The usual morning rush. Packing – unpacking – repacking – squashing – stressing.

Here we go, last plane journey to take me back to Edinburgh & the shuttle taxi is collecting me at 10:30 am.

So glad my long homeward travel is almost over. It’s been almost 5 days. Some spectacular as I came out of the reindeer camp and some just necessary.

This airport is mental this morning, I’ve never seen it so busy. I tried to upgrade to business class but unfortunately the flight is full – a bit hypocritical of me after spewing all those opinions about material wealth 😂

Waiting to board the plane and tension is high, people are arguing with the security staff – I even heard one rather posh elderly gentleman calling someone a dickhead 😂

Think I’ll go find a wee quiet corner – good luck with that then !!!

At last, all aboard and I couldn’t believe my luck, I had the whole 3 seats to myself- 8a, a window seat which I had booked 3 months before.

Just before take-off the steward approached me saying “I have a huge favour to ask” I knew what was coming and my too-good-to-be-true moment was soon to be shattered.

He asked me to allow a neurotic woman at the back of the plane to sit in my seat. He said she was hyperventilating at having to sit in a middle seat. Well, she should have been organised and prebooked like me!!!

Reluctantly I agreed and I moved into the aisle seat. Two mins later he came back quite flustered and told me just to return to my window seat as she had changed her mind – he looked so frustrated but I was relieved. Someone else jumped into the aisle seat just before take off but I didn’t mind as the middle seat was still empty.

I ate, drank, watched a few movies and had a wee nap resting my head against the window frame. Soon my 6hr + flight was touching down in Edinburgh. It was over. My incredible journey was nothing more than memories. I was back to where I started 26 days ago.

Collecting my rucksack and two backpacks from my last revolving carousel, I headed through the ‘nothing to declare’ corridor to go out in search for that smiley face waiting among the crowd on the other side of the barrier – after 22 days apart, we were reunited at last.

🥰

I thought I would be mentally and physically exhausted after eventually arriving in Edinburgh but that was so far from the truth, I was buzzing. My head was so full of mixed emotions and thoughts rattled around in my brain.

Instead of heading straight home we popped into my mum and dad’s and there I talked non stop about my adventures – I was keeping my memories alive.

Home and still reminiscing, I went to bed and now, finally alone in the darkness, my feelings were bittersweet.

I loved being reunited with those I had left behind during my travels but the realisation that my adventure was finally over made me incredible sad.

I lay still under my duvet, closed my eyes and listened to the rain outside my window.

Nite

😢