Hi All,

We've been in Australia since Oct 2006 and managed a 3 week trip back in July 2007 but haven't been back since, Darwin, Broome, Cairns, Falls Creek have all been far more appealing. Plus we're lucky that both sets of parents visit every year.

It's MIL's 70th birthday though and as part of her surprise party we thought we'd make the effort and be there for her, plus manage to see some elderly relatives before it's too late.

We'll only be away from Australia for 12 days so it's going to be manic.

Eldest son was concerned about riots and plane crashes, couldn't name much that he wanted to do or see. 5 when we left, 10 now. I think he would've been happier if we'd said we were going bush camping in the Flinders!

Youngest son was excited about the inflight entertainment and constant food supply and named two lots of close friends as his pick of who to see. 3 when we left, 8, nearly 9 now. He always gets more grumpy when we refer to UK things as he was so young when we left.

We've booked ourselves a day and night at Alton Towers to give the boys something other than endless visits and driving to look forward to but I'm now past the mad excitement of being able to see my best mate and I'm into the panic, oh my, what if it's all too unsettling stage? My OH doesn't have any pull or interest in going back at all, even though it's his mums birthday He says he's got me and the boys here and that's all he needs

How has anyone else coped? What's the best way to prepare yourselves?

(We're certain that we made the right choice by the way so it's not unsettling from that perspective at all).

We have just had our third trip back in 5 years.When we said goodbye after the first visit myself and my daughter found it very hard to say goodbye.The last trip was great even though my father is very sick.I was dreading the goodbyes and had some tablets ready but in fact I didnt need them.I just remained calm and tried to be brave. I did cry buckets on one of the flights. It has taken me about three weeks to feel a bit normal.
Your 12 days will fly.Make a list of all the things that you want to do and achieve while you are there so that you have no regrets.Above all,have fun.

It's the saying goodbye which is the killer. That gets worse as they get older and you have the lingering "this may be the last time" niggling away at the back of your mind. How you cope with that? Stoic stiff upper lip until you are out of sight and talk about your next planned trip (wedding, anniversary, special birthday etc) then bawl your eyes out when you cant hold it in any longer and nobody can see you doing it!

As for things to do - my almost 4 year old granddaughter is already making a list of things she wants to see (another ride on a seaside pony, Kate's wedding dress, The Tower of London, the nasty Vikings in York, Hadrian's wall - she likes the Romans, my friend's new puppy - Polly, the changing of the guard - Christopher Robin fan, rolling around on real grass, eating granddad's apples - and seeing her uncle get married. Not to mention a quick trip to Switzerland to see where Heidi lived and her Swiss rellies - just as well we have a couple of months!. I guess kids reflect pretty much what their parents (and grandparents) think are going to happen and if you show them what they can have while they are away then they will look forward to it. The DGD already has her blog name picked out and doesnt yet know that she is getting a nice little (pink) camera so she can take pics for the family left behind here.

Have a good trip

That's a great list Quoll! Wow - wish we had longer, 99% of those things I haven't seen either!

I've got a camera put by for the boys to use - I realised (too late) that when we originally left, I've got no pictures of my mum and dads house and no up to date ones of my nan etc! Rubbish preparation for leaving last time! It would be nice to have these when their memories are fading!

We're making sure we have some time just the three of us - we're having a long weekend in York (although admittedly we'll be visiting friends while we're there - but no rellies), a couple of days in the Lake District and a day trip to Thorpe Park before we fly home.

I think it'll be our one and only trip back to the UK (except for DreadedPhoneCallFlights) - so I imagine teary farewells will feature heavily. As well as possible bloody noses if my ****** ****** *** ******* sister in law tries to upset Youngest again .. 'when are you coming home, oh that'll never be your home, don't you miss your gran, blah blah I'm too stupid blah blah and I'm too insecure to have moved more than 2 miles from my parents blah blah'

We had a day in Paris and 5 in Kl on the way home.We really needed that time for us and Im glad we did it.Also make a list of things that you want to buy.Go as empty handed as possible if you intend to buy loads.

Last year we visited the UK for the first time in 12 years. I made a list of "must see" and "would be nice to see" places and people - helped us to focus on essentials when you're visiting a land full of amazing things. Then I put together a spreadsheet with everyone's phone numbers, addresses, times they were around or away from home. Another spreadsheet with the places to visit, with opening hours, fees, websites, even a list of rooms at the National Gallery in London to see my favourite paintings on a whistlestop visit (males trailing behind me), etc. Another spreadsheet with all the details of accommodation arrangements. We were travelling without a laptop and I wasn't sure when I'd get internet access - I quickly realised that travelling without a laptop/netbook is a major mistake.

I would also recommend doing any shopping as soon into the trip as you can, just in case things don't work out shopping-wise on your last day or so.

That is serious organization.I thought I did well by making sure I had space on my camera to take lots of pics.

We had 12 years to catch up on and I was determined to squeeze in as much as possible. I was thwarted on the shopping front, though.

I am really excited to be going home this year too - last time was December 2006 with my second child. i love going to Britain - its so different from here and there is so much to see.

I am going alone with 3 kids - 6,5 and 3 and going for 8 weeks in Britain and then Asia for a month.

When I visit now - I dont bother going to see all my close friends. The first couple of times I went home, I was exhausted running around all of these people with 2 young children and then when I would leave they would say "come back tuesday" or "make sure you pop in before you leave". Now I have a base and, in turn of the century style, I hold "open days" where I get lots of snacks and things and just stay at home all day and people pop in and out to see me. That way I dont have to stress - we have such a lot of close friends, its just all too hard.

I am telling my MIL that I arrive a day later than I do. Well I am not but I am just not really saying when exactly I arrive. Awful I know and I love her to bits but I want to get off the plane, just go to my mothers and not have to get up early and rush somewhere else.

I have bought clothes in the uk and had them sent to my mothers so I am not carrying any luggage at all. Just hand luggage.

I plan to go to London for a week, disney paris, hay on wye and apart from that am going to just eat in lots of british pubs and cafes! and spend a lot of time walking around Tescos like it is some sort of museum.

I wish I had limitless funds - there are so many places I would love to go to

Viv

That sounds lovely and lots of fun.How exciting for you.The clothes idea is great.Just wondering what you have to bribe the kids so they dont say that the saw Granny the day before.Good for you doing this trip on your own.Just a tip.On the off chance one of them goes wondering might be a good idea to have your mobile number on a hand wrist ,just in case.

I think that's a great idea. If you are the one who has flown back from Australia than the least your friends can do is make the effort to travel to you once you're in the UK

I can recommend a trip to Caerleon for anyone who's interested in Romans.

I'm expecting a nice, juicy 'mother in law' update from everyone that heads anywhere ...in the finest tradition of the forum ...

Good luck. Best of British with it all..

Yes, it's on my list - I have a nice pic of my own boys being gladiators in the amphitheatre there when they were small. I am planning on taking them to the West Country where my d-i-l's family built a stately home in Dinton and also down in Somerset (her family tree is amazing but at the moment she has no interest in it so I am going to encourage that!). And I cant miss Bath and we may do the Wookie Hole Caves as well.

So much to do, so little time!