“I was born for this
From day one I wanted it
We come to far to quit
Ain’t no stoppin’ it” – 7Kingz – Born For This

We boarded the late morning 6 seater car for 4, saddled with 3 bags totalling 23kg, and 3 day sacks teetering over the required 5kg limits. Each with measured dimensions sitting inside the upper side of 158cm or 115cm hopefully providing enough volume and content. We shall see.

Juneyao Airlines would whisk us away. Up, up, and away to Shanghai and finally Manchester. Not before I remembered to add names and addresses within the luggage bags. Something I intended to do but overlooked in yesterday’s lengthy packing and repacking. Packed once. Packed twice. Packed three times a lady.

Nerves about boarding, the eVisa, the exit permit, etc prevented any breakfast for me. I wouldn’t feel right until check in was completed. Throughout the car journey, all I could think was that it’s in their hands. I’d done everything clear and obvious to get us to this point. Yet my overactive imagination threatened calmness.

From Guangzhou to Shanghai, opposition and resistance was lacking. At Shanghai, my wife, in Chinese, was asked repeatedly, “How did he get here?” Despite a passport containing my son’s place of birth and an exit permit from my wife’s home City (the place her household register/hùkǒu户口) also stating his birthplace. I was stood helpless on the international departure side of the border crossing. My wife and son, under interrogation, looked sunken and time seemed to crawl at a standstill. And then, the Customs official opened the gate. Daisy recounted the story to me immediately. I laughed, between a huge gasp of relief.

After an overpriced airport meal, we boarded our red-eye flight for Manchester.