LIVE, FROM KUNMING!

Hoorah!! Internet connection, life is normal again.

I continue to be amazed by this process, let me rewind by a few days!

Thursday - curtain rail fitted in nursery, ran errands in the morning, lunch in Abergavenny with D and K and their gorgeous babies A and E (both only a few weeks older than Whatshername!), then on to Ebbw Vale for last chance at pre-motherhood pampering, a pedicure and a back massage! Fusspot had her annual booster appointment at the vet and then I went to my last aqua class for a while. A lovely day, quite busy but calm, until about 9.30pm - when I began to panic that I hadn't started packing!! I had spent 10 days or more assembling 'stuff' in the downstairs bedroom (no heavy cases to lug downstairs if you pack downstairs!) So at 9.30, full of panic, I started packing, ironing etc, I finished after 1am and went to bed, much calmer, I slept til 7am ish.

Friday - still calm (mostly) though I did have to open cases at least 4 times to add extra things that I'd missed previously (mostly gifts). N arrived (only 5 minutes behind schedule) and by 11.20 we were on the road! We went via Llangibby to collect his brother and then went up to Heathrow. It was lovely being driven for a change. We got to Heathrow at about 1.30pm, the drive was straight-forward and not too busy, but it did take a little longer than anticipated. Check-in was straight forward too, the only problem of the day was going through security - we knew that we were only allowed 1 piece of hand luggage each but I'd been told that laptops were fine in bags, WRONG! You may carry a laptop, but not in its own bag. I began to panic, N stayed calm and we managed to rejig his backpack to include the laptop bag containing laptop, video camera and many power cables! We headed to Pret a Manger (sp?) for lunch and shortly after that we managed to find M and C (talked them in by mobile!!)

The flight was late leaving but all went smoothly, it seemed completely full so I didn't manage to get M and C an upgrade. Business class was cushy and definitely made the flight easier, the service was great, the supper was good but the breakfast was iffy. We were sat in the first row of seats, together in the middle which meant we flew the whole way backwards, quite disconcerting! The stewards were very helpful and extremely patient with all my questions about baby preparations for the way back. We landed in Beijing just before 10am and made our way through all the different airport sections quiet easily, the most difficult part was finding the lift to go upstairs to Departures - we found the lift but every time it arrived it was already full. It turned out that our flight, thou booked with China Southern, was with China Eastern, again Check-in was easy - no quibble about me having 2 suitcases (I was worried about that bit!). Luckily all the airport signs are in English as well as Chinese character so it was easy to find the gate. On the way we all used the bathrooms - western loos but I did see my first 'squatty potty' (a glorified hole in the floor). The airport was gleaming - lots of glass and marble, all spotless. At the gate we queued for the desk and about 10 minutes later they started boarding. On this flight we were all sat together (after sign language from me at Check-in!) right at the back of the plane. I managed to sleep nearly all the way, APPARENTLY we flew over the Great Wall and the vast Yangtze (sp?) River! I managed more sleep on the second flight (only 3 hours) than on the longer first flight (over 10 hours)!

Overall the journey was remarkably smooth and simple. Friday and Saturday melded into 1 long day.

Arriving at Kunming was straight-forward and before we retrieved our luggage we had already spotted the Hotel's concierge and our guide ChrisTP. We travelled to the hotel in their minibus. First impressions of Kunming are that the roads are very wide, the streets are clean, there are many flower beds and trees and even though we are in a city it doesn't seem as crowded as western cities (may be less high rise buildings?)

N and I have connecting rooms and M and C are 3 floors below us - I'm sad that their room isn't closer. The rooms are light and surprisingly spacious and best of all the beds are comfy!! Our rooms look onto other buildings and if we look right down when at the window we can see the pool. Unpacking took a surprising length of time, I think because I had split everything between the bags and I was trying to me mega-organised before meeting Whatshername!!

We went out to supper to the Blue Bird Cafe, which is just across the road from the hotel. It was an adventure just to order our food. The food was great, but arrived at different times. After supper we walked another block away from the hotel to Green Park, we strolled around just taking in Kunming. Around the park there were several different musical things going on, let's just say their taste in music needs to be heard to be appreciated. The park was full of people - I think it's part of local culture to go for an evening walk through this park. On the way back we tried the cash-point, which caused a little discussion - particularly as the screen choices are timed - but we managed in the end.

I slept well and woke at 6.30 very aware of the life long importance of today. N had a more fitful night, particularly as he heard about the airport fire and security alert in the middle of the night. We met with M and C for breakfast and N locked himself out. After that we enquired about cots - only to hear that they don't have any left, we are not panicking yet, we will talk to Chris about it first! N has gone back to bed and is sleeping soundly - by the look of his eyes he needed to.

It's now 11am. M has got my laptop working, fab! We meet the babies in a little over 4 hours. I seem quite calm buy my tummy is churning and if I start to think about it too much I well up with tears. On reflection the paperwork, 2 years ago was stressful, the waiting and uncertainty have been far more stressful, but the recent weeks have been busy, the organising of the trip was relatively easy and the journey straight-forward, but the overall process is unbelievable and this part especially is surreal - I know that it IS happening, I just can't believe it!

MY LIFE CHANGES TODAY! Happy, with love from Kunming, Kx