I was dreading the journey back to the UK… actually that is wrong, I was dreading the 14 hour stopover in Lusaka with two young children, luggage and no husband.

The night before I made sure we had everything packed ready for the 5:20am start. After double and triple checking the passports were packed I got into bed. The alarms were set (yes many on multiple devices) but I still kept waking up convinced I had over slept. No matter how many times I have travelled I never sleep well the night before.

When the alarm(s) finally rang I was not at all well rested. I parted the mosquito nets for the last time for 2 months, about to embark on the 36+ hour journey back to the UK.

It was my first time flying with children without Husband. It was also the first time I had left Lego Boy for any period of time as he and husband were staying behind a few more weeks to finish the school term. So to say I was nervous was an understatement.

Lego Boy got himself worked up as we got into the car so we agreed to let him have his tablet for the journey to the airport. I say airport… it is more a small building at the side of a strip of tarmac. Our community being as small as it is we were not surprised to see we knew about half the passengers waiting for the flight. Before long it was time for myself, Baby Blue and Middle Man to board the flight. I hugged a forlorn Lego Boy good bye, his mood very quickly improved however when husband said he could play on his tablet on the way back. Glad to know I’m so easily replaced.

Middle Man watched excitedly out the window as the tiny plane took to the skies. I held on to Baby Blue tight (more to reassure me than him). No sooner than the drinks and crisps had been handed out it was time to land in Lusaka.

I was traveling light but taking two children meant I still needed one bag that was going to be checked in. My plan to was leave it in the domestic airline office but that failed as it was shut so it looked like it was coming with me on our 14 hour wait! 😦

Lusaka airport is tiny, there defiantly is not enough to entertain the boys so we looked out for our taxi driver (booked the previous night). He was there and kindly resolved the baggage issue saying it could stay in his car boot for the day.

I had thought of taking the boys to various child friendly locations in Lusaka but as I was still feeling anxious I instead decided to play it safe and head to Manda Hill for the day. I believe it is one of the largest shopping centre in Lusaka but still by UK standards it is small. We had a long time to kill so first stop breakfast…  A nice slow breakfast spent mostly chasing boys back into the café.

Next a slow walk around each and every shop. The boys favourites were the pet shop and tool isle in Game. We then had a slow lunch at Spur… slightly more relaxing than breakfast as they had a small soft play section. The waitress even bought me another colouring sheet as I completed the first whilst watching them play  🙂

Lunch was followed by more walking round the shops. 7 hours later even the tool isle was not cutting it so back in the taxi to the airport. Both boys slept, as it turns out this was the only time whole journey they slept peacefully at the same time!

Back at the airport I now had the luggage on a trolley and two boys running around. Of course the one place they really wanted to play was the stairs which is not trolley friendly. Finally a couple of hours later check in opened and I was trolley less again.  Once through security I kept boys as active as possible running up and down the waiting area. Climbing on and under seats…  Yes they looked like two wild children but they weren’t bothering any one and much better now the climbing all over the plane.

We boarded the first plane and not long after take-off Middle man was asleep 🙂 Baby Blue took longer to settle and when he finally did they bought over the sky cot. But he was too big for it… he fit but his legs weren’t straight so he wasn’t allowed to stay in it. Although I was kind of expecting this, it was so disappointing because it meant he would be asleep on me or in my chair the whole time. Middle Mans sleep was very restless, bless him he couldn’t get comfortable the whole flight (leg cramps). The poor woman sat next to him was been kicked and pushed left right and centre. Instead of getting annoyed this angel of a woman just lifted the arm rest up and stretched Middle Man legs on top of her lap. I mouthed a very heart felt “Thank you”.  

Between Middle Man fussing and Baby Blues leg numbing weight I didn’t sleep but the boys were as good as I could have asked. A quick run through Dubai airport (thank you for the courtesy pushchairs) and we were boarded the second plane. Both boys awake and full of energy it was going to be more interesting. But we survived most of the flight with films, lots of games, reading, and food.

The last hour however was a test… I was very tired after missing a full night sleep and after almost 32 hours had run out of distraction / entertaining techniques. Both boys were fed up (as was I) and they were making their feelings known. As the plane landed both boys totally lost it. Middle man banged his head during a tantrum because the TV had to go away and Baby blue was crying because he didn’t want his seat belt on. The plane couldn’t land fast enough… the lady across the aisle could probably tell I was finished but her kind comment “They have done so well” gave me the strength for the last push through immigration, baggage pick up (back with a massive trolley) and customs!

As we pushed the trolley out of arrivals past the crowds of people I see my dad. He is busy chatting away so we manage to walk right up to him. Middle man pulls on his leg, “Hi Pom Pom”.