We have been planning our Christmas vacation in the Philippines for months (not to the detail, though). Two months ago, I planned that I would fly to Manila on the 10th of December with the kids. My husband, John, would follow on the 17th. I am still in Norway together with Tatyana and John stuck with these 1.5cm thick tickets and passports that has been lying on the table since the 15th.

Angel Jane left for Manila yesterday. We sent our 13 year old alone because it is unfair that she stays here and see us stress and miss the vacation she was looking forward to for months. I was worried until she told me that she got a boarding pass for Frankfurt-Manila on Lufthansa. It is her first flight without us and she is travelling as a PAD (Passenger Available for Disembarkation). We are using Airline ID tickets, in other words, we travel on stand by. The biggest worry I had was if she didn’t get into the Frankfurt-Manila flight. She has to come home to Norway or Denmark (we have family there) or stay with friends or family in Germany or maybe one of us would fetch her.

I am still here in the North waiting for my last shipment to come to Norway. I do not like long flights but this time, I am looking forward to a 14 hour flight. No phones ringing. No e-mails to open and to be replied. No deadlines. No decision making. Just movies, music, food, drinks and a seat.