The Journey

What can I say about a 3-flight, 24-hour journey with 6 year old twins that you can't imagine for yourselves? We arrived *safely*, and that is the most important thing; but I wouldn't want to be repeating that again in a hurry. 5:30 wake up in Edinburgh - the twins dressed and ready to go in the blink of an eye. Edinburgh to London flight - fine. London to Tokyo - aside from lack of sleep, this flight was grand until we reached the Tokyo area. Unluckily for us, there was a typhoon in the area. The pilot warned that the conditions would be 'sticky'. I think a better description would be absolute bloody torture. Weirdly neither Rit nor the twins were bothered in the slightest. Meanwhile I focussed on some yoga breathing and held onto the seat in front (one of the perks to sitting at the back of the plane! Pity those poor first and business class passengers with no reachable seat to grip!) Tokyo to Sapporo - despite being extremely late for this flight and being told we had to take a much later one, a wonderfully kind and tenacious airport customer care person jogged us through the airport to the gate where they held the plane for us. How annoying for the passengers waiting on the plane and ready to go. First time on Japan airlines for the twins and so far the highlight of the trip for Oscar. Weirdly, walking past all the seated passengers, Oscar wondered why they were all men. He was right! Row after row, in short sleeved shirts with ties, some with glasses, some without. But not a woman in sight. Oscar has declared his new favourite airline is JAL. British airways no more. The lovely cabin crew woman gave him a model JAL airplane. It is his new treasure. Bumpy back up in the air (that typhoon!), but a short and pleasant flight.