We’ve only just arrived in the UK, mainly for our daughter’s 40th birthday and to see our famous little granddaughter Dottie, as mentioned here in my post Travel Anticipation and last week’s Ready for Travel.
It’s such a long flight from Australia but there’s no getting away from the fact that if we want to see our daughter and granddaughter then we have to do the travel.
To get to the airport in Sydney we had a 3 hour drive to Canberra then a 3 hour bus trip to Sydney, followed by a few hours wait before leaving at 6pm on Saturday night. We arrived in Singapore with just 20 minutes to get to our next flight, which was then delayed for about 30 minutes due to some technical issue. We arrived into London at 8.30am on Sunday morning which was Mother’s Day in Australia. We then caught a bus for 2 hours to Bristol, and that’s where the fun started.
It’s a long way from Tumbarumba to Bristol! As it was Mother’s Day I likened the travel to childbirth, it’s forgotten quickly and you do it again.
I’d done almost the exact same trip (date-wise) on my own 10 years ago to attend Melanie’s 30th birthday but thankfully this trip was less traumatic! You can read my Kindness on Mother’s Day post here if you need a reminder of what adventures I had when travelling solo.
We were met by Melanie and Dottie with a hand painted sign saying Granny and G. Dottie was beside herself and had been excited for weeks beforehand knowing we coming ‘soon’.

Melanie made this Instagram reel and I really felt like I was having my very own Love Actually moment where all the families are being greeted with hugs at the airport and love is all around!
Watch this little video and I’m sure you’ll agree! It was amazing! (I hope it works for you).
Watch My Love Actually Moment – click the link to see it 🙂
Dottie has grown up in the 9 months since we were last here, she turns 4 in August and has a phenomenal memory. She talks non-stop, rarely sits still, has the most beautiful smile and is the sweetest little girl. It’s hard to think she was once fighting for her life in NICU after being born too early at 25 weeks. She’s the brightest little star and such fun to be around. And she loves me with all her being! I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this but it’s a lovely feeling.
Dottie had her mum make this flag especially for me, using orange as it’s my favourite colour and says Granny & Dottie. It’s currently hanging in our rented cottage and will go home with me as a memento of our relationship. We are lucky to be in constant contact using Facetime when we’re home in Tumbarumba but nothing beats being here with her.

Thanks for your visit and I hope you realise just how amazing you are too 🙂
How’s your Wednesday looking?
Deb xx
I’m joining Denyse for her Wednesday’s Words and Pics – another fun linkup.
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.

Everyone has a story to tell! Deb is a young-at-heart & active 60+ blogger/retiree, after being made redundant from her 22-year career managing education programs in a men’s correctional centre (jail). She now spends her time reading, blogging, riding her ebike and travelling. Deb was awarded a Bravery Award from the Queen when she was 17 after a tragic accident – a definite life changing moment! She is married with 3 grown-up daughters & has 4 grandchildren. She never imagined being Granny Debs would bring so much joy to her life! You can read more of Deb’s story here
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You are having the best Mother’s Day week!! Your granddaughter is full of so much love and wonder! Happy Trails!
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Yes it really was a perfect Mother’s Day in every way!
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That was such a joyful and amazing reunion to watch Debbie, I’ve seen (and watched) it several times on various SM sites smiling and teasing up each time. Thank you to your daughter for ‘making’ it and thank you to you for sharing it.
Definitely the prize for taking part in the long haul journey from here to there!
Take care
Cathy
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It still makes me smile Cathy, I’m so pleased my daughter put it together like that so I’ll always have the memory.
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I cried when I first saw this reel… what a welcome! And what a Love Actually moment.
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Happy tears Jo, I shed a few!
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This was so much better than the movie, Deb!!! What are joyful moment and Dottie is such a special little girl xx
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Yes Sue, way better than the movie!!! We are having a lovely time but I’m missing you all x
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Wonderful – enjoy, Deb x
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Thanks Toni, it’s so good to be back with them all and Dottie is such fun to be with.
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Hi Deb – so much joy! I think back to that tiny little dot of a baby in the NICU for so long – and the bright spark greeting you now – I bet your family counts her as a blessing every day (and thank goodness for modern medicine!)
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Hi Leanne, so much love and joy. We do count our blessings every day as life would be very dull without our Dottie.
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What a wonderful Love Actually moment and a Mother’s Day that you will always remember. Absolutely LOVE this!
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Thanks Donna, I LOVE it too!!
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I can feel the love exuding from you all and your insta reel of your reunion bought tears to my eyes. Wishing you a wonderful time at your family get together
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Thanks so much Janine, it’s wonderful to be back here.
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Well, right now, my day is being seen through tears! That video was so beautiful because I remember the days of waiting and waiting and waiting to see my gorgeous little granddaughter who thought I hung the moon!
I hope you have the absolute best time with your family! Your little Dottie is adorable!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Oh such happy tears Marsha! Dottie continues to grow up so fast and is a bundle of adorable energy.
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How wonderful!
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Really was a moment to cherish Barbara!
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You can just tell, she loves you SO much! What a beautiful reunion!
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What a reunion indeed Deb, so much love!!!
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This is why I love airport arrivals….it’s actually beautiful as is your daughter’s reel. Enjoy your trip
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I could sit at the arrivals area all day and just watch reunions like this, so I’m very happy to have had my very own moment!
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You and Dottie have such a wonderful and special bond. Have a wonderful time!
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We really do have a magical bond, I like to think she remembers me visiting when she was in NICU all those years ago!
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What a delightful Love Actually moment. Dottie is just adorable and the video brought tears to my eyes. Enjoy every minute of your stay.
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It really was an amazing Love Actually moment, glad you enjoyed it too.
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I’m so glad you get some time with her! Hard being so far away but enjoy every minute!#WWandP
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It’s so hard being so far away Lydia, it just makes the whole time very intense but I love it!
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It made my day when I got to view the video as I also follow Mel’s Dottie Wombat. So cool and so lovely to see the reunion. Thank you for sharing a post from your blog on Wednesday’s Words and Pics Link Up. I hope you continue to do so! Take care, Denyse.
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It was such a special moment Denyse!
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