After counting down the weeks, and then, the days, the day finally came: we were flying back to England for Christmas!
The flight from Montreal to Heathrow took just over five hours, which isn't a good length for an overnight flight as, by the time the evening meal has been served, and then breakfast an hour before you land; it only leaves you with a space of about two hours in which to try and attempt to get some shuteye. Some travellers put their eye masks on virtually straight away and ignore all activity. I can't do that - I sense any movement and I'm awake.
Needless to say, we didn't succeed in getting any sleep that night, despite our best efforts. The few occasions I did feel myself start to drift off into slumber, I was either bought back to the real world by a lady a couple of seats behind coughing, or when the plane went through a spell of turbulence. I was also freezing cold, but strangely T was roasting hot, and we were sat next to each other.
Needless to say, we didn't succeed in getting any sleep that night, despite our best efforts. The few occasions I did feel myself start to drift off into slumber, I was either bought back to the real world by a lady a couple of seats behind coughing, or when the plane went through a spell of turbulence. I was also freezing cold, but strangely T was roasting hot, and we were sat next to each other.
Arriving in London feeling totally groggy, we had noticed on our tickets up to Manchester it said 'Business UK'. Did that mean we were allowed to use the Business lounges??! We asked, and sure enough we were!
Thanks to this pleasant surprise we were able to have a shower, which really helped our dazed state...well, for about an hour!
Thanks to this pleasant surprise we were able to have a shower, which really helped our dazed state...well, for about an hour!
We arrived at T's mum's mid afternoon. I think she was greeted by two zombies on the doorstep to be honest, and I am not completely sure how we got through the rest of the day, but we did. Dipping in and out of the waves of tiredness, our eyes grew heavy and closed automatically, the world swirled around us; we then snapped out of it and were able to chat for a while, before the tiredness wave washed up over us again.
We made it to 9pm, and then we couldn't fight it any longer and it was time for bed.
We made it to 9pm, and then we couldn't fight it any longer and it was time for bed.
We had arranged to go to visit family at 11am on the Saturday. Not really being able to think much through the tired fog, and usually not being able to sleep in a house other than my own, I didn't set an alarm...
We awoke on Saturday morning, light pouring in through the curtains. Half asleep, I reached out a hand and looked at my phone. I sat straight upright, my head spinning from the movement.
Aargh!
It was 12.15pm!!
I was mortified!
I ran to the bathroom still virtually asleep, and forced myself to wake up in the shower, even resorting to switching the warm water to cold to kick start my dozing body.
Slightly more awake I rang to apologize. Luckily, we were able to re-arrange to see them in the mid-afternoon and had a lovely time catching up after not seeing each other for a couple of years.
That night, we set our alarm; but then reverted back to Montreal time and were still wide awake at 3am. So when our alarm went at 9am it was a real struggle to get out of bed and not drift back to the inviting sleep.
We awoke on Saturday morning, light pouring in through the curtains. Half asleep, I reached out a hand and looked at my phone. I sat straight upright, my head spinning from the movement.
Aargh!
It was 12.15pm!!
I was mortified!
I ran to the bathroom still virtually asleep, and forced myself to wake up in the shower, even resorting to switching the warm water to cold to kick start my dozing body.
Slightly more awake I rang to apologize. Luckily, we were able to re-arrange to see them in the mid-afternoon and had a lovely time catching up after not seeing each other for a couple of years.
That night, we set our alarm; but then reverted back to Montreal time and were still wide awake at 3am. So when our alarm went at 9am it was a real struggle to get out of bed and not drift back to the inviting sleep.
The next few days were spent catching up with more family and friends over numerous cups of tea and coffee and platefuls of mince pies. I also finally met the newest addition to the family for the first time!
Some days we literally went from meeting one person straight to another. It was lovely, but hectic, and hard keeping an eye on the clock all the time so as not to be - too - late for the next catch up. Unfortunately time passed by too quickly and we missed seeing a handful of people who we had hoped to.
Some days we literally went from meeting one person straight to another. It was lovely, but hectic, and hard keeping an eye on the clock all the time so as not to be - too - late for the next catch up. Unfortunately time passed by too quickly and we missed seeing a handful of people who we had hoped to.
Amongst all this catching up we were still able to marvel at good old Britain. The novelty of seeing double decker buses, the lack of pot holes and general good condition of roads, driving on the wrong-right side of the road... (Luckily T drove, but not without me confusing him saying he was driving on the wrong side of the road when he wasn't...) Being able to chat to anyone and not feel guilty for speaking in English. Although when we went to the Post Office to post our cards and a couple of parcels; being quizzed on the contents of the packages was a novelty, and very sad to see.
Spending Christmas Day with my parents was very special. Not only being with them, but also being back in the house where I had spent all my childhood Christmases. The branches of the Christmas tree were adorned with familiar decorations, the cutlery and crockery saved for best made an appearance, the carols on the radio station playing in the background when we got up were the soundtrack of years ago.
Although it is exciting experiencing the new, and making your own memories and traditions, I feel there is something special about going back. It's not the same of course, but it conjures up the excitement I felt when I was young, the jumping stomach, spending hours under the Christmas tree trying to guess what my presents were, the way Christmas eve day stretched on for so long.
Not only did we stuff ourselves with all the usual Christmas fare of turkey, Christmas cake, and brussels sprouts - well that last one was me: Mum was planning on using the left over sprouts on Boxing Day evening, but when she pulled the dish from the fridge there were two left, as I had eaten them cold for breakfast... We also filled up on oatcakes, proper bacon, pork pies, cheddar cheese, and chocolate, of course!!