Wow, going away on my own with Imogen was far more taxing than going with Leigh! I was very organised though and used the baby carrier to enable me to appear to go through the airport procedures seamlessly. I had many people commenting on how well I seemed to be coping whilst at the airport but I was like a swan - OK looking on the outside but working hard behind the scenes and exhausted for it!

On the flight over there were a few women around me who were chatty and helpful. It was very noticeable though on the way back that it was mostly businessmen and they were much ruder! Imogen was a star and slept most of the flight, but there was a small moment of a few tears, not surprising as she’d been hanging about loads. I got a few filthy looks but I bet they have their own children - I also bet they’ve never tried to take their children anywhere on their own!

I had a great time and it was lovely to see my friend who had 18 month old twins, so can appreciate that however hard it gets; a single baby is easier than two! At least I can tackle challenges like flying on my own, not much chance of that with twins!

Well, we’re back, survived the holiday and thoroughly enjoyed it! I would recommend to anyone that if you can get away whilst they’re little you should, even if it’s to somewhere in the UK for one or two nights.

The thing that made it really special was the quality time we got to spend as a new family. Leigh commented that he felt he got to know imogen and her way better and I admitted I did too! Although I’m at home with her, in a normal day we are so busy either seeing people, going to parent and baby groups, shopping (food as well as clothes!) and even just keeping the house together. This was the first time there were no distractions and it was great. Plus having two of us meant a shared workload and I even managed to read four books sat by the pool!

The flights were fine, despite delays both ways. The stress was all up front really, worrying what to pack. The annoying thing was that even though you have to pay a small fee for an infant, who sits on your lap through the flight, there is no additional hand or hold luggage allowance. Which means you have a miniscule amount of luggage for the parents to enable you to fit all the baby paraphernalia in!

Next time I would take our own car seat - although dubious about the care the baggage handlers would give it. We hired a car seat and used a well known, car hire brand, even though they charged more. However, they hadn’t reserved us a seat and so gave us the only one they had left which was hard plastic with no cushioning and a completely upright back. We had to cushion Imogen with clothes to help support her head when she slept and basically gave up using the car unless absolutely necessary.

We did have a couple of nights out after a few in, once I was brave enough to chance upsetting our routine. It was fine - we did her bath and sleep routine as normal and then took her out and she fell straight to sleep and not wake either time, even when we brought her home and put her in the cot!

All in all, a great holiday. However, I was very reckless the day before we went and ended up booking a flight to Switzerland to visit my friend, just Imogen and I mid week! Was feeling brave at the time but now I’ve done one flight I am panicking about how to do it all on my own! Just as I get used to one thing, another comes along - or I create another anyway! When will I learn?! I will update on how that goes in my next blog.

Well, we go on holiday in a couple of days. It seemes like a fantastic idea at the time- a week away in the sun, whilst Imogen is still relatively portable. It still does in principle, but I cant believe how much preparation it is taking, both in terms of stuff to buy and pack but also the thought process.

How many nappies? How much formula? How many changes of clothes? The amount od accessories and clothes (less of!) on the spare bed has to be seen to be believed and I have no idea how we are going to fit this into our budget airline luggage allowance!

You’d think we were going on a camping holiday in outer Mongolia, not a week in a villa in Lanzarote! I am hoping that we are over preparing and when we get there we’ll learn and realise how little we really need to take! Optimistic maybe?!

Still it’s a week away in the sun - although I think my dreams of a quiet week by the pool reading endless novels may be shattered when faced with the reality of a holiday with a baby! More updates when we get back!