Waking up at 5.45 in the morning (nor entirely unusual now we are new parents), our friend Becky was super nice enough to take us and our 100 tonnes of luggage to Heathrow in her 4×4 which made getting to the airport easy, there is no way we could have done it without a car, big thanks to Becky.

putting our luggage where it needed to go in the airport was also quick and straightforward, then the happy bit started, the security check, this with a baby strapped to the front of my 110kg body, 3 bags for handluggage, a folded pushchair, far more complicated than the usual laptop in a rucksack.

Of course the scanner beeped as I walked through with theo sleeping in the baby bjorn so I had to take him off then we got frisked by some bloke who was nice and chatty so not too bad….

Of course some Bitch with a tent wrapped around her head singled us out and took everything out of the changing bag (lots of baby stuff) and went through it bit by bit… Seriously what a Fuckin bitch, of course some essentials that were slightly over the ridiculous 100ml allowance were taken, so we could by them again in the shop that was 3 metres away, thank you very much osama.

I was sweating like he’ll as we prepared to get all our stuff on the plane (last) after quickly scoffing our coffees. The staff on the b.a. Flight to Sofia were really helpful, got to put the pushchair up the back of the cabin and the guy who was in our isle seat moved to the window.

I was expecting 3 hours of crying now but only got 2 minutes of it… Pretty much all of the flight Theo slept.. I squeezed my elbows together as if I were disabled so I could eat as much of the greasy slop that b.a. Had provided for breakfast, the rest was pretty much plain sailing ..

Got changed as soon as we got off the plane, fixed up the buggy and off we went to collect the suitcases, not the normal “are they ever going to come” wait, by then the conveyor had stopped and they were waiting for us.

Now we are in the taxi for our 3 hour drive across bulgaria and up the ear popping mountain border to macedonia to natasas parents who have no idea we are bringing their new grandson to see them :)

Our usual taxi driver stops off half way and treats us to some grilled chicken, salad, and tasty beer and now the booze is flowing it’s the start of enjoying some fine east european drink, macedonian red wine is definitely in need of getting around more and increasing awareness so more people can enjoy such varieties as “tia za jug”.

The taxi ride was a couple of hours until the circus routine at the border between bulgaria and macedonia where our taxi driver must suck up to some “officials” who act in a rather dopey manner. To our surprise as three passengers with british passports this time we have to get “examined” by a doctor at this mountain border.

This turns our to be a bloke seeing if we have a fever etc and puzzles me for a minute until I work out this has something to do with keeping swine flu out of the country then the penny drops and I understand the need.

We then cruise down the macedonia side to the town to surprise the socks off natasas parents which we certainly did.

Post from: Personal Blog of Brad McAllister

Our first flight with little Theo