Day one - Travelling, Trafford Centre & Travelodge

The alarm went off at 5am and we were all up and ready to leave the house by 6am. A bit later than planned as flight was due to leave at 7.05am! Only takes 10 minutes to get to the airport but by the time we had got from the car park into the airport with all our luggage it was cutting it a bit fine. It didn’t help that there was quite a big queue for check in and again for security. Speaking of security – why is the Isle of Man the only airport I have come across where you have to take off your shoes?????

Our flight left the Isle of Man at 7.20am and landed in Manchester at 7.50am.

We eventually picked up our hire car (a Vauxhall Vectra) and left the airport by 8.50am having had to wait ages for our car seats which we had prebooked! Good job we were in no rush to get anywhere.

Called in at McDonalds for breakfast and then parked up at the Trafford Centre for 9.45am.

We had a look round a few shops and picked up a couple of last minute things we needed. Then we met up with Kev’s sister Jue and neice Jasmyn and they all went off to play in the Soft Play area while I did a bit more shopping.

We all had lunch at Pizza Hut before saying goodbye to Jue & Jas.

We had had enough of shopping now so decided to go to the cinema. I wanted to see High School Musical 3 but Kev didn’t so Kev & Freddie went to see Igor and me & Tommy went to see HSM3. I enjoyed it and Tommy liked the musical parts too and was well behaved but didn’t follow the story at all! This was his first ever visit to the Cinema! Kev & Freddie hated Igor and left half way through.

We met up with them in the arcade where we played on a few games and then headed to Asda to get some more essentials.

Back to Trafford Centre for some tea (Counter Service Chinese for me & Fish & Chips for the boys) and then headed to the Travelodge at the Airport to check in.

Tommy fell asleep in the car and stayed asleep while we carried him in and undressed him!

Sorted out the suitcases and then got an early night although didn’t get much sleep as we couldn’t get to sleep!