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Christmas - お帰り
It's been 1 year and 6 months since I've set foot in Scotland.
Last year for Christmas I opted to stay in Japan, after all it had only been 6 months since I arrived and I didn't want to return home only to get homesick.
So this Christmas I felt a return home was in order and would also be introducing my girlfriend to my parents.
This isn't her first time in UK but first time in Scotland, so I think she will be quite surprised what a remote area I come from.
 We travelled with Korean Air, first a stopover in Incheon in Korea for about 2 hours. The flight to London took about 11 hours, it was amazing to see the difference of landing and disembarkation from Japan, Korea then UK.
Japan & Korea was a by the numbers, precise operation. , between touchdown and off the plane was 8 mins maximum.
Whereas landing at Heathrow, there seem to be a bit of :
"Allo Barry ? Is that you Barry ? yeah right, Steve ere. planes come down, landed right, passengers comin off yeah ? Where's Colin wiv the step ladder fing?"
Next the flight to Scotland was delayed by 2 hours, and before take-off, had an announcement:
"Ladies & Gentlemen, please excuse the camera crew on board as they are currently following our steward Kevin for a BBC programme"
Cue an orange tan faced air steward mincing for the camera, more delays, etc.
Long story short, met my folks then a 3hr drive in darkness to the homestead, 300 miles away from nearest city. My Girlfriend had a wide eyed fearful look, trying to look out the window of the car, "You cant see anything, I've never seen darkness like this !"
After what was roughly 30 hours or more solid being awake and travelling we finally got to bed without jet-lag only to wake the next morning (Christmas Eve) to see there was a fantastic fall of snow making it a White Christmas !
That day we helped out preparing tomorrows feast (mainly meat !) went sledging, made a snow man, and the girlfriend showed me how to make a cute yuki usagi;snow rabbit and all in all the return back to UK was a success, was great catching up with old friends.My girlfreind was a big hit with the family and Christmas day itself was very relaxing and comforting after last years solitary Xmas.
I did notice that the airport and general feeling of "service" was quite poor and what I was becoming used to, by the time it came round to head back to Japan had gained about 8kg ! It was amazing to see in just such a short time away how prices, TV programs, celebrities,etc had changed.
Quite anxious to get back to work to see how the team got on felt bad leaving them in the lurch, wonder how the deadlines are ?
Now off to pack the suitcase with as many tins of Haggis I can fit into it !
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Posted by sasqwach
at December 30, 2004 11:19 PM | Permalink
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