Category Archives for Mishaps
“The black run is short,” Li explains. “After, blue.” “What about that one?” I say. “Dangerous! Lots of rocks!” Well, I think stoically, that’s one way to sort my turns out. On the equipment side, it’s been an exciting morning. There’s something about the Chinese language that makes having a pop at carving skis seem [...]
Our China Odyssey – Part 1: Shenzhen
Despite the pleasures of Hong Kong, I am beginning to panic absolutely bloody terrified about the impending arrival of Chinese New Year. Folk in Beijing have been struggling to find a hotel in Harbin for Chinese New Year; the beginnings of festive transport chaos are evident; and we’ve got over 3000k to travel and a [...]
After a week spent sorting out Chinese visas in Kathmandu, plus getting stuck in Lukla on the back of Everest Base Camp, my projects for Beijing are, pretty much: * see friends and do kiddie stuff with them * sort out Chinese visas * do some work * eat my bodyweight in Beijing duck * [...]
Boxing Day at Nepali Immigration
“Do I HAVE to come, Mum?” says Zac, as I drag him out of bed and bodily towards a taxi, en route to Nepali Immigration, Kathmandu. “YES,” I snarl. “They may need to see the person the passport belongs to and if you’re not there we may not get it done today and then you [...]
In Pokhara – with the Plague
Had things gone according to plan, Zac and I should have been heading up a glacier today, en route to Everest Base Camp. But… this is us. So instead I’m whining about my cold. For currently we are hacking up our lungs in Pokhara, looking up at the Annapurna range towering over Lake Fewa, already [...]
Bali — A GREAT Place to Lose a Child
When it comes to places to lose a child, I can confirm that Bali beats the hell out of Bulgaria and the UK. It’s not that I make a habit of losing children. Admittedly, I did once misplace someone else’s in the course of a sleepover. And I once inadvertently left my own child on [...]
The Art of Flying Solo
Zac is rising 12. That’s the magic age at which many airlines let children fly not as an unaccompanied minor, with a bevy of hosties pandering to their every whim, but actually solo. It’s also the age at which a London child would be taking public transport unaccompanied. Because we’re nomadic, Zac has on many [...]
And This Is No Way To Recuperate…
It’s a cliché to say “My heart bleeds…” but there’s a sharp heart pain as we wheel Zac up to the ward, still teary eyed. The porter physically lifts him from his gurney and deposits him into his bed. I’ve never had surgery, let alone had surgery while travelling, so I have no idea what [...]
Another Day, Another Hospital
Zac wakes without a fuss at 4.45am for our next attempt at surgery, in a week that is rapidly falling apart. This is the last time he’s going to have with his grandparents for a while, and we had thought today would be a day of quiet recuperation after an easy 15-minute op. Instead, he [...]
We awake predawn on the day of Zac’s surgery, for the trip to the regional hospital. By 8am Zac has a new piece of paper, a new yellow slip and we are on the Embarrassing Medical Ward awaiting a bed. And waiting. And waiting. I grab the Embarrassing Medical Specialist to confirm something about the [...]
