And we’re off!

After several months of mandarin language preparation, a hectic few days of packing and a rushed drive to HeathRow, the Gardner team begins their adventure. However, we’ve had a less than auspicious start - for a start, we were greeted with the revelation that our plane had been downsized due to a lack of passengers, and our dream of a spacious and luxurious trip has faded into an aggressive white-knuckle fight for space. The airport security then cheerfully announced, to a sweaty and tired crowd, that the flight was delayed!

I must truthfully announce that it has not been all bad - delicious sushi was demolished with a view of the air field, a pretty picture. Sweets have been purchased and we are now already in the back of plane (next to the toilets!) And now the flight begins, with ten crisp hours of movies ahead, as our list of things we’ve realised we’ve forgotten grows ever longer.