24/10/2026
Some trips donโt always go to plan. That was certainly the case yesterday when we flew from London to Washington (British Airways BA291)@. The first trip I have had in almost two years with both my children, and the first holiday with my new Grandaughter who is just coming up to 12 weeks old.
Flying with a baby is always going to be more tiring and stressful, but she was an absolute dream and handled it all like a pro.
About 30 mins before landing, the Captain came across on the tanoy saying they had a hydraulic problem which was โprobablyโ nothing to worry about, but there would be emergency services waiting for us when to landed! Well you kind of know when there are going to be fire trucks and ambulances lined up long the runway that there is an element of risk involved, and although we didnโt know until after we landed, the plane had also squawked an emergency. I had my husband, 2 children and baby granddaughter in the sky with me, and so I just prayed hard that all would be well. At the same time trying to logistically work out how you safely get a small baby safely evacuated down the escape slides should that be required!
Happy to say that we landed safely, fire trucks immediately rushing to the aircraft and checking it out before we were allowed to taxi off the runway. All very dramatic, and gives a good travel to tell the baby about her first flight when she is older, but thankfully no injuries or emergency evacuations required.
Despite leaving the aircraft quickly and whizzing through US immigration we then had to wait TWO HOURS for our bags. Not the end we wanted to our already long and stressful journey, but we quickly got our rental car and drove about an hour south of Washington and just crashed out in a roadside hotel for the night.
Today (still tired and jet lagged) we have had a more leisurely drive down to Williamsburg, Virginia, stopping for lunch in the Historic Town of Fredericksburg along the way (oh, and a trip to Target, because that HAS to be done!)
So now we have 11 days in Virginia to explore and for Cameron to do โtrain stuffโ with his friends here, and also celebrate his 15th Birthday on 31st October in true American Halloween tradition. Heโs excited to pick out his Uncle & Niece costumes for Trick or Treating.
I just need another good night sleep and hopefully Iโll start to feel human again ๐ด
