29th June 2010 - Hercules

Got a crazy idea - I want to buy a lovely old Hercules bike. You see them everywhere here, single speed, swept back handlebars, big kick down stand at the back, usually adorded with milk churns, sheets of plyboard, shopping bags etc it is really amazing to see what people manage to carry on a push bike! I've established from my chats with Vikas that they cost Rs 3,000 for a new one and around Rs 1,500 for a second hand one. I asked Vikas where I go to buy one, a nice old battered one not a new one and he replied 'on the street' so this could be interesting. Driving home today and Vikas pulled up along side a chap riding his Hercules and driving slowly alongside him, Vikas, leaning over me, starts to try and negociate the purchase of the chaps bike whilst he is riding along the road, dodging potholes, speeding buses and Vikas trying to buy his wheels. Needless to say this approach to buying a bike didn't work! Undetered, Vikas has promised me that we go in search of a bike this weekend. Already sorted where to get it fixed if it goes wrong saw a chap with a 'bike shop' on the side of the road.

The bike shop consisted of a space on the pavement, a painting of a bike on the wall behind and the obigatory blue tarpuline covering the space on the pavement - sorted.

Finally found the perfect iced coffee at Gloria Jeans coffe shop - Milkshake coffee, extra shots, fresh cream and ice cream - Corniory in a cup, basically your heart speeds right up, then the fat clogs your arteries but the cold saves you from any real damage as you go into a temporary cryogenic state all this for the princely sum of Rs 119 (about £1.90)

Had another look in the apartment today, still get cross at the state it has been rented to us, have demanded a deep clean before we place anything in it as it needs lots of work. Our airfreight turned up at the weekend so keen to get in and get settled. Paperwork from Allied Le Muir, the agents who will help get our crates released from the airport - dubious about the amount of tax we will have to pay, there seems to be import duty which is fine but also 3 or 4 other payments that need to also be made if we ever want to see our things again.

Susie is keen to employ a maid, one of the friends she has made has now left to live in Vienna leaving her maid looking for a new family. Susie is also looking for a nursery school for Darcy - found one and looks very nice from the website. This leaves Susie free to 'explore' which I think is code for finding more inventive ways of spending our money! Think it is a good idea in general although concerned that readjusting to life back in the UK will be a shock - what no driver and no maid!!

28th June 2010 - Bollywood

All apart from Susie have developed colds in the Thompy household. Max thinks that they should be called Hots, which is an interesting idea, haven't had the hots for years!

Hot and sunny again today, think the rain is supposed to come later tonight - right on cue there is a crash of thunder and here it comes!

Contact from the Indian removal firm handling getting our shipment out of the Customs area in Mumbai. The Customs paperwork will be delivered tomorrow so maybe by the weekend we can get our stuff delivered to the apartment. Susie checked the apartment today as it had been cleaned at the weekend ready for our stuff to move in. Rethink required as it is still very dirty and requires nothing short of a jet wash!

Finally made it to the Vodafone shop to sort out Susie's phone after work, second time lucky, resubmit a small forest full of paperwork and fingers crossed it will work.

Got home from work at 8pm, having stopped off to buy my lovely wife some flowers. Coming into the apartment block we were asked to turn off the car lights as they were filming a Bollywood film just along at the Hotel Convention Centre - wonder of it was one of those workplace health and safety videos?!

I'm suffering with Indian Man Flu so short post today, hopefully Darcy will sleep later than 5am. Laters.

27th June 2010 - First day out

'Lets get out of it for a while, go into the Country, explore and get some fresh air', what could possibly go wrong?

The Monsoon seemed to have stalled again so I thought it would be a great idea to get out of the hustle and bustle of the City and go and see one of the hill stations we'd heard so much about. I even had support for this idea, with our friend Teri saying she would come with us. Arranged the car for 9am, plenty of water on board and emergency biscuits just in case the rain came and we had to hang around. Getting out felt good, the sun was shinning and we were in high spirits as we left Mumbai behind us and headed out on the Pune Express Way. Even felt good to be able to drive at more normal speeds, 60mph never felt so good! Reassured by the fact that you wouldn't suddenly come across a 3 wheeler or an ox and cart (there was a big sign prohibiting them from using the Express Way)
Destination 'Lonavala' - although I did notice on the way that it was spelt a few different ways, this was the most popular. The closest of the hill station at only 65 miles away, some of it flat plains and the rest uphill winding road through tunnels and hairpin bends - squint and you could be in the Alps....alright close your eyes completely and just imagine you are in the Alps!
As we start to climb the traffic slows, mainly due to the ultra slow lorries (people walking faster) which brings me onto the number of people walking on the hard shoulder who would walk up to the slow smaller trucks and climb aboard for a free ride up - the driver started out with an empty truck and by half way up the hill it was completely full of men getting a free ride, which puts the UK car sharing idea to shame! As we rounded the next corner we could see miles of traffic stopped ahead and a raging fire some way ahead high above us. After sitting without moving for 20 minutes people started turning round, impressive as there was no room so you ended up with cars pointed in all directions, some the way we were travelling some at right angles to the road some who had made the turn but were stuck by others trying to turn and motorists who had got out of their cars to direct traffic. Then unexpectedly, the traffic ahead starts to move forward so the turned cars now try and turn once more! Funny to watch and thankfully we hadn't started to turn so were then in prime position to carry on. This was short lived as we stopped again round the corner. No problem, there was a damaged part of the central barrier so the simple solution is to bridge the gap and drive up the wrong side - naturally! Then we hit the traffic coming down the hill! No problem, just all drive up the slip road onto the higher road which misses the blazing lorry but unfortunately blocks the slip road well and truly. Throw in vehicles with burnt out clutches (they don't use handbrakes, why would you when you can slip the clutch for a few hours until the air is acrid with the smell of a breakdown) which in turn blocks the road. No problem simply unload one of the lorries now carrying 50 men it has picked up along the way and push the stranded vehicles into the ditch, reload and drive on into the space left by the car now sitting in a ditch. God only knows how they get their car sorted so more importantly when? I am getting a much better sense of just how screwed you would be if anything did go wrong out here! Bloody hope the Capita health insurance includes a helicopter rescue option!

Been on the go for 3 hours and not made it yet, stop off at a viewing point, complete with health trap toilets, death trap fairground rides although you could get your name written on a grain of rice so not all bad. We have existed so far on emergency biscuits, water and strawberry shoelaces, kids are getting bored and restless, next stop Lonavala. More traffic jams, shall we turn round, shall we carry on? Carry on, we are within touching distance. Drive past the signs for the Kalpol Sanitorium start to think that this might be just the place to spend some time....finally make it to Lonavala 5hours after leaving Mumbai. Reminds me of a sad seaside town in UK, every seems to sell Chikki, which we are told are the local nuts. A1 Chikki, King's Chikki, Malgol Chikki, Chikki shops everywhere. Didn't stop, so much more to see, on to the Dam, although in the end we give up and just ask to go home!

One last treat having now driven past the burnt out lorry on the way back down is our Sunday lunch (4.00pm) at the Moto equivalent, not sure what it was called but semi open air complete with flies and usual chaos. Settle for a McDonalds which we ate quickly and joylessly, dodge the stray dogs and back to the car. Home by 5.30pm, just in time for the F1 and the football.

Are we put off? Nope, all part of the fun of living here although next time might get the train or fly!!

18th June 2010 - Good God there are sheep on the playing fields

Well maybe not the playing field, but a big flock of sheep being herded along the side of the expressway - imagine the M25 meets little Bopeep!

Nice sunny day on the way into the office this morning - around 5 o'clock the sky turns black, the wind picks up, the rain, thunder and sheet and fork lightening, prepare for a long journey home. 6km = 1 hour, rain pouring down and the Gods very unhappy.

Made it to the flyover and two policemen were doing a terrible job of directing traffic, to be fair the traffic wasn't helping much as when they turned around another car/lorry/motorbike would sneak past and create another blockage. Throw in a few stray dogs who live in the underpass and wander all over the road plus the amazing amount of rain and you have an interesting ride home.

Susie has gone with Jason, Sharan and Teri to watch the England game up at the Hotel on a massive 50 inch TV. I've decided to catch up with the Blog and get an early night although it is 11.30pm so not doing too well so far!

Susie has made some friends this week and is much happier, which I am delighted to report, feels like we have moved out of the shadows of the early part of the week, onward and upwards.

17th June 2010 - Apartment

Hurrah - paperwork completed for the apartment, we could have the keys by the weekend. Now all we need is our shipping....
Took Max to school and found out that it was a sort of parents day, I couldn't make it but once at work I sent the car back for Susie so that she and Darcy could go and see the projects that the children had completed. They had a great time just wish I could have joined them.

A few more funny signs on the way into work - Eastern Highway, a sign reads 'Accident Prone Zone' and on the way into the office grounds ' No Honking' and 'No Weapons'.

Great news, as the shipping is delayed - it is still in the UK over 3 weeks after being lifted, agreement/approval to fly our stuff out so could have it within the next two weeks.

16th June 2010 - Come on in the water is lovely!

Yup they were right the rain the previous day was a light shower compared to the rain we now have. Driving to school to drop Max off we can barely see ahead of us, it is almost dark and within a few minutes we are splashing through deep water. Our driver Vikas has developed an amusing trait, when it rains hard he laughs as he passes the poor old Tuk Tuk drivers getting soaked.
For some reason, having found that on previous days the long way to school only took 15 minutes, Vikas decided, in Monsoon rain, to take the 'short cut'. Short cut = 1 hour, numerous detours along little back streets, water flooding everywhere. So many flipflops floating along the road, must be a great deal of people who have lost their shoes!
So what was the highest rainfall? 116mm in one day. This time last year it was on 5mm.
Other stats - 46 people died in Mumbai, directly attributable to the rain, mostly down to colapsing walls, buildings etc RIP.
Total journey time to work 2 hours, office pretty quiet as people were not able to make it into work. Still had people telling me that it could get worse in July, must buy an umbrella!
Journey home was fun, Vikas decides that he is a better driver and decides to overtake the other Capita car in front so he can lead, into the path of oncoming vehicles, still a flash of the lights a blare of the horn, few hand gestures and suddenly it becomes our right of way...on the wrong side of the road.

15th June 2010 - Monsoon?

Started to rain today, asked at work whether this was te monsoon and they laughed. Told me that this was nothing and to give it time.

14th June 2010 - ahh work, knew I'd forgotten something!

Second full day at work, interesting stuff and got to meet the team, starting to feel better now I've got my feet under the table. Has only been a few months from initial hair brained idea to move lock stock to India with the whole family and now sitting working in India as a resident. What is strange is how normal it feels already, feels like home. I'm sure the homesickness will kick in but at present it feels OK.
Darcy still discombobulated and has gone feral and very hard to keep under control, which is making Susie's life difficult. I really hope things settle and a natural rhythm returns for Susie's sake.

12th - 13th June 2010 - ...and relax

Time to stop and relax, big style. After a touch of shopping for the essentials, beer and vodka, Darcy and I headed back to the apartment. Experienced the weirdness of random people coming up to Darcy and pinching her cheeks, touching her hair and just wanting to see her - they all think she is a doll!
So back to the apartment and a weekend of doing nothing - properly first time in ages NOTHING, well apart from lazing around in the pool with the kids for hours on end....both days, nice work.

11th June 2010 - FRRO

Passport, passport sized photos x4 each, copy job contract x4 each, copy visa x4 each, hotel bill x4 each - check - now you are ready to pop down to the FRRO and become a legal resident of India. Event free drive down to the office in the South of Mumbai, office located in a dodgy backstreet, took a while to find but arrived at 9.05am which wasn't too bad.
First job to do, sign all of us into a massive book downstairs, already some other have arrived, Germans, South Africans, Dutch and English people. Pop upstairs to check whether we can start the process whilst we wait for Capita rep to join us as she has all of our paperwork. As I step out of the lift I see a large desk straight in front of me so approach to ask my question. I'm waved away to a queuing system to the right which was out of sight...and happened to contain NOBODY waiting to be seen. Okay, so I get the measure of what we are about to experience, keep calm, do what you are told and hope that the people with the power today are feeling in a good mood!
Fill out forms on computer x4, 'helped' by cross assistant as were inconveniencing her by asking questions like 'where has my printing disappeared too'. It took me so long that my number had been called and the lady who was to check my papers and make up my file came looking for me. Thankfully she turned out to be a very helpful and pleasant person, maybe aided by the fact that her brother had worked for Capita in the UK! Still a few steps - leave interview room and purchase small blue registration books x4, receipt hand written and carbon paper used to create duplicates, back into the room to complete paperwork and then simply wait for the little books to be created - end to end 3.5 hours, not bad by all accounts.
To celebrate our residency we had lunch in the Taj Hotel overlooking the Gateway of India - very opulent indeed, hard to imagine the gun attack that happened there a few years back, couldn't help thinking about it and the hundred or so people who were killed - RIP.

10th June 2010 - No plucking flowers

Yes, it made me double take too - this was a sign I noticed on the way into the office this morning, stuck into a flower bed, made me laugh.

What else made me laugh today?
Picture on the rear of the toilet cubicle door which shows a picture of a person crouching on the toilet seat with a red cross through it and one next to it of someone sitting with a tick.
Noticed that the office canteen sells Charlie. Actually a big slab of what looks like a bird seed cake, not yet tempted.

Susie and the kids had a better day, catching up with Mitra and his family and going swimming along with Helen C. A good time was had by all and I think it was nice for everyone to meet up and have some fun. We are off to the FRRO office tomorrow so that should address the balance as I have heard quite a few horror stories about peoples visits there and the bureaucratic process. I'm a 'glass half full' person most of the time so am remaining positive that it will not be too painful - watch this space!

Getting under into more detail at work now which is good, even managed to get email access and got rid of a large number of emails which felt good. Blackberry and 3g card turned up today, just got to wait for these to be set up and then there will be no stopping me!

First World cup match tomorrow and there is talk of a group of us getting together to watch it. Looking forward to this, not a great football fan but spirit of the occation makes it quite exciting.

9th June 2010 - My bag!

Appologies to the the residents of the Lakeside Apartments on floor 6 who keep missing their morning newspaper, Darcy has taken to running along the corridor snatching the newspaper bags from the door handle and shouting 'my bag!' She has gone a little ferral since coming to India!

Got a last minute note to say that our trip to thr FRRO office had to be rescheduled as the guarantor letter from Capita was not ready. Shame as I wanted to get all of this sort of thing out of the way before throwing myself into my new role. Used the day to try and get Susie a little more sorted with contacts and to have another family day to try and settle everyone in. First stop, see Helen Culley as she knows lots of people and it was important to make Susie feel more settled and make more contacts who can help Mumbai feel more like home. After a good chat and a cup of tea, we headed off to the Sanjay Gandi National Park. Massive National Park with around 150 caves carved into the hills which were amazing. Very hot, although thankfully slightly cooler in the massive caves, which included 2x 6 metre high statues of Buda, one smiling and one serious which depicts the start of your life (happy) and the end (less happy!). Having recovered from carrying Darcy up the hill and looking at the caves we drove down to where the Lions and Tiger Safari bus starts. On the way we saw monkeys running around which the kids loved. The lions and tigers were impressive, bit close to the very frail looking wire mesh which covered the open bus windows, luckily it was such a hot day that the big cats were happier to laze about in the sun. One of the tigers had, the week before, killed one of the security guards - the wire fencing looked like it would struggle to stop my cat!

Other stories in the news today, aparently a local fishing on Lake Powai (in a rubber inner tube) had one of his legs bitten off by a crocodile, not that I was thinking of going for a swim but I'm not sure my business venture of speedboat rides pulling a donut will really fly now.

Once back I took the kids swimming, Darcy managed to warn me of her need for a poo after the event....again. Luckily the pool was quiet again and I managed to sort it out without fuss - third time lucky.......

8th June 2010 - Grand Old Duke

Today had many parts and not many of them good! This was a bad day so please excuse my negitivity and cross your fingers with me that it is one of only a few.

Simon went into work today so after dropping him off at the office I asked the driver to take us to Bandra, I place I had read was the hip up-coming place to be filled with boutiques, restaurants, cafes and old Catholic architecture and Churches. First point I had missed was that our very nice driver does not speak much if any English. I asked to go to Bandra and he was a little surprised, so I showed him the little map and blurb about it I had picked up from reception, but I guess maps are for wimps...

After about 15 min he pulled to a dead stop on the freeway (motorway, 3 lanes in all) to talk to Mitra (our car & driver supplier & general Mr Fix it) to get a general idea where he was going. About 45 min later we make it to Bandra after 6 more direction stops. If people dont know the way, so they are not impolite, they will direct you anyway, so you have to go for the mean average. Bandra is the cool place, where Bollywood stars and Heros live in splendor, unfortunately to me it still looks like most of Mumbai. I am sure that this will change and that one day I will see the infinitesimal changes that show the difference in the quality of residents but not today.

Finally we find a cafe on the map and we pile out.

Had a lovely cherry iced tea and ordered choc brownies with ice-cream for the kids and Max wanted a milkshake too and I was feeling generous... I ended up eating Darcy's brownie after she had thrown her shoe into it, every 5 min she takes them off usually in the most inappropriate circumstances(and there I am washing her feet with alcohol gel and trying to explain dirty - you haven't seen what happens on the streets here!). She had Max's after his milkshake turned out to be another choc brownie ice-cream thingie just in a cup this time. After about 10min Max has woofed his down and is asking to leave as its too hot outside (a place he had begged to sit)! I call the driver and he arrives quickly, too quickly as it takes another 10 min for the bill to arrive, as we get back in he asks hopefully 'Hotel Apartment?' and I am to tired too explain shopping and browsing in hand signals and mime so wearily agree. Spend the rest of the journey needing a wee, singing the Grand Old Duke of York 20 times over and trying to get Darcy not to suck her filthy big toe.

Later, after trashing the apartment that some poor guy prob on 10 rupee an hour had tidied both kids refuse to eat my lovely home made dinner. Max making gagging faces behind my back and Darcy choosing to sit on the step 3 times rather that eat forcing the issue home. In the end I bin it and produce a bowl of Pringles and go to have a bath to calm down and have 5 min to myself.

I guess the reality of being on my own to entertain 2 children in a place where I dont know where to go or even start has hit home. There was a park by the road but there were also scabby dogs -which kinda put you off. Where do I go that is safe or safer, at least to my European sensibilities ... and I'm not that fussy at home.

Ah well tomorrow is another day, I hope.

7th June 2010 - Coconut Pickle

Went to Garodia High School today to get Max's school uniform sorted and pay some more of the school fees. Driver got lost and after asking 4 different people who all had a different opinion he asked an old man who gave detailed instructions. As we turned around he came over the street and offer to take use there himself. In excellent English he informed us that he always took a morning walk and so knew the area well. He also advised us that people in general do not admit to not knowing something and therefore will advise rather than admit they don't know! When we pulled up outside the school, which was out of his way, we thanked him and apologised for taking him out of his way. His reply was that it was his good deed for the day and it made him happy to know that he had helped his fellow man -nice guy.

Ended up spending around 4 hours at the school as there were masses of people there enrolling, getting uniforms, paying money etc. I was presented with a bill of 75,000 INR (approx £1,100) for the first quarters fees. Trouble is that we do not have an Indian bank account yet and the school only take cash or cheque. To get this sum of money from the ATM would have taken all week so I texted Mitra to see if he could help. True to his word her turned up an hour later with the money and I have at least paid now. Now all I need to do is arrange to wire the funds back to Mitra as soon as I am able.

During all of this we were asked if we wanted to stay for lunch. As the school doesn't open until tomorrow there were only staff members about so we sat down outside and ate a lovely simple meal of dozas (?) veg curry a coconut pickle and some unidentified orange things, all very nice and very welcome.

Darcy was reaching the end of her endurance for the heat so Susie, max and Darcy went back to the hotel and I stayed on to wait for the cash to turn up.

On the way back I heard and saw the first emergency service vehicle hich wasn't making much headway in the traffic. Proper monsoon downpour on the way back, passed crowds of motorcyclists stopped and hiding under trees! Although fairly brief, the quantity of water that falls in impressive, with vehicles wading through inches of water. This is still early doors for the monsoon so am assuming that it could get worse too. Lake Powai is looking very low so the rain cannot come soon enough, especially as they use the water to create electricity for the town.

In all of this water you have to wonder what it must be like for the people on the streets, how do you even attempt to live your life with nothing and potentially noone to support you......?

6th June 2010 - Shouting Poo

Enjoyed the last of the unbroken sun this morning, the rain came down this afternoon for brief but torrential downpour and then stopped and the sun came out again. This left it very hot and humid - as soon as Susie and I leave the airconditioned hotel our glasses steam up!

I took Darcy into Powai and we went shopping, passport sized pics for her, beer for me and gin for Susie. Found a great little shop for the passport photos, run by a guy called Moti. Kid you not the shop is 15ft by 4ft and there are about 6 people working in there. As a customer you have to squeeze past them all to get in. Whilst waiting for the pics one of these staff members was squeezing a zit on Moti's nose, truely a job for all in that shop. However, I then went onto the off licence and it was equally small and equally well staffed. One of the shop staff appears to be perminantly on the ladder to the store loft and when you ask for a crate/box of something he is there to pass it down to one of his other staff members.

Darcy really is centre of attention, everywhere we go and everyone we meet wants to speak to her, pinch her cheek, stroke her hair, pick her up etc etc. She is coping with this pretty well but it is a lot to take in a deal with and a little disconcerting for Susie and I trying to keep her safe. I'm sure that this will become easier.

Darcy insisted on starting potty training the second we got here, which entails her taking her nappy off running away and shouting poo. This leave the pursuing parent to catch her in her semi naked state and try and locate the toilet ASAP. Some you win some you lose, I'm just glad that at least she was wearing her one piece swimming costume and the pool was empty when she forgot to forewarn me.

Best thing about breakfast are the fresh juices, you just go up to the counter, and they will juice anything from beetroot to bitter gourdes - healthy stuff.

5th June 2010 - Pimped Tik Tuk

It comes to something when the only thing to watch on TV is 'The making of the Sex in the City movie'! Can't even get the BBC iplayer to work, reminds me when growing up of the title song for 'Why don't you' - why don't you just turn off the TV and do something less boring instead! And this is only day 3 in India. I know TV isn't the be all and end all but sometimes you just want to veg out, reminds me how good some of our TV actually is - thankyou BBC!
Tough day in the office today, the biggest risk is going all wrinkly in the hot swimming pool, especially when we spent the best part of 4 hours in them today.
The kids have been well entertained by the driver of the pimped Tuk Tuk that takes you from the hotel apartments to the main hotel. Chrome wheels and exhaust, flashing LEDs in the ceiling, stereo and a custom silver paint job (every other one is black and yellow). If you want to go to the hotel pool he drives along the path that winds through the gardens and narrowly misses the plants, walls etc. Good fun.
Saw a cockroach scuttle along the corridor in the apartments today, must try not to sleep with my mouth open tonight! Also found a beautiful dragonfly at the poolside, unfortunately it was dead but beautiful all the same.
Had 60 seconds of warm rain today - start of the monsoon? Spoke to an Indian guy today and he told me with an air of authority that the monsoon would start 11th June - lets wait and see.
Caught up with Teri today, really nice to see her again and introduce her to Susie and the Kids - think she enjoyed it too although Susie did poke her in the eye (accidentally). Jason, Teri and Susie all went shopping together to stock up on provisions, Susie came back with some tasty foods and some basics to get us started - a far cry from the Pringles and Bourbon biscuits we ate for lunch on Friday!
Hurrah, just found one of the channels showing Quantum of Solice, that will do, now where is my cup of tea?

1,2 miss a few 99,100!

Ok so the D minus count down was ok in theory but then came the stress of the last few days and the blog went by the wayside! Trying to remain calm and civil when inside you are on a knife edge. A few notable outbursts, firstly when the garage who were buying the Passat then turned up and tried to beat me down on the previously agreed price - a few passers by startled by how loudly I was venting whilst driving back from the car/cash rendevous point and secondly when Santander managed to not only stop a ligit payment I'd made using the internet but also fail to up hold the agreement that they would wire the funds to HSBC - I was using the local branch telephone and it was plain to all my unhappiness!

So D-Day itself? Apart from the slight loss of control in the local Santander branch and plenty of testy conversations between Susie and I, we were ready outside the house at 2.30pm, the Taxi arriving at 2.45pm, we were loaded and on the move at 3pm - clockwork! Criuse to Heathrow, wander to the checkin, straight through with our 5 suitcases, 5 flight bags, 2 laptops, 1 suitbag and 1 large pushchair! Very tiring as in amoungst this Darcy wanted a hug, i.e. to be picked up! Think I'll need a few months of massage to sort the damage out.
Driving from Mumbai Interantional Airport to the Hotel and it felt like we had never been away, those 5 weeks of packing, working , visas, stress and goodbyes melted away - we still miss everyone but it feels strangly homely here already.
Lovely swim in the apartment pool, which is more like a bath (temperature wise), the kids have coped really well, everyone wants to know their names and touch their hair and pinch their cheeks - pretty full on for them but I think they will have to get used to this.
Early night tonight as we had expected to fall asleep on the plane, with the lay flat beds, sadly not the case as we were either dealing with Max who was feeling sick or Darcy who kept falling of the bed.
Night all.