Hey OP, lovely thread, trust you must be good and okay.

Just got to this page, very worthy trend, I really hope the OP is doing well and okay

DisGuy:
Hope you're keeping well and safe

Still in the UK?

Seasons Greetings Everyone...

it’s been a longgg time.. Where do I start from?
First of all, let me begin by apologizing for my long hiatus, it was due to circumstances beyond my control. Life truly happened. There’s so much I can say here. Thanks for your understanding.
I truly appreciate nairalanders who checked on me via the thread and Dm.. God bless you..

I remember at the beginning of the thread I’d mention that I’ll be in the UK for 7mths or so, so yeah, I went back home just before the pandemic.

In the intervening months, hubby was blessed with a scholarship for his PhD. Blessed, because it was a big challenge but God showed up and raised strangers who helped him at every crucial point till approval was given. See eh, village people tried but God pass them!

Truthfully, this is not the best of times to travel but this is an opportunity we couldn’t afford to miss. I had reservations about continuing the thread but a good brother from nairaland made me think otherwise. We’ll be back to the UK and hopefully the thread continues amidst Covid restrictions and safety regulations.

On that note my dear nairalanders, welcome back!

DisGuy:


Still in the UK?

Thank you for checking on me. Means a lot

Boyhood:

Hope you are fine amid this pandemic?

Yes dear.. Thanks for checking in

DisGuy:
Hope you're keeping well and safe

budaatum:

Abini2012, answer the question!

We know you are on the frontline and we worry!

I am so sorry, wasn’t intentional to make you guys worry. Something came up at work back home, had to leave and then life happened. Thanks for the mails. I appreciate you. God bless

Albini, now you are home, can you do Naija please. It will be wonderful to look through your eyes that I think I must pay for the data up front.

What State are you in?

Some pictures of my journey home. When the world was normal...

Heathrow at about 2am

Scenes

Waiting...

I packed, unpacked, repacked and then started all over again
Bought stuff for colleagues at work, neighbours, friends, family etc, seemingly cheap things added up to expensive extra luggages. Next time, will just give money to buy whatever they want.. lesson learnt

Buh sha, people still prefer the abroad gift, I dunno why .. let it not be heard that you travelled to obodo oyibo and u no bring something come back o!

Sights...

Scenes...

Onboard and watching Lufthansa get de-iced

London at dawn

On the way to... ISTANBUL! yeah, used Turkish airline home

So... We landed and taxiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii so tayyyyy I tired sef.. Airport grounds is massive.. Newly opened in 2019. Counted like 3 mining coys blasting onsite, could be more..
This terminal serves only Turkish Airlines and its enormous, no wonder their slogan is ‘we fly to more countries than any other Airline’.

Abini2012:
I packed, unpacked, repacked and then start all over all
Bought stuff for colleagues at work, neighbours, friends, family etc, seemingly cheap things added up to expensive extra luggages. Next time, will just give money to buy whatever they want.. lesson learnt

Buh sha, people still prefer the abroad gift, I dunno why .. let it not be heard that you travelled to obodo oyibo and u no bring something come back o!

Even if it's groundnut from obodo oyinbo bring it....

Glad you're doing well..

Welcome back ma’am. I can’t help but say I miss you and the thread.
Pls forward my share of the gifts oo before I come and loot you.

DisGuy:


Even if it's groundnut from obodo oyinbo bring it....

Glad you're doing well..

DisGuy my guy! Thanks so much..

muzzling17:
Welcome back ma’am. I can’t help but say I miss you and the thread.
Pls forward my share of the gifts oo before I come and loot you.

Thanks Sis!
That one don turn palliative o

Abini2012:
I packed, unpacked, repacked and then start all over all
Bought stuff for colleagues at work, neighbours, friends, family etc, seemingly cheap things added up to expensive extra luggages. Next time, will just give money to buy whatever they want.. lesson learnt

Buh sha, people still prefer the abroad gift, I dunno why .. let it not be heard that you travelled to obodo oyibo and u no bring something come back o!

But excess luggage charges now, and all that packing and repacking!

I tell people they should be delighted to see the me that I brought back for them to see. It helps shift the wheat people from the shaft people and reduces my luggage to two manageable suitcases.

Inside the terminal..
Some resting sofas for weary passengers..

So my gate was D16 if I remember correctly, but I will never forget the waka I waka that day to locate it.. chai, I hear am that day.

2nd, 3rd pix, tired of walking? just step into one along the way and it glides you along.. dunno what's it called jare

Mobility carts to aid old people, the sick, pregnant women to get to their gates..

Shebi I said I waka?..

...and waka some more

All in the search for D16

Without being told, I realised I was at D16 when I saw large number of blacks gathered..
See eh whether you live in America, Canada, Asia or Europe, Nigerians are unique. We always stand out no matter where we are. The noise, the chatter, the anyhowness, the plenti small small bags

Finally, home bound..

I dodged a bullet with Turkish o.. A friend of mine gave me brand new Samsung S10 and some expensive perfumes to give one lady when I get home, I put all in my carry on backpack. At the airport, the check-in lady asked me to add more stuff in my carry on and offered to check it in for me for free. I gladly accepted and in my excitement forgot to lock the bag.

Fast forward to collection point at Eko, I was biting my nails when the carry on bag did not come out with the rest of the luggage. I was a nervous wreck, but eventually it came after a loooong time. See me rushing to open the bag to check that the contents were all intact because this is Nigeria where ship lost till now we never find am.
Meanwhile, that's not even the bullet I dodged o..

Some days later, I think 2-3 days later, I read on Twitter how Turkish Airline did not come with some passengers’ luggage! Haaaa! mogbe!! Where I for run to? The lady did not even allow me shower before coming to my house to pick her parcel, wetin I for tell her?

Thank God for everything o