[gangzoom]

Got back to home after what I can only describe as an epic holiday…

Started by spending 5 days in the saddle, riding a fabulous Trek Road bike across Scotland with a bunch of mates and seeing some of the best bits of the Highlands, ended up in John O'Groats.



Some how just 48hrs after getting off the bike at John’O Groats I was in HongKong!!



Followed by a dash to Shanghai (thunder and lighting show included for free at the airport) to meet up with my wife and see the rest of the family. Amazed how much one city can change in less than 2 decades.



Than smashed it to Beijing at 310 km/h thanks to a rather fancy train to see some of the old stuff (and some food to scare the tourists).





Even managed to make it to Xi’an,and got a quick bike ride in on the 500 year old+ city wall to finish off the holiday!!



...now I just need another holiday to get ready for a trip to Thailand in a few weeks. Me and the wife are taking full advantage of been kids free and trying to go to as many places in 12 months as possible ..before we have to start looking at prams and talking about how to change nappies all day

[dobbo99]

great photos, makes me want a holiday!
we are changing nappies and pushing prams at present, not that its a bad thing of course, its fantastic.

[mowflow]

Fantastic! enjoy it while you can. I took my freedom for granted before kids.

I get more joy from then than anything else on this earth though. Never thought i'd be like that.

[zltm089]

Very nice pics!

[rich1068]

Great pics gagzoom!

Originally Posted by mowflow

Never thought i'd be like that.

Snap. Your entire world view changes in the blink of an eye doesn't it?

[SF123D]

Stunning pics, thanks for sharing !!!

[dxb335d]

Great pics mate, looks like you had a really good time.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by dobbo99

great photos, makes me want a holiday!
we are changing nappies and pushing prams at present, not that its a bad thing of course, its fantastic.

I know its worth it but just been selfish at the moment and wanting to enjoy life for my self

Most of our friends are parents already, went to a birthday party last night and the evenings conversation revolved around how to keep a baby asleep with white noise...These days I have total respect for any parents, I struggle if I don't get more than 6hrs of solid sleep at the moment, how people manage to turn up to work after been woken up by 4/5 times every night by a newborn is amazing

[dobbo99]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

I know its worth it but just been selfish at the moment and wanting to enjoy life for my self

Most of our friends are parents already, went to a birthday party last night and the evenings conversation revolved around how to keep a baby asleep with white noise...These days I have total respect for any parents, I struggle if I don't get more than 6hrs of solid sleep at the moment, how people manage to turn up to work after been woken up by 4/5 times every night by a newborn is amazing

this was me a year ago.
you think "how on earth will I function on 4 hours sleep?" but you do, and its not for long, and you forget all about it when he/she smiles at you anyway.
after a while, getting up 3 or 4 times a night is the norm.

but, if you have the opportunity to see the world beforehand, then do it, as life will never be the same again.

[mowflow]

New born... I wish. My daughter is 1 next month and she still won't sleep through every night. She was awake 3 times last night. In the end I turned the monitor off and shut all the doors to drown out the noise as I'd tried everything else.

Our eldest isn't much better. He likes to get up and run about in the middle of the night. I've not had a decent nights sleep in 3 years now. It gets to you sometimes but in general you just learn to cope.

PS. don't fall into the white noise trap. It back fires when the kids are a bit older and you don't want them sleeping so they will sleep at night. You can't do any car journeys or they will go into a deep sleep and keeping them awake is impossible.

[Dannyrado]

Ahhh. Super jel.

I love HK. Good plan with the getting it all in before bambino's though, they do throw a spanner in the works. It's much easier without them.

I'm a flyertalker through and through though. My 20 month old daughter has done Benidorm, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Singapore (GP), Stockholm, and Dubai. It's far from impossible.

Stunning pics. I never share any of mine, I always think that people will slam me for 'showing off'

[rich1068]

Originally Posted by mowflow

New born... I wish. My daughter is 1 next month and she still won't sleep through every night. She was awake 3 times last night. In the end I turned the monitor off and shut all the doors to drown out the noise as I'd tried everything else.

Our eldest isn't much better. He likes to get up and run about in the middle of the night. I've not had a decent nights sleep in 3 years now. It gets to you sometimes but in general you just learn to cope.

PS. don't fall into the white noise trap. It back fires when the kids are a bit older and you don't want them sleeping so they will sleep at night. You can't do any car journeys or they will go into a deep sleep and keeping them awake is impossible.

This is turning into a parenting thread but jeez, that's no fun. I feel your pain. We've got a 5yo, 2yo and 6 week old and it's not as bad as that! And you did the right thing turning off the monitor. You know as well as I do that even at that age they're just trying to get a response and before you know it you've started a bad routine.

[gangzoom]

Originally Posted by rich1068

This is turning into a parenting thread but jeez, that's no fun.

Last night I ended up talking about nursery costs etc....than I remembered I don't have any kid yet

Originally Posted by Dannyrado

I'm a flyertalker through and through though. My 20 month old daughter has done Benidorm, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Singapore (GP), Stockholm, and Dubai. It's far from impossible.

Stunning pics. I never share any of mine, I always think that people will slam me for 'showing off'

Glad to near you can travel to so many places with a kid even when they are small

Have to say its only in the last year or so we've really been building up the air miles, but really loving it. I'm under no illusion that I'm very very lucky regarding my health/job/family to be able to travel so much and see many amazing sights around the world. The only problem for me is the more of the world I see the more I want to travel, which means less funds for others luxuries like cars.

[mowflow]

Originally Posted by Dannyrado

Ahhh. Super jel.

I love HK. Good plan with the getting it all in before bambino's though, they do throw a spanner in the works. It's much easier without them.

I'm a flyertalker through and through though. My 20 month old daughter has done Benidorm, Istanbul, Hong Kong, Singapore (GP), Stockholm, and Dubai. It's far from impossible.

Stunning pics. I never share any of mine, I always think that people will slam me for 'showing off'

BLOODY SHOW OFF!!!!!

[Dannyrado]

Originally Posted by gangzoom

Have to say its only in the last year or so we've really been building up the air miles, but really loving it.

Oh don't start me. I'm obsessed. I don't think there is a trick I don't know, or a scheme I haven't got some 'miles' in. People just glaze over when I start. I'd have you in First in no time.

Originally Posted by mowflow

BLOODY SHOW OFF!!!!!

Haha.