In the car heading north, it hit me, we made it  time to relax and take in the differences. The roads are amazing, signs, lanes, kerbs and no pot holes, it all seemed strangely odd. Everything is finished and orderly which is a stark difference to back in Zambia where everything feels more in progress and chaotic. The sky was full of grey clouds, my dad actually laughed at me taking photos of the drizzle. I have not seen a cloud for a good few months and even during the rainy season you wont see drizzle. I was strangely fascinated… Fascinated by drizzle hmm, proof being an expat does change you!

We had a quick stop at service station, when approaching the entrance Middle Man says disappointed ‘oh no its closing’, the automatic doors had started shutting. He hadn’t seen automatic doors for a while and didn’t understand them! 😉

There was more choice and variety in this small shop (by UK standards) than we had seen for a very long time. Middle Man ran around excitedly pointing out different things, magazines, toys, kinder surprises, crisps the shapes of teddy bears, berries and fruit shoots. He was so pleased with his kids snack pack, something a year ago he would have taken for granted. After a prolonged play on a child pay and ride (again not seen one of those for a while) we managed to get back into the car and head off again. And what did I pick for my first meal in the UK…. Sushi… it was divine.

Both boys slept the rest of the drive, their melt downs at landing must have taken its toll. I tried to sleep but I think dad was rather excited to see me as he was kept talking, then apologizing and telling me to sleep then talking again. It was so nice to see him and excitement built as we neared my home town. Everything was so familiar nothing had really changed but it felt very different, very surreal, again I got the feeling I had changed since I was last here.

As we pulled up outside my parents house middle man asked which house it was, he had just turned 3 when we left and despite how familiar everything was to me and the fact he lived here for the last few months before we moved to Zambia, this was not his home anymore. It was all new exciting and slightly scary for him. Baby Blue hadn’t got a clue what was going on but was pleased to get out his car seat.

Over the next few days I loved catching up with loads of family, poking pregnant bumps, hugging everyone possibly a bit too hard and holding back tears when meeting a new nephew. Special times which I have brought back  with me to my Zambian home.