We're Here... and We Love Qatar Airways!

After a 7 hour flight, a 7.5 hour stopover in Doha, and a further 13 hour flight to Montreal, we finally made it, and our body clocks seem to have adjusted to this Winter Wonderland.



I just have to say it - for anyone who's planning a trip, if Qatar Airways flies there, PLEASE TAKE IT. Their inflight entertainment for kids is great. Their movies for adults were so-so, but really, when you travel with a child, who has the time for movies, right?

Max was in charge of the games, and I was in charge of blow-by-blow commentary for the movies (Poppy watched Dumbo and Finding Nemo). They could have done with a couple of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episodes, but we're not complaining. The games were really geared toward young children. There was no such thing as time limit, or 'game over' if player fails to meet targets. Nope, Poppy just stuck with the same game on and on, and probably could have for the whole trip had I not noticed her eyes were getting square.

I found the service to be nothing short of excellent. Poppy was always the first on the plane to receive her meals, and it may have been just a small touch, but we were grateful that always got our meals very shortly after. As in we didn't have to 'wait our turn' till the folks in the rows before us received theirs. This allowed us to eat at the same time as Poppy. I have to admit that the kids' meals were sometimes of questionable nutritional value, but we were prepared for that and loaded up with lots of snacks like cereal bars and fruit pockets.

Qatar's flight crew was amazing. And we have flown airlines that have been thought to have much better service. Our very own Singaporean brand that we're so proud of? I'm sorry, they dont' even come close. On Qatar, everyone smiled. And I mean genuine smiles. It was almost like it was the entire crew's maiden voyage and they had yet to be jaded from years of nasty passengers. We never got a haughty look, and no one rolled their eyes at me despite the countless times I asked for water. All we got was bright and cheerful 'Sure, of course!'s and looks of adoration when our little one was napping in between gaming. To say that our flights were pleasant would be an understatement. The best thing about the flight was when Poppy went to hug the stewardess designated to our section when we landed, and she said, 'I cannot wait to have a daughter like you'. How about that.



Doha Airport. We slept where we could, when we could. Of course we looked totally glamourous while doing it too, being the totally glamourous ladies that we were.

And so here we are!

And just as I was beginning to think that I was a seasoned mum and could pride myself in getting out of the house, with Poppy and all the related peripherals in less than 15 minutes, I am now presented with another challenge. Getting myself dressed, as well as Poppy, and out of the house in double the time, in Winter.

First, I have to check the weather to know how to dress Poppy. Then come the socks. Then after we struggle putting on her boots, we realise that her snow pants (which make her look very much like Mario - or Luigi - from Super Mario), should have come on before her boots. So we rewind and remove boot. Of course, that's when she tells me that she has stepped in a puddle of water and we need to get new socks.

Then the scarf goes on and her wooly hat, followed by her snow coat, which she will want to try zipping up. This is when she might get a little frustrated and decide to whip off her scarf. When we finally get her coat on and all zipped up, it's time to pop the gloves on (she'll decide to pop them right off the minute we get into the car).

By the time I get her all dressed and ready, I am sweating in my own winter coat. Sweating. In the dead of Winter. Doing all that when you look like the Michelin man should really be a game in one of those American game shows.

But I have realised that it's better to tend to her before me (contrary to what they tell you in airline safety videos), and I'm sure I'll get better with time.

But it's all worth it because I know that she is warm and comfortable in there, and looking like the cutest bundle of cloth I've ever seen.

With just 1 inch of snow, we managed to make a mini snowman!

After her first snowball fight, Poppy was completely wiped out and had a 3 hour nap!