Welcome back.

Yesterday I left off at Johannesburg airport and we were waiting for our flight to Amsterdam. What a mass of people that 1 plane can carry. We are not used to seeing so many people at one time. Even the mall in Jeffreys Bay was less crowded than at the departure gate. It became apparent that we we no longer accustomed to people or crowds. Most nocitable was the few who had to complain about anything and everything and those that try to gain some sort of an advantage through jumping the queue etc. Really? The plane will not leave without you. We were pretty lucky with our upgrade as we got to board after the business class people. The rest could sort themselves out and we did not have to suffer their ignorance for long. Just be normal people! 

The flight to Amsterdam was a night flight and after pushing back at 23h50 we were soon speeding down the runway and then it was lift off, Amsterdam here we come. The weahter forecast was favourable and as soon as the seatbelt light went off I reclined my chair and settled into trying to find a comfortable position to try to get some shut eye. I have to admit that an extra 10cm leg room is worth the money. Dinner was served around 01h30. No thank you. Not for us.

The journey was uneventful and I slept rather well considering. Ususally I sleep for about 4 hours or so, but this night I may even boast a 7 hour stint (with waking every so often to reposition. Quite surprising. Even Ingrid who is a nervous flyer at the best of times had done well with a few broken hours of sleep. By the time I was fully awake we only had 2.5 hours to go. Yes please! We were served breakfast and those last few hours seemed to fly (LOL!). 

Ladies and gentleman. This is your Captain speaking; We are commencing our decent to Amsterdam Schipol (Shithole) airport.  Then my favourite; Cabin crew, take your seats for landing! Bam, he threw the plane on the ground. Hot and heavy I call it. I do love the Dutch name for the plane, a "kist" (Literally translated a coffin - oeps)! 

Passport control went very quickly and we got held up at the baggage carousel. 4 flights on 1 carousel. Ours was number 4. Bo patiently waited for us and Ingrid had to have a quick check to see if she could see our Moppie through the glass. Nope, she was sitting somewhere having a coffee and waiting for Ingrid to app her that we were near to exiting the baggage hall. Nice that Ingrid has a Samsung which can hold 2 Sim cards at the same time. She simply switched over to her Dutch Simcard and Bob is your Uncle, she was online.  Our baggage arrived and we wheeled through baggage control to see our child standing there waiting. It is a pretty special feeling to hug your child. I guess that this was the first time that I understand my Mother who often says a hug is worth it's weight in GOLD! We were so happy!

Child drove us home and it was remarkable how fit both Ingrid and I felt. Usually we are quite broken, but perhaps that minor upgrade had done us good. We will put that one in the vault for the next time. At home Doggy went a little crazy. It was like he could not believe that we were there with him. After the initial excitement he settled down, but we could tell the rest of the day he was out of sorts. He would lie down and close his eyes and when he awoke he was unsure of whether we were really there, or had he been dreaming. The whole day and evening he was unsure and even when I invited him to come for an afternooner, a chance he does not pass up, he stayed upstairs on his chair.

There will be time enough to unpack and get back into the swing of things. Neither Ingrid nor I have a job to go back to. Strictly speaking we are both unemployed at the moment. Ingrid has her ideas and I will take this weekend to work out my immediate future. Much to think about. Thankfully my job is one that brings us financial stability, I just have to make a plan and put the car in gear! No worries really.

I thought that we would be bushed and make an early night of it, but the sun goes to sleep a lot later here than in South Africa and we were not physically broken from the flight. Surprising. Fleur had sent word that she would be home at around 10pm and it was pretty strange to still be awake and not sleepy at that time. Once again it was so bloody great to give your kid a hug and chat about this and that. All four of us sat around and had a great chat. Good times will end and we all went to bed. 

Tomorrow Bo has to work in the practice and the guys are coming to install a new Central Heating unit. Our broke 2 days ago. Yay. there goes R55 000.00! I seem to be converting everything to Rands now days. I  did try to have an afternooner this afternoon, but sleep would not come to me. I went for a paddle instead. Unfrotunately I had given the key to the gate and the Kajak club to someone, but he was not home and my other option did not have the key in his car as per usual. I settled for a Turbo Rondje (4km paddle on the Wantij.  It felt good to get the blood flowing and do a bit of heavy breathing.

Toby had finally sort of decided that he was not dreaming and after his last walk he jumped on the bed and lay down as per the norm between us. Goodnight all and welcome home! (I say home, but I am not sure where home really is....)