This week was all about family, early mornings, plane rides, and celebrating milestones. It was the kind of week na pagbalik mo, kailangan mo ulit ng bakasyon! 😂
Saturday – Airport Dash
We kicked off Saturday extra early—like, 4:40 AM kind of early. Our flight to Edinburgh was at 8 AM, and as we drove through the rain, we couldn’t help but hope, “Please lang, wag naman sana umulan sa Scotland!”
After a quick breakfast at the airport (thank you, Pret), our flight was slightly delayed, but we landed on time. Parang Manila to Cebu lang ang feeling ng Heathrow to Edinburgh flight.
Edinburgh greeted us with its signature gloomy weather. We took a taxi to our hotel, Travelodge, hoping makasingit ng early check-in. We got there at 10:30 AM—check-in was at 12—and nope, they were strict. So we waited in the lobby habang tulog ang mga bata, recovering from the crazy early start.
It was raining again, so no chance to roam around before check-in. Once we settled in, we ordered lunch via Uber Eats. What else? Jollibee, of course! 🍗 Joy of Family talaga. After lunch, Nanay and I took turns getting a much-needed nap.
By late afternoon, the rain calmed down a bit, so we went out. Not for sightseeing, but for shopping—Nanay’s favorite part. 😂 We came back just in time for dinner (na hotel na lang ulit), and then we heard a knock—Tita Anie and Uncle Nick had arrived! Ate screamed like she hadn’t seen her tita in years, while Bunso played her usual shy card.
Sunday – City Bus Tour and Classic Edinburgh Spots
Sunday morning, Ate and I went out to buy breakfast since the hotel doesn’t serve any. It turned into a sweet bonding moment—quiet city streets, coffee in hand, and my little girl holding onto me. 💛
We had booked a 24-hour hop-on-hop-off city bus tour with three routes—perfect with kids in tow. First stop: Edinburgh Castle. As expected, the crowd was wild and the view was partly blocked due to an event setup. Medyo bitin ang photo ops, but still worth seeing.
Next, we headed to the famous Victoria Street, aka Diagon Alley in real life. Siyempre photo galore ulit. For lunch, we tried Oink and had some classic Haggis (must-try!). The kids? Still fruits and food pouch. 😂
After lunch, we went up Calton Hill (yes, with the pram!), then strolled through Royal Botanical Gardens for some chill park vibes. We ended the day with Korean food for dinner. Grown-up win!
Monday – Our Bunso Turns One 🎉
This was the highlight of our trip—our little babachingching turned ONE! 🥹
To celebrate, we visited the Edinburgh Zoo. And wow—massive! Not your typical zoo either. The animals have large, open spaces—feels like they’re in their natural habitat. Perfect for toddlers, may play area pa!
Pero grabe, the climb! Up and down hills with a pram and toddler in tow—lahat kami pagod. Not just the kids, pati kami ni Nanay. Kaya after the zoo, we kept it simple and just walked around the city a bit before calling it a night.
Tuesday – Light Day and 10k Steps
After the zoo adventure, we decided to take it slow. We spent the morning at the park and then went window shopping. Window shopping lang daw… we’ll see about that. 😅
That night, Nanay stayed in with Bunso while Ate and I went for an evening walk. It was a nice way to hit my 10k steps while also getting one-on-one time with my eldest. She’s growing up so fast.
Wednesday – Packing Chaos and Blanket Drama
It was our last day in Edinburgh. We grabbed breakfast at our now-favorite café, Black Sheep, before packing our things. And this is when we realized: isang malaking maleta is not enough for a family of four. Note to self: bring two large suitcases next time. Walang hand-carry stress.
We had a quick lunch at the park with Tita Anie and Uncle Nick. Then off to the airport—we booked a service to avoid the hassle of public transport with two kids and lots of bags.
But the drama wasn’t over. Ate cried—heartbroken—because she lost her kulambo (comfort blanket). We don’t know if it was left in the hotel or taxi. We thought of going back, but there was no time. 😢
Flight was delayed for an hour, and our bags were also delayed upon landing at Heathrow. Nakakapagod. Literal at emosyonal.
Thursday – From Tourist Mode to Work Mode
Back to reality. I hadn’t finished my self-assessment for work before PTO, so I had to log in and get it done. Honestly, it feels like a formality—ratings are probably pre-decided anyway. 🙃
We also went grocery shopping at Aldi—£110 worth since we had guests arriving. (Will write more about that separately.)
Friday – Brewery Walks and Final Steps
I woke up late (siyempre puyat from the night before) and was greeted by a message from work. So much for avoiding emails while on leave. 😅
We took advantage of the sunny weather and went for an afternoon walk to a nearby brewery. Nice trails, trees, and a peaceful walk in the woods—something we all needed after such a busy week.
Final Thoughts
What a week. From ballet class to birthday cake, pram-pushing uphill, missing blankets, and grocery runs—this week reminded me of how beautiful (and tiring!) family life can be. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Until next week, mga ka-#Dadbuhay! 🙌
DadBuhay 
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