Tommy's turn to make the morning cuppas. He handed me a strong, unstirred, sweet tea!
I've been his daughter for 25 years and he still doesn't know how I take my tea, (just milk since you asked).
Liz pulled a point back for the parents by making a delicious bacon and egg sandwich. I was sure to enjoy my breakfast because God knows what we were going to eat for the next 8 days.
I picked up Phil and brought him back to the house where Tommy weighed all of our bags and Liz got snap happy for facebook.
We took two cars, Phil and I were with Mam and Becca went with Dad.
Tommy was doing a drive by, as soon as he pulled into the airport car park he jumped out for a quick cuddle/handshake. God forbid he has to spend more than £1. Becca had to walk over to the barrier to put the £1 in for him as the driver side window is broken! Mam was harder to get rid of!
When we entered the airport Jayne and Jan were already there, Lorraine and Ali weren't far behind. We had checked in at home so we just needed to drop our bags off before heading through security and hitting the bar.
Security is never easy when you are travelling in your walking gear. You have to take off your walking boots all of the time which becomes very tedious, very fast.
As I was walking through security there was a little boy who couldn't understand why he wasn't in Spain yet and suggested that he and his mammy should go looking for it.
Justina, Muriel, Kate and Chris were already sat in The Beer House. That made a full house from Newcastle.
We were meeting Oona, Tina (Justina's daughter), John (Different Travel rep) and Jessica (John's girlfriend) in Amsterdam.
The famous Jeff Dingle had dropped off two parcels for Becca and I to open once we were at the airport. (Water and Bulmers not included).
Our flight was at 13:15 arriving in Amsterdam at 15:35.
We were sat right at the back of the KLM Cityhopper, in what would appear to be the party section.
Once we were in the air and the captain had turned off the seatbelt sign, the Air Stewardesses came around with drinks (a slim can of Heinekan) and a savoury snack (tiny nachos).
We landed 20 minutes ahead of our planned arrival but seemed to taxi for ages.
Once we were in the airport and knew our gate number, Phil, Becca, Chris and I headed for another pint.
At the gate we finally met Oona, Tina, Jessica and John.
In Schiphol airport you go through a full body scanner at the gate. Once through you have to wait until your image appears on the screen. If you have 'hotspots' you are patted down by a guard.
I was patted down by a very enthusiastic female who had an obsession with checking over my boob area over and over again!
Our plane which should have taken off at 17:45 was delayed due to an internal issue and a problem with one of the wheels.
Just what you wanted to hear, next they would be telling us that it didn't have a phalange!
When we did finally get on the plane we realised Tina wasn't sitting anywhere near us.
In perfect 'Chinese' Lorraine asked the man sitting next to Justina if he would mind moving.
*pointing* "YOU! THERE! HER! DAUGHTER! HERE!"
From reading the inflight magazine I knew that my first film was going to have to be 'The Fault In Our Stars'.
OH MY GOD I was an emotional wreck throughout the entire film.
During the film, dinner was served: Chinese option
White Wine
Spicy Ginger Beef Salad
Chicken and Blackbean with rice
Bread Roll
Cheese and Crackers
Mango Mousse
At this point I was quite pleased I had enjoyed a heavy night last night, I selected John Legend as my soundtrack and closed my eyes.
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