The Emigration Diaries - Leaving on a jet plane.

I did it!

After months of waiting, stressing out, multiple breakdowns and thousands of Skype calls to Ollie, I finally used my one-way ticket to Dubai airport.

I spent the night before the flight drinking and dining down Salford Quays. I could hardly eat, and knocked back far too many Old J's (my fave rum, check it out), and ultimately, when I went to sleep, slumber did not arrive. I tossed and turned all night. I remember saying to my Mum that my brain was too loud to sleep. Every possible thing that could go wrong was racing through my mind. In the end I stared at the ceiling, listening to Mum and Steve snoring away.

I felt guilty that I wasn't more excited to see Ollie. I hadn't seen him in over 6 weeks, and hadn't really spent much quality time with him since September. Yet my fear of flying and nerves of leaving my family and friends behind stopped me from enjoying the fact I would soon be reunited with my husband.

We got up early on the day of the flight, as I was catching the 8:45 plane. We probably should have set off earlier as when we got to Manchester Airport the Emirates queue was pretty hefty. When we got to the front of the queue I then had to faff about moving stuff around in my suitcase and before I knew it it was time to say goodbye to my Mum; the moment I had been dreading the most. We decided that we would keep our goodbye's short and sweet, in an attempt to combat any hysterical, ugly tears. Our efforts were in vain however, and as soon as my bag was checked we were both sobbing.

Walking away from my Mum was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I have lived away from home for 4 or 5 years now, so being apart from her really isn't hard. However, walking towards airport security, knowing that you won't be able to pop on a train home at a moments notice is horrid. Mum and Steve waited and waved at me till I turned the corner. Must give a shout-out to Manchester Airport Security for dealing with a crying, snotty Meg very nicely, and making my bag check the smoothest thing ever.

Due to the queues at the check in desk and bag check, my flight was already boarding when I got through security. I had no time to sit in the terminal and watch the planes. I usually love hanging out in airport terminals - It's a great place to people watch, and there is nothing better than an early morning pint before a flight. However, this time, I'm glad I didn't have time to sit with my thoughts, as I'm sure more ugly tears would have appeared. Instead, I had just enough time to buy some Werther's Originals for the flight (there is something so British about Werther's and a flight without them is just plain wrong), and I headed for the boarding gate.

Behind saying goodbye to my Mum, the flight was the main thing filling me with nerves. I have never been a particularly good flyer. I always spend take-off in silent tears, eyes screwed shut, with the sweatiest palms known to man. Every flight I have done I have had someones hand to squeeze, someone to reassure me that the plane isn't going to tumble out of the air. This time I was on my own. I managed to keep my tears under control, not wanting to embarrass myself. The television screens on Emirates flights let you watch the plane from different camera angles, and I found that watching the take-off from those cameras helped calm my nerves. At least if a bird was coming our way, I would see it coming!

The 7 hour flight was pretty uneventful and calm. I watched a few movies, including Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, which I would recommend to everyone. I had two meals, but due to opting for the Vegan option, they were very lacklustre - there's only so much apple and melon one person can manage in 7 hours. Thank goodness for my bag of Werther's! After my night of no sleep, I was looking forward to having a nap on the plane, but alas, it didn't happen. Not sure how people manage to sleep sitting up anyway.

My excitement to see Ollie arrived when we landed in Dubai. I hate to admit it but I was one of those passengers that stood up with their hand luggage ages before they opened the plane doors. The walk to arrivals felt like it took a lifetime, but it was nice to move my legs finally after such a long time sitting down. Seeing Ollie's hair standing out amongst all the other people in the arrivals lounge was the greatest sight, and I was so ready for that first hug.

What I found strange was, that within a minute of being back together, it all felt so normal. It was like we hadn't been apart at all. We fell straight back into the laid back relationship we have, and laughed the whole journey home.

So now, I'm sat on the balcony, eating avocado on toast, trying to soothe the crazy bug bites I have all over my legs. It'll take a while to get over the fact that I live here, every day so far has felt like a holiday, and with 28 degree weather and 12 pools to choose from, it's hard not to think that I'm on my jollies. With that in mind, I'm off to put on some factor 50.

Till next time,

Stay golden x

#emigrating #emigrationdiaries #flying #UAE #expat