FlyBaby

Bizarrely I was up early for a Sunday. We redyed Bella's hair (blue), welcomed Babbitt to the Pet Hotail, had a BBQ for lunch then headed to Newquay airport for Bella's first flight on her own!

For her first time alone, we booked the unaccompanied minor service, mainly for the Manchester end (there's not a lot to Newquay). Turns out it was just as well.

Having checked in and discovered they'd run out of the obligatory blue vests, we sat down in the cafe to wait. Suddenly her escort was there and she was off!

Part of the service is that I have to remain at the airport until 15 minutes after the plane has taken off. The plane was due to depart at 15.35 but was delayed until 15.50. At 15.50 it vanished off the board but the actual plane was still on the apron disgorging passengers!

I went to the 'help' desk to confirm that this was Bella's plane (the only plane on the apron, previous plane took off over 30mins earlier, next plane was EasyJet and hadn't landed) only to be told by the not very helpful woman that if it had gone off the departure board it must have gone and how was she supposed to know what the plane on the apron was. She then went on to the next person in the queue!

As I stood feeling a little bemused and wondering what to do next, an alarm started. I decided it would do no harm to wander back outside and see what was happening with the plane. Minutes later the airport was evacuated, airport fire engines arrived and the plane disembarked (?). By now it is 16.00.

After 20 minutes or so, the airport reopened and the flight finally left about an hour after is scheduled departure - I did have a teeny tiny wobble about my baby as it all kicked off but a lovely security man reassured me that she would be taken very good care of.

So that was today's excitement and from the texts I've had from my Mum, it was no more straightforward at her end!