Sunrise over Heathrow.

On the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller, here I am at Heathrow, waiting to board a plane for what would unbelievably be my third trans-Atlantic flight in just over a year. I wonder if the controllers even knew it was their special day?

I felt awful that I couldn't bring the kids with me to see Grandma again, felt awful that I'd had to travel without them, felt awful that my husband had to move around his work schedule to look after them, felt awful that I'd (once again!) cost him a wadge of money... and felt very scared about flying on my own.

But I felt very, very happy that no-one seemed to worry about any of these things except me and I was thrilled that I would be able to see my brother marry his beautiful fiancee in a few days.