All my bags are packed...

[Kewcumber]

I'm ready to go...

It was a little over 9 years ago I started a thread like that on MN as I was about to travel to Kazakhstan and exactly 9 years ago today that I met my lovely boy. I have such great support from so many on MN at that time and I'll always be grateful for it.

But this isn't a thread for me to be all weepy and mopey about how lucky I am but to share...

...we're going back!

Next year we're doing a birth country visit - DS is going back for the first time since he was 1 (he's 10 at the end of this month)

Not without some reservations about how he'll deal with it but I hope it will be good for him and help him make sense of his place in the world.

I think I am excited and terrified in equal measure.

And I suspect I might blog about it!

Now and then...

What a beautiful boy! I hope he finds it a positive trip, it will no doubt spark a lot of thought for him, either now or in the future but it's fantastic that you can visit. You should definitely blog!

I second the blog vote. I hope he gains some understanding/knowledge etc and I wish you the very best. He is beautiful xxx

Seems like yesterday . He really is a wonderful child. You are well suited .

Is me BTW, the one who is afraid of cats bearing gifts

I hope he enjoys the visit and gives him an understanding of where he came from

Kew, that sounds like a fantasic, if emotional, trip to embark on I hope it goes well (and is that your boat?!).

Yes - my boat (surname is Onassis)

I am planning to cry pretty much from the time we land to the second we leave. DS will never forgive me.

That's beach is on her own private island . She's just being modest

Have a wonderful trip. They grow up fast don't they!

I've enjoyed reading about your journey in the past and I'm sure I'd enjoy reading about your experiences of going back.

Wow, thats an adventure. You MUST blog!

You could do a birth county visit - we could blog together

Ha - the exotic climes of the Home Counties!

What a wonderful thing to do together! (Hope your DS has some nice games loaded onto a tablet for one mum has one of her sniffly fits...) DS and I will go to his donor's home country together when he's older so standing by for tips. Another vote for a blog here!

Hi new to this looking for a new hairdresser on Wirral. Any recommendations please. Short hair cutter please.

Sorry Sassylock - not sure a thread about adoption in Kazakhstan will help! Mind you co-incidentally I had my hair cut and coloured today - it is now purple (streaks) and swishy (won;t last). But you'd have to travel to Kew for it to be any use to you.

Purple ? Seriously ?

Yes - I'm having a mid life crisis.

It looks cool

I hope it's more fun than my mid life crisis

it couldn't fail to be.

Off to a wedding tomorrow so had to have purple hair for it

What colour is your outfit ? Is DS going ? He's so cute

You are too of course

Outfit is purple (of course) with shocking pink shos and a tea plate kinda hat come fascinator thingie.

DS is indeed going and wearing his suit.

It will be Posh.

bit like this s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/6c/86/2b/6c862b067afe627a3489400e7b4e9c2f.jpg

Shoes

fab