There is something about desperately waiting for something that makes time stand still.

The flight from Tel Aviv to Hong Kong was fine – Milla didn’t sleep but was happy to hang out. She managed to be entertained by 3 screens with Peppa Pig at once – and wouldn’t let me turn off any of them! We stopped once again at the lounge in Hong Kong and had showers and a bite to eat before we boarded the most exciting flight of our lives. Thankfully Milla slept (I couldn’t, I was far too excited!) and woke just before we landed. By some miracle our 3 suitcases and oversized pram bag (where I hid all of our heavy things we’d acquired during the trip!) were amongst the first 10 items on the luggage carousel and before we knew it we were on the road to our hotel!

  

Mr V. and Lulu landed about an hour before we did so they were already checked in and waiting for us. Because we have visited Bali so many times it was nice to feel like we were on familiar turf, and to also have a yardstick for how far we were from the hotel! Every landmark I was messaging Mr V. giving him an update on how long until we would arrive – I couldn’t bear to think that Lulu wouldn’t be there the second we drove up!! I had waited almost 3 months for a cuddle from her!!!

And so it happened. It may not have been artistically choreographed or coordinated but it was perfect. Our car crept up the hotel’s long driveway and I think I opened the door even before we had come to a complete stop!! I waited until Milla was safely out of the car but as soon as I saw Lulu running towards me I ran and scooped her into my arms… hearing her so excited to see “Mama” was one of the best moments of my life!! Our family’s embrace lasted for what seemed like an eternity but could never have been long enough to make up for the time spent apart. We attracted a bit of an audience apparently!! There is no feeling to describe a mother having her children back together and a wife seeing her husband again. The next 10 days were a blur – they were spent spending some quality time with just Mr V., Mr V. spending some time just with Milla while I spent some time just with Lulu and also some time alone. As incredible as our holiday was, by the end it was time to return home.

It’s strange – I feel like Milla and I achieved so much in the 3 months that we were gone and that we both changed so much. However, we arrived home and nothing much had changed. I don’t know what I expected, but everything was exactly how we’d left it (even some of the washing was sitting there since before we were there, but that is an entirely different discussion!) – our local area was exactly the same as before we left, our home smelt the same and even the weather was the same. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting but I did imagine that things would have changed too. It will take some getting used to – being back in our 4 person household, having a car, having so many friends and family around and being back in the life we have always known. But I am so excited for Milla to see her friends again after so long and for her to show everyone how far she has come in the last 3 months.

It’s so good to be back in my own bed!

J x