We travel to Iceland today. When is the right time to go short haul? We used to think that it’s good to fly at night because then the kids could sleep. That’s for long haul, but what about short haul? If you fly at night, you get there then go to sleep. But then you’ve spent the whole day waiting to travel. Or do you go early in the daytime without eating up your day?

This particular flight leaves Luton at 2pm and arrives in Iceland arrives in Iceland at 5:30pm. The journey has been a little bit complicated because we don’t have a car seat in the hire car. So it means Ramani has gone in the car with four people, while I take two children on the train. We didn’t really want to split up, but it seemed the most logical choice in the end.

I didn’t get much sleep last night, and I’ve been pacing around since six in the morning doing some work and other bits and pieces. But really we are waiting for this journey, which has been somewhat tiresome. We have shallow expectations of Luton airport. My brother told me that there is nothing to do there and it’s really just a transit point, not much of an international airport. But we’ll find out soon enough.

So as it happens, we will probably get their way too early and discover whatever little there is to entertain in the airport building. It’s been a curious morning. I’ve managed to record a podcast and type up some more blog entries, do a lot of work, pack and keep the kids amused. I recommend this idea of taking them on the train. They’ve engaged with it really well. They’re looking at their world and asking questions and not even asking about technology. I hope the flight is half decent as well.

We’ll do our best to work with a budget airline and to get food before we leave and things to eat on the plane as well. The iPads are charged, and everything should be ready to go. It’s certainly proving a challenge to carry a business and being a completely different time zone as well. Most of the difficulties are dealing with un-eventuated situations that cannot be predicted. We have a lot riding on this trip and when we get there hopefully the hire car is ready, and everyone will be prepared to go. There’s hope for clear skies so that we can see the Northern lights, but even if none of that come to pass hopefully, we’ll just have fun and enjoy our time the first part of this holiday that truly will feel like a holiday.