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Day 1

Well, what do you know? I slept for most of the flight. I missed the supper round (and only woke up already 2 hours into the flight). The movie was playing to no one and my fancy-schmancy neck pillow from my sister was still tied to the bag! I was out like a candle.

I dozed in and out for most of the flight, trying my best to stay conscious for the breakfast round, with just 100 minutes until landing. I waited almost as long as the assisted passengers did, to disembark. I walked slowly through Terminal 3 as I jumped onto the free WIFI to let the family know that I had landed safely. Passport control was scary as ever, but quick and done. My heart sits in my throat regardless! I pushed a trolley with one hand and skid the bike box with the other through the narrow gates and then promptly found my lift to Esher.

The ride was quiet and I enjoyed feeling warm - even hot - so early in the morning! I felt a little sorry for my fellow Saffas back home, in the freezing cold that I left them in.

After dropping off my bag and meeting my roommate for the week ahead, I settled down to start catching up after being offline for the entire previous day. Note to self: try to avoid doing that again. When my phone 'pinged' with a message from Aunty Mich and Kirsty, I made my way towards Reception and walked straight into them! Unreal! What a treat to see them after 4 years (bar Skype)! Kirsty personally couriered my UK sim to me - sitting through traffic and all! We had a short while to catch up a little and take a walk down to the store for phone credit and water, and then it was time for me to head to the Registration venue and Kirsty head back on her way.

A long day followed, with Sign On starting at 11am and finishing with a Q&A session for new riders at 8pm. In between I met some more of my event team, interacted with the riders and even popped down to the local Boots to sort out my feeding issues. My darling Baby, I just can't go cold turkey, hey!

Speaking of Baby (plus Big Boy and First Born) - I got to video chat with them and they were all smiles. Big Boy still wearing his beanie, post op, First Born slurping up her mince pasta with delight and updating her gift wishlist, and then there's Baby giving me a super stare down, as if she honestly demanded a better reason for this separation.

But Dad has it handled and I can just get on with getting my job done today.

Supper was a walk up the road after 8pm with 2 youth riders, my roomie and 2 colleagues. We ate and tried to plan for the day ahead, but the truth is that we're all mostly broken from travel and long hours on call as we head into the final day of preparation. No harm done, we'll try again tomorrow.

It's been a hard day on my body and this tiny twin bed is going to treat it well, I'm sure. I.can't.wait.another.minute.


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