Well, we finally made it to Redding. I think I'm going to have to make installments for this part of the Wilson adventure because there is much to say about the happenings of the last couple of weeks.
Its times like these I think back to my Yr12 English journal. We hadthe majority of the year to choose 4 books, read them and journal our way through each one. It counted for a large percentage of the final mark for the subject. True to form, I left it to the last minute and as I sat scribbling (yes, with a real pen and everything!) largely made up responses to books I’d skim read, I dearly wished that I’d had the work ethic and the foresight to do a bit each week and keep on top of it.
That being said, I havn’t had a lot of time, energy or brain space to be blogging about the events of the last weeks as they came to pass. Its only now, having been here in Redding for just over 2 weeks that I can take the time to sit quietly and begin to recount the whirlwind process we’ve been through, which started long before we even left Australia.
The last week in our place at Milang was spent packing, sorting, dumping and burning our possessions. It was strangely fun to be getting rid of lots of stuff we never used or didn’t want or even just plain never liked (think wedding gifts). We took a load to the dump, multiple loads to the op shop, had a bonfire and passed on some of our baby gear to friends with a newborn. There is nothing like the feeling of downsizing.
In the midst of all that, we had to take Lachie back to WCH for a check up X-ray at the fracture clinic. They split his cast so he could fly without any risk of his arm swelling and creating problems. We’ve since cut the cast off ourselves as per instructions from the doctors. I love home surgery!
Sam finished up at Murraylands Christian College in Strathalbyn and was given a lovely send off by his class and special gifts by his teacher, Mrs Short. He was pretty stoked with the presents and quietly chuffed at being made to feel so special.
Ben played his last game of footy and went to his last training session with the Strathalbyn Roosters. Although he was sad to have to leave the club, he felt he needed the headspace in preparation for the big move ahead so some of the sting was taken out of retirement from the game he loves so much.
The day before we left was spent cleaning the house from top to bottom. We really wanted to leave the place neat and tidy, to finish well and leave with integrity. Ben mowed and whipper snipped everywhere, disassembled the trampoline and generally got the place looking smart from the outside while I got the inside clean with A LOT of help from my wonderful sisters-in-law. When we were finished the place had never looked so good, it was a shame to have to leave!
The final preparations went on into the night as Ben and I tied up as many loose ends as we could think of and finished the packing. We got to bed later than we’d hoped but I guess thinking back, it was inevitable.
After a very average sleep, the big day finally rolled around. My alarm went off at 5:30am and we were out of the house at 7:30am. We made it 500m down the road before I realised I’d forgotten something. Haha! After leaving for the second time (with rather confused children), we made it to the airport. We piled out of our car with all of our luggage, the pram and Hannah’s car seat. We were met there by the Harbottles, who helpe
d us get organised and through Check In, which with five people to get through, took forever. Special thanks also to my Dad for helping us out with that long process, being a seasoned flyer himself!
Eventually we made it through security, then waited for a while and began to say our goodbyes to the family and friends that had kindly gathered to see us off. It was less emotional for me than I thought, probably because I was so focussed on the task ahead but it was still sad and weird to be saying farewell to the people we love so much.
After going through the doors to the international terminal we waited to board our flight to NZ. It was all new and exciting and the kids handled it well. On the plane, we all had individual tv screens which the boys thought was heaven and we were willing to let them go crazy with it which made them even happier! The flight got into Aukland in time for us to rush through the terminal to our connecting flight to LA. We were running short of time and a little stressed. Hannah was randomly chosen by United Airlines to be drug tested so she was taken by Ben into a little room and searched. I sort of wish she’d had a big poo in her nappy, that would have been a treat.
Finally we boarded the plane, gazed wistfully into first class as we were escorted to our seats in economy. The flight started off pretty well with more movies for the kids, food and getting the kids
changed into their pjs. Things started to go pear shaped when Hannah woke up very hot and unsettled. She continued this way for the rest of the flight. Not really sleeping and very unhappy. We spent most of the night walking up and down with her just in a nappy. It was a very long night. The boys slept ok, but not great. Ben and I had minimal sleep. I’d foolishly thought I’d be able to sit back and watch a movie or two after the kids fell asleep. Haha, what an idiot. I got about ½ way through ‘The Kings Speech’. That’s it. No books read either. It really was a tough night. We landed at LAX and had to wait until everyone else had left before we could get all our stuff together and get off the plane. We managed to do that only to be shepherded into a very very long queue at Immigration. It was very hot and muggy in there and Hannah continued to scream and wanted to be held constantly, which made moving along the line rather difficult. An older couple from NZ befriended us and kindly helped us with our many bags, pram, carseat etc. They were a Christian couple and really looked after us, even letting us cut in line after a new lane opened up for visa processing.
We finally made it through Immigration and Customs, collected our luggage and headed for our connecting flight to San Francisco. Hannah screamed on and periodically fell asleep while being held only to wake with a start and begin a whole new episode of misery. Anyway, after making our way through the maze that is LAX, we got to a security point, at which they wanted Lachie to go elsewhere for
an X-ray of his cast. Just to check he wasn’t hiding anything illegal. At this stage, had he been carrying drugs of any kind, I probably would have given them to Hannah. In the end, they told Ben that Lachie wasn’t old enough for the X-ray and sent them on their way.
We waited for our flight to San Fran, not really knowing what to do, which line to be in, when to board etc. We were all totally frazzled and had it by that point. Hannah was completely off her face and in fact screamed hysterically for the majority of the 1 hour flight between LAX and SFO. It was a cruel and unusual form of punishment for all aboard.
At last we landed, disembarked the aircraft and made our way through yet another airport in which we had little to no clue what we were doing. We collected our bags (again) and began our wait for our hotel shuttle. Which didn’t come for 2 hours. Yeah, that’s right, we waited on the curb for
2 hours. After a few firm phone calls to the hotel, they finally sent a taxi van around to collect us. We arrived in our room in San Fran around 7pm. The kids had bananas and muesli bars for tea, had a bath and crashed. Ben and I enjoyed a meal of BBQ shapes and water, showered and also fell into bed, only to be woken by a screaming Hannah shortly after.
The night continued along this line. Hannah periodically waking up and crying, the boys waking up and being extremely alert around 1am, Lachie being moved into our bed (the boys were sharing a double bed), Lachie wriggling and kicking and touching Ben and me, Sam needing a drink. It seriously felt like it went forever.
That being said, everyone eventually settled and I was woken by Sam wondering if it was morning. I looked at the clock which showed 9:25am. WHAT????? Ben was meant to be picking up the rental car at 9:30am and the hotel breakfast ended in 5mins. Amazingly, we got everything done and we were out of there and on the road by 11am.
Driving on the right hand side was weird and navigating our way out of San Francisco was a baptism of fire for Ben. It was rather tense there for a while! Soon enough we made it onto the highway and the driving got easier. The kids slept on and off and Hannah seemed marginally improved.
We lunched at Mc Donalds, where the woman behind the counter couldn’t understand what I was asking for. It was a new experience, being the one with the accent, the foreigner. I can’t say I enjoyed it either. I felt out of my depth, silly and inept. Not a feeling I’m used to really.
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