The calm before the storm

I waited at Gatwick till almost 2am for our luggage, got a cab to our Hotel in Copthorne and had a bath, heaven!!!!! Soooo Santa miraculously managed to find us and there were stockings for everyone in the morning, we set the alarm for 6.30 so we'd have enough time to open them and have breakfast, it was very hard to wake up the boys..... I played Christmas music on my iPhone and we enjoyed our stockings, had a lovely breakfast and then our cab came at 7.45.

We checked in without drama and proceeded to the Departure Lounge, we took off on time, all very nice but then about 30 mins before landing we hit the storm, I was sitting next to Gulliver and Zebedee was in the window on the other side of him with Max across the Aisle from me, the turbulence was bad but I've been through it before and wasn't that worried but when we tried to land we couldn't so up we went and there was more, then it got scary and Gulli started crying and hyperventilating and feeling sick, he went white as a sheet, Zebedee was brilliant, we both held his hands and got him to breathe slowly and deeply and tried to keep him calm, people were screaming and crying... We tried to land again and the same thing happened, so we were diverted to Alicante, a bumpy rainy flight.... we later found out that the second attempt failed due to a flock of birds and one was sucked in and had to be removed when we got to Alicante.

Then quite a few passengers insisted on leaving the aircraft, the cabin few said that only those with hand luggage could go but eventually they had to get all the bags out and sort through for those who wanted to leave.... So after much delay we set off again and although there was some turbulence the storm had quietened down a lot and we landed without incident, the cabin crew were amazing and when they thanked us everyone clapped and I shouted out THANK YOU and everyone joined in, it was very emotional.

Cedric (aka Grampire aka Max's Dad) was waiting and off we went.... Finally arrived about 6pm to lovely family, presents, a glorious tree, booze and a fantastic Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings, crackers and jokes and charades!

They have borrowed a nearby house for us which is massive with amazing views across the mountains and the sea, we could see Gibraltar this morning (Boxing Day).

Ain't it good to be alive??
I feel very grateful for all the things I have today.

Happy Christmas everyone xxxxx

Edit
In the middle of the horrible flight when we were allowed to to go to the loo I was reunited with an old friend I haven't seem for over 15 years!!!! A singer called Mike Scott who was on his way to Malaga to do a gig last night, it's been rescheduled but he leaves tomorrow, how weird is that????