UK Valerie
TRUST NO-ONE
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2002
Whoops ! Used the Wife's codey thingywhatsit.
<font color=red>Dave (SD)</font>
Stripes On Tour
Previously on Spottys holiday
The night before
Saturday March 2nd- The Journey
Sure enough, I was awake off and on all night as you do. 2 oclock, 3 oclock, 4 oclock, 5 oclock but I managed to sleep through 6am and would probably have missed me flight if it wasnt fer the 6.30 alarm I nearly didnt set.
Id hoped to get them all ready and out in time to walk over to the airport. In the end was lucky to get them on the 7.30 courtesy (?!) bus for the 3 minute trip to check-in just in time for 7.50 last orders. £6 for the courtesy ? Ive renamed it the Liberty Bus.
Inside the departure area and Julies eyes lit up- Burger King was open!
Dads next the bar was open too. Even though Id lost me fear of flyin last year it might be unlucky to break me pre-flight pint tradition.
During breakfast, we lectured the kids on fairness and share-and-share alike principles. Theyd had the window seats every trip so far, so it was time for Mam and Dad to have a turn. Besides, it was OUR names on the window seat boarding cards. The kids just smiled and gave each other knowing glances. The little devils nearly knocked me over getting on the plane and just sat there in OUR seats grinning from ear to ear thats Julies left to Gazs right !
So we settled into the tightly packed middle section (again) cursin that wed both ignored our resolution on disembarking last year to lose some of our saddle seats in the interests of future comfort .
It was AirService sub-charter again but at least all the headsets seemed to work this year. The flight was uneventful and quite pleasant. For the record, I had Beef Caserole, V had the Honey Chicken, Julie the Turkey Dinner and Gaz Fish and Chips. The boys choice must have been for kiddies coz his fish were plane shaped- but he enjoyed it all the more for that.
The in-flight movies were;
Shallow Hal- I laughed so loud- there were bits that were so typical of us lads.
K-Pax- an odd Kevin Spacey movie that was a really moving at the end.
Atlantis this sounded good but by the time this came on I was well into map reading and route finalisin mode.
As we neared Sanford I was getting more and more excited. Nowt unusual there, you might think. Fact is Id been a bit flat about this holiday as it approached. Wed planned it so soon after returning last year that there was little to do but sit and wait fer Stus planner to come round to us, so we probably missed the anticipation build up. I wouldnt say Id been working too hard but it (and the Boys footie) had certainly taken more than their fair share of me time in recent months. Now, as the hours flew by and the hot Florida sun came streamin in the winders, I was getting back to normal and looking to see where I might squeeze the odd minute or two extra out of me plan.
Time to fill in the Immigration forms. Everyone tensed as we watched the video and took on board the warnings of how important fillin them in correctly and above the line was gonna be. The Stewardess told us they had no spares so any mistakes would have to be rectified in the Immigration Hall.
Oh pile on the pressure ,why dont yer?!!!
Got the white customs one done ok. We had considered doin the two form trick (a la Mindy ,I think) but given the heightened security we though better of it. Wouldnt want to cause any extra burden on the security forces.
Now the green ones. Mine was easy coz I knew me name and when I was born. I even got Vs right but had to ask what year the boy was born. I should have asked about Julie coz I put Vs year on hers. Well, theyve both got the same mental age and you can read that both ways.
I sheepishly went to the Stewardess but she hadnt been jokin. No forms. So wed have to wait to get into the Hall and Id try to get another form filled in while they filed down the line that was bound to be the longest on offer anyway.
Just when I thought that was enough to worry about for one day the pilot decided to hand the controls to a trainee. What hed been trainin for wasnt obvious coz airline controls didnt appear to have been on the agenda. We went up and down, left and right and up left and down right. It was a bit draughty to be honest and the turbulence made me wonder whether Id really lost me fear of flyin after all. Yes I had, it was landing that I was scared of or not as the case seemed to be today. We got down with one heck of a bump and we all took a group intake of breath as we shuddered to a halt. There was more cheerin and clappin than you usually get on Brits flights, so I dont think it was just me looking fer an angle fer me report.
So the flight was uneventful but the landing decidedly dodgy.
Into Immigration Alley and I swiftly chose a line for V and the kids to stand in and doubled back to fill a form in as quickly as I could without makin a mistake and without spoilin it I never could colour-in inside the lines under pressure.
Back to V, Id picked up another couple of custom forms and filled these in as we moved slowly towards the nice man with a gun. I couldnt remember the stamping procedure and filled in forms for me alone and V and the kids so that if the nice gun totin man didnt ask for the white ones we could split up in baggage claim.
The couple ahead of us had the same idea and the lady went up to the desk on her own. She folded at the very first question you travelling alone, Maamm? and hurriedly ushered her husband to join her. I lost me nerve there and then and we just handed over the family form too.
The baggage hall was very quiet and our cases were already doin the rounds. This was nice ! We were one of the first to be ready for the off and made our way to the Foot and Mouth Check gadgy- no gun but he knew men who had them. He was all alone as we approached and we went for the shortcut. He made us go up and down the Shreklike taped alley anyway. At least it gave the kids a giggle. Wed made it this far so quickly I decided to hold me tongue for a change about his jobsworth approach- an argument could detain me for two whole minutes.
Through the Beef activating X ray machine and into Airtours check-in in no time at all. Hardly a queue and they were actually using all their staff to attend to weary passengers, even the Fly-Drive desk, so I figured they must have read last years critical assessment of their performance. Come to think of it the nice lady offering opportunities of a lifetime wasnt there either to hamper me progress but I didnt notice at the time as I stepped into the Dollar Upgrade Gameshow , chantin me mantra I dont need a bigger car, Thank you.
The blokey thanked me for bein a regular renter and offered me a chance of a lifetime upgrade only $10 a day.
Thats $210 fer me holiday, bonny lad - £150 or half a season ticket, no thank you. Ill wind me own winders down and the kids can have the extra case between them for an hour at the beginning and end of their holiday. Ta.
Ten minutes later the car was packed and we were through the gates without a hitch. Gangplank to 417 in 45 minutes result!
The lovely hot Florida air that hit us was hotter than wed ever had before and after last years generally poor weather this was one of our greatest fears laid straight away. It was gonna be great!!!
V couldnt wait to get to All Stars and watched eagerly for the WDW Gates and AllStar barriers. I wasnt headin that way coz me and the boy were goin to get our shoes at Nike , Premium Outlet Mall first but she wouldnt have known. All roads are the same to V. When we pulled up in the Mall car park she wasnt impressed but we werent havin a repeat of last year when me poor feet got a real hammerin first day without the airlike cushion of new trainers. V and J stayed with the car incase the cases got nicked and me and the boy headed straight for the right aisles coz we know how to shop without fuss or wanderin. We started panickin after 20 minutes when we still hadnt picked a pair between us. They were all too tight and we settled in desperation for half sizes up before V came to drag us back to her holiday see I am scared of her really.
We finally got her to AllStars by 5pm, only two hours after landing so were still on schedule. I sent V to ring her Mam with last years phone card and I checked us in. I knew all the answers to the questions and we got exactly what wed asked for in our room request fax. Calypso Room 459, ground floor, poolside only two away from where we were last year. I basked in the glory of bein such a meticulous and brilliant planner. This WAS gonna be the best holiday yet. The next three weeks were mapped out and we were ahead of schedule already. Nothing had gone wrong this year, we must have had our quota (and some!) last year.
Yerve guessed havent yer?
V came back with a puzzled look on her face. It took me a while to realise there was summat up coz its not that different from her normal expression. The phonecards wouldnt work- expired. I didnt realise they expired. Id paid $10 fer them!!! Never mind, I gave her me credit card out of me wallet while I completed the formalities and sent her off again. Upshot was she still couldnt get through. The automated operator told her the card wasnt authorised.
Never mind, Pet. Ill be there in a minute and Ill sort it.
This laid back larks dead good for yer temper.
I bought a $20 card out of the AT&T machine and tried meself. It told me the card wasnt valid for International Privileges. I wasnt that laid back! I rang the operator and after an age finally got to talk to one that actually draws breath not electrodes and it transpired that there was some sort of bar on 0191/92 &93 numbers from AT&T phones. This meant we wouldnt be able to let Vs Mam and Dad know wed arrived safely and I wouldnt be able to ring Ian on the way home to confirm the flight was on time etc.
And Ive spent $20 on a card thats no use !!!!!
I went to Customer Services and they were very good in authorising the shop to take back the card and give me a refund. So, after a couple of deep breaths we finally made it to the room after 40 minutes! The plan was to be on the 6pm bus to MK for Spectro but we hadnt eaten yet. We quickly checked the WDW Time Guide and Spectro wasnt on till 8.15 so we were right back on track. I knew it would work out in the end oh, that was V (smug so and so!).
The kids took their mugs to get their first fill of the holiday and V celebrated here return to her favourite place on earth with a hot chocolate. Me? The shop of course for me first Bud supply. Chilli Fries and a Bud by the pool and it was like wed never been away. It was so hot we werent the only ones there- as we usually are.
We went to get ready for Spectro and me and the boy put our new shoes on. They felt oddly loose. Of course, our feet had been swollen when we were tryin them on hence the normal sizes feelin tight and double hence why V didnt want to go buy some as soon as we got off the plane. I decided the loose fittin shoes would cause more problems in the long run so Id have to go back and change them in the morning. So I had to wear me old ones tonight and risk cripplin meself fer the entire holiday ..and Ive wasted the first 40 minutes of me plan already!
V didnt dare say I told you so!
One result, though but. The boy rationalised that his bigger shoes would give him more wear as hes growin out of shoes faster than I can find cheap pairs. Nice one son, you hobble in them for a while till you grow into them then. (I tried to talk him into changing them really, honest.)
We got the MK bus and were into Main Street by 7.40. It was a little busier than we expected but this was probably coz Spectro was limited to weekend shows. I gazed at me Castle (sorry, Vs castle) as we passed the centre of Main Street ( no time for me tracks ritual, I need a good spot fer Spectro coz it wasnt on last year so we havent seen it fer 3 years). Got our usual spot beside the Emporium and Barbers shop. Its a little early for the parade as the floats are just comin through the gate as you see them, which maybe spoils the overall image but its the best I know for an unrestricted view without havin to wait an hour or so beforehand.
Me and V just grinned as we waited for the show to start. This was the first thing wed planned for as soon as the decision was made to come back. The CM on the walk-through was playin his part keeping the kids amused and with ten minutes to go Jimminy Cricket came over the tannoy to tell us the show was soon to start. They played the Spectro overture and we got excited all the more.
We did worry that wed anticipated Spectro so much, and had seen so much more since 99, that it might not have the same impact. Not a chance! From the first fanfare it was brilliant. I actually swayed to the music; but that might have been the Bud !
After the parade we had to decide if we were stayin for FiTS. One look at the kids answered that one. They were exhausted. Julie had sat throughout Spectro even though she couldnt see- she was so tired. So it was home to bed dont want to tire the poor loves out first night, do I?
So here we are propped up in bed with a Bud and the remote bliss! The kids were soundo as soon as they touched the mattress and V wasnt far behind. But it is 2.20am (UK time) and theyve had a long day.
Yes, this is gonna be a nice relaxin vacation. No early entries to bully them with so theyll get all the sleep they need. No need to be up till, oh, 6ish in the morning.
Ill have another Bud and go back through these channels in case the programmes have changed.
See yers in the morning- dont let the door bang on yer way out.
<font color=red>Dave (SD)</font>
Stripes On Tour
Previously on Spottys holiday
The night before
Saturday March 2nd- The Journey
Sure enough, I was awake off and on all night as you do. 2 oclock, 3 oclock, 4 oclock, 5 oclock but I managed to sleep through 6am and would probably have missed me flight if it wasnt fer the 6.30 alarm I nearly didnt set.
Id hoped to get them all ready and out in time to walk over to the airport. In the end was lucky to get them on the 7.30 courtesy (?!) bus for the 3 minute trip to check-in just in time for 7.50 last orders. £6 for the courtesy ? Ive renamed it the Liberty Bus.
Inside the departure area and Julies eyes lit up- Burger King was open!
Dads next the bar was open too. Even though Id lost me fear of flyin last year it might be unlucky to break me pre-flight pint tradition.
During breakfast, we lectured the kids on fairness and share-and-share alike principles. Theyd had the window seats every trip so far, so it was time for Mam and Dad to have a turn. Besides, it was OUR names on the window seat boarding cards. The kids just smiled and gave each other knowing glances. The little devils nearly knocked me over getting on the plane and just sat there in OUR seats grinning from ear to ear thats Julies left to Gazs right !
So we settled into the tightly packed middle section (again) cursin that wed both ignored our resolution on disembarking last year to lose some of our saddle seats in the interests of future comfort .
It was AirService sub-charter again but at least all the headsets seemed to work this year. The flight was uneventful and quite pleasant. For the record, I had Beef Caserole, V had the Honey Chicken, Julie the Turkey Dinner and Gaz Fish and Chips. The boys choice must have been for kiddies coz his fish were plane shaped- but he enjoyed it all the more for that.
The in-flight movies were;
Shallow Hal- I laughed so loud- there were bits that were so typical of us lads.
K-Pax- an odd Kevin Spacey movie that was a really moving at the end.
Atlantis this sounded good but by the time this came on I was well into map reading and route finalisin mode.
As we neared Sanford I was getting more and more excited. Nowt unusual there, you might think. Fact is Id been a bit flat about this holiday as it approached. Wed planned it so soon after returning last year that there was little to do but sit and wait fer Stus planner to come round to us, so we probably missed the anticipation build up. I wouldnt say Id been working too hard but it (and the Boys footie) had certainly taken more than their fair share of me time in recent months. Now, as the hours flew by and the hot Florida sun came streamin in the winders, I was getting back to normal and looking to see where I might squeeze the odd minute or two extra out of me plan.
Time to fill in the Immigration forms. Everyone tensed as we watched the video and took on board the warnings of how important fillin them in correctly and above the line was gonna be. The Stewardess told us they had no spares so any mistakes would have to be rectified in the Immigration Hall.
Oh pile on the pressure ,why dont yer?!!!
Got the white customs one done ok. We had considered doin the two form trick (a la Mindy ,I think) but given the heightened security we though better of it. Wouldnt want to cause any extra burden on the security forces.
Now the green ones. Mine was easy coz I knew me name and when I was born. I even got Vs right but had to ask what year the boy was born. I should have asked about Julie coz I put Vs year on hers. Well, theyve both got the same mental age and you can read that both ways.
I sheepishly went to the Stewardess but she hadnt been jokin. No forms. So wed have to wait to get into the Hall and Id try to get another form filled in while they filed down the line that was bound to be the longest on offer anyway.
Just when I thought that was enough to worry about for one day the pilot decided to hand the controls to a trainee. What hed been trainin for wasnt obvious coz airline controls didnt appear to have been on the agenda. We went up and down, left and right and up left and down right. It was a bit draughty to be honest and the turbulence made me wonder whether Id really lost me fear of flyin after all. Yes I had, it was landing that I was scared of or not as the case seemed to be today. We got down with one heck of a bump and we all took a group intake of breath as we shuddered to a halt. There was more cheerin and clappin than you usually get on Brits flights, so I dont think it was just me looking fer an angle fer me report.
So the flight was uneventful but the landing decidedly dodgy.
Into Immigration Alley and I swiftly chose a line for V and the kids to stand in and doubled back to fill a form in as quickly as I could without makin a mistake and without spoilin it I never could colour-in inside the lines under pressure.
Back to V, Id picked up another couple of custom forms and filled these in as we moved slowly towards the nice man with a gun. I couldnt remember the stamping procedure and filled in forms for me alone and V and the kids so that if the nice gun totin man didnt ask for the white ones we could split up in baggage claim.
The couple ahead of us had the same idea and the lady went up to the desk on her own. She folded at the very first question you travelling alone, Maamm? and hurriedly ushered her husband to join her. I lost me nerve there and then and we just handed over the family form too.
The baggage hall was very quiet and our cases were already doin the rounds. This was nice ! We were one of the first to be ready for the off and made our way to the Foot and Mouth Check gadgy- no gun but he knew men who had them. He was all alone as we approached and we went for the shortcut. He made us go up and down the Shreklike taped alley anyway. At least it gave the kids a giggle. Wed made it this far so quickly I decided to hold me tongue for a change about his jobsworth approach- an argument could detain me for two whole minutes.
Through the Beef activating X ray machine and into Airtours check-in in no time at all. Hardly a queue and they were actually using all their staff to attend to weary passengers, even the Fly-Drive desk, so I figured they must have read last years critical assessment of their performance. Come to think of it the nice lady offering opportunities of a lifetime wasnt there either to hamper me progress but I didnt notice at the time as I stepped into the Dollar Upgrade Gameshow , chantin me mantra I dont need a bigger car, Thank you.
The blokey thanked me for bein a regular renter and offered me a chance of a lifetime upgrade only $10 a day.
Thats $210 fer me holiday, bonny lad - £150 or half a season ticket, no thank you. Ill wind me own winders down and the kids can have the extra case between them for an hour at the beginning and end of their holiday. Ta.
Ten minutes later the car was packed and we were through the gates without a hitch. Gangplank to 417 in 45 minutes result!
The lovely hot Florida air that hit us was hotter than wed ever had before and after last years generally poor weather this was one of our greatest fears laid straight away. It was gonna be great!!!
V couldnt wait to get to All Stars and watched eagerly for the WDW Gates and AllStar barriers. I wasnt headin that way coz me and the boy were goin to get our shoes at Nike , Premium Outlet Mall first but she wouldnt have known. All roads are the same to V. When we pulled up in the Mall car park she wasnt impressed but we werent havin a repeat of last year when me poor feet got a real hammerin first day without the airlike cushion of new trainers. V and J stayed with the car incase the cases got nicked and me and the boy headed straight for the right aisles coz we know how to shop without fuss or wanderin. We started panickin after 20 minutes when we still hadnt picked a pair between us. They were all too tight and we settled in desperation for half sizes up before V came to drag us back to her holiday see I am scared of her really.
We finally got her to AllStars by 5pm, only two hours after landing so were still on schedule. I sent V to ring her Mam with last years phone card and I checked us in. I knew all the answers to the questions and we got exactly what wed asked for in our room request fax. Calypso Room 459, ground floor, poolside only two away from where we were last year. I basked in the glory of bein such a meticulous and brilliant planner. This WAS gonna be the best holiday yet. The next three weeks were mapped out and we were ahead of schedule already. Nothing had gone wrong this year, we must have had our quota (and some!) last year.
Yerve guessed havent yer?
V came back with a puzzled look on her face. It took me a while to realise there was summat up coz its not that different from her normal expression. The phonecards wouldnt work- expired. I didnt realise they expired. Id paid $10 fer them!!! Never mind, I gave her me credit card out of me wallet while I completed the formalities and sent her off again. Upshot was she still couldnt get through. The automated operator told her the card wasnt authorised.
Never mind, Pet. Ill be there in a minute and Ill sort it.
This laid back larks dead good for yer temper.
I bought a $20 card out of the AT&T machine and tried meself. It told me the card wasnt valid for International Privileges. I wasnt that laid back! I rang the operator and after an age finally got to talk to one that actually draws breath not electrodes and it transpired that there was some sort of bar on 0191/92 &93 numbers from AT&T phones. This meant we wouldnt be able to let Vs Mam and Dad know wed arrived safely and I wouldnt be able to ring Ian on the way home to confirm the flight was on time etc.
And Ive spent $20 on a card thats no use !!!!!
I went to Customer Services and they were very good in authorising the shop to take back the card and give me a refund. So, after a couple of deep breaths we finally made it to the room after 40 minutes! The plan was to be on the 6pm bus to MK for Spectro but we hadnt eaten yet. We quickly checked the WDW Time Guide and Spectro wasnt on till 8.15 so we were right back on track. I knew it would work out in the end oh, that was V (smug so and so!).
The kids took their mugs to get their first fill of the holiday and V celebrated here return to her favourite place on earth with a hot chocolate. Me? The shop of course for me first Bud supply. Chilli Fries and a Bud by the pool and it was like wed never been away. It was so hot we werent the only ones there- as we usually are.
We went to get ready for Spectro and me and the boy put our new shoes on. They felt oddly loose. Of course, our feet had been swollen when we were tryin them on hence the normal sizes feelin tight and double hence why V didnt want to go buy some as soon as we got off the plane. I decided the loose fittin shoes would cause more problems in the long run so Id have to go back and change them in the morning. So I had to wear me old ones tonight and risk cripplin meself fer the entire holiday ..and Ive wasted the first 40 minutes of me plan already!
V didnt dare say I told you so!
One result, though but. The boy rationalised that his bigger shoes would give him more wear as hes growin out of shoes faster than I can find cheap pairs. Nice one son, you hobble in them for a while till you grow into them then. (I tried to talk him into changing them really, honest.)
We got the MK bus and were into Main Street by 7.40. It was a little busier than we expected but this was probably coz Spectro was limited to weekend shows. I gazed at me Castle (sorry, Vs castle) as we passed the centre of Main Street ( no time for me tracks ritual, I need a good spot fer Spectro coz it wasnt on last year so we havent seen it fer 3 years). Got our usual spot beside the Emporium and Barbers shop. Its a little early for the parade as the floats are just comin through the gate as you see them, which maybe spoils the overall image but its the best I know for an unrestricted view without havin to wait an hour or so beforehand.
Me and V just grinned as we waited for the show to start. This was the first thing wed planned for as soon as the decision was made to come back. The CM on the walk-through was playin his part keeping the kids amused and with ten minutes to go Jimminy Cricket came over the tannoy to tell us the show was soon to start. They played the Spectro overture and we got excited all the more.
We did worry that wed anticipated Spectro so much, and had seen so much more since 99, that it might not have the same impact. Not a chance! From the first fanfare it was brilliant. I actually swayed to the music; but that might have been the Bud !
After the parade we had to decide if we were stayin for FiTS. One look at the kids answered that one. They were exhausted. Julie had sat throughout Spectro even though she couldnt see- she was so tired. So it was home to bed dont want to tire the poor loves out first night, do I?
So here we are propped up in bed with a Bud and the remote bliss! The kids were soundo as soon as they touched the mattress and V wasnt far behind. But it is 2.20am (UK time) and theyve had a long day.
Yes, this is gonna be a nice relaxin vacation. No early entries to bully them with so theyll get all the sleep they need. No need to be up till, oh, 6ish in the morning.
Ill have another Bud and go back through these channels in case the programmes have changed.
See yers in the morning- dont let the door bang on yer way out.
??
trainee pilot?????????? 
