lifejourneysandplaces: Going Places...eventually! Adventures in Expecting the Unexpected on our 2014 England/Italy trip.

Off off and away we go! I’m always nervous until the plane is taking off. As soon as those engines hit full force and thrust me back in my chair, I calm down and relax. It took a little longer to get to that point on this trip.

First snafu….had to check our bags all the way to Heathrow. That was NOT the plan and I was not prepared. First they said the bins were full, but I asked the guy taking our boarding pass if we could please try to get them on because we really don’t want to check them. He said okay, however they simply would not fit in the bin of this stupid regional jet. American doesn’t valet check them so that we can pick them up when we arrive in Chicago so the suitcases are off to London and will hopefully make it. Thankfully there was nothing in there I desperately need like medication, computer, chargers or my beloved Itinerary.

Lesson learned: Be prepared to have one bag taken from you, ripped away like it’s your right arm. And if you think you are carrying everything on, be prepared with your smaller bag just in case. Keep a change of underwear, all medication and toothbrush and toothpaste., all medication and toothbrush and toothpaste. Jay swears this has NEVER happened to him so I guess there's a first (and hopefully last) time for everything.

Second snafu…okay it’s more than a snafu. American Airlines strikes again. Mechanical delay would put us at Heathrow after the 11:00 pm curfew so we have to wait until 4:30 pm today to leave. 8 hour delay!

Bad news: read above

Good news:

*We get to watch the World Cup game!

*We aren’t missing anything in London except SLEEP.

*We got $48 in food vouchers and we were able to cancel the London hotel…within 15 minutes of not being able to cancel! Phew. Additionally we won’t have to pay for a taxi to the hotel.

*Cam isn’t upset and he is learning the importance of flexibility and PROBLEM-SOLVING mode.
*Lesson: Don't panic, don't freak...PROBLEM SOLVE.

So it’s currently 12:07 and we have settled in to our little hotspot by the windows in comfy big seats with multiple outlets……..

Update….after many long hours (too many to bother to count) we are up in the air. It’s about 6:00 pm and we just took off. Cam and I were both troopers moving from place to place in the airport to try to take in all it had to offer, which was not much.

We got to watch the World Cup match, we had a few hours in a nice spot looking outside, we relocated to the food court and had another small meal there. I guess the name of the game really is flexibility.

One thing I know for sure is that attitude is everything, and it can be contagious. There was a man behind us as we were waiting (again) to board the plane who I truly thought was going to have a heart attack as he sat there complaining and complaining. And while his points were mostly valid, that fact is, there was not a darn thing he could do about it. Then there was the nice, fun, mother and son duo sitting across from us. We talked for a while, had a great time and tried to make the most of the situation. All of us are on the plane, but some of us are happier than others, relaxed and thankful to be able to go on this trip.

Cam bought a book, Game of Thrones. I haven’t seen him read this much in years. He’s downloaded the movie 300 and I have downloaded The Kings Speech since this crappy plane doesn’t have in seat entertainment.

**Lesson learned: Come prepared with an old fashioned paper book and your own entertainment. There is no guarantee they will have it for you.

Although we won’t be getting the sleep we want, we will still get to see most of the sights, if not all, that we planned. And Cam is learning that he needs to keep an eye on me because I’ve already smurfed up a few times! We’ve had several laughs. My only concern is that with lack of sleep comes some crankiness. I’m going to really focus on NOT being cranky! It’s not worth it. I will never regret sucking it up for the good of the trip!

Problelm solving mode: Call your doctor friend when your son ends up with this on his leg. Prescription: benadryl...easy to find at any pharmacy or market! On we go!

When you get no sleep on a late plane you just plop yourself down in St. James park with the birds and people walking around with your backpack under your head!