Jetlag: A Cheeky Tale of Sleepless Nights and Wobbly Days
Landing Back Home
Ah, the joys of air travel. We landed back in the good old UK after a grueling 9-hour flight from the sun-drenched shores of Jamaica. Despite being in premium seats and indulging in enough booze to send a wino into a stupor, sleep eluded me completely. So, there I was, bleary-eyed and cranky, disembarking into the familiar grey drizzle of Manchester.
Baggage Blues
Our first hurdle? The carousel. Waiting for our bags felt like an eternity. I half-expected our luggage to pop out in Timbuktu instead of Manchester. Eventually, after what seemed like a lifetime, our bags appeared. Customs and passport control were a breeze, and we were soon greeted by Michele’s parents, looking fresh as daisies. We bid our special friends, David and Beverley, a fond farewell and stepped into the soggy Manchester rain.
Home Sweet Home
Upon arriving home, we were welcomed by the comforting sight of a freshly brewed cuppa. My parents, who had been holding the fort and looking after our two youngest boys, knew just what we needed. Ah, what a difference a good cup of tea makes!
The rest of the day was spent tethered to my home office, wrestling with a mountain of emails and the usual CAD Management queries. All this while valiantly battling the dreaded jetlag.
The Jetlag Battle
Michele, ever the wise one, insisted that I stay awake until at least 10 PM to ward off the jetlag demons. Easier said than done! I resorted to watching United in the evening, but their dismal performance did nothing to help my case. In fact, it was enough to make anyone feel worse.
The next three days at the office were a drag. Each day seemed to stretch on forever with jetlag wrapping itself around me like a stubborn blanket. Not even early nights could shake it off.
Birthday Treats
Amidst the jetlag fog, my colleagues at work brightened my days with a lovely birthday collection. They gifted me a fine bottle of malt whiskey, some wine, and four cans of Red Stripe – a delightful nod to our Jamaican holiday. These treats sat on my desk, teasing me with their presence all day long.
The Rioja Mishap
By Thursday, I decided to tidy up some of the birthday goodies. In my jetlagged stupor, I managed to knock over a full bottle of Rioja, which promptly drenched me. I could only blame the jetlag for this clumsy debacle.
Weekend Respite
Finally, the weekend arrived, bringing with it a much-needed lie-in. Sleeping until 10:45 on Saturday felt like a gift from the gods and seemed to finally put an end to the jetlag. That evening, I indulged in a bit of nostalgia by watching Dr No. Spotting familiar sights from Jamaica like Crab Quay and Dunn’s River Falls brought a wistful smile to my face.
Sunday Funday
Sunday was a day of family and friends. We visited Harry, Sam, Matt, and Drew, and caught up with my brother and his clan. It was a lovely day filled with laughter and catching up.
Later that evening, it was time for the Boys Brigade enrolment night for our two youngest. Seeing them don their uniforms and take part in the enrolment ceremony was a proud moment.
Back to Normal
So, there you have it – a week of battling jetlag, cherished reunions, and a few clumsy mishaps. But as they say, all’s well that ends well. By the end of the week, the jetlag had loosened its grip, and life was back to its usual rhythm.
