DAY 1 THE NIGHT BEFORE THE DAY AFTER!
I went to work as normal today. DW stayed at home to finish packing. She has been packing for two weeks now and re-packing almost every day!
The day before going on holiday is not a day to be around (in my experience) as there are all those essential cleaning jobs to be done before leaving namely the whole house!
I mean God forbid a burglar should break in while we were away and notice that we have forgotten to clean the oven! I can just see the tabloids getting hold of that one how would we ever show our faces in public again? You can imagine the headlines WOULD YOU BURGLE THIS FILTHY HOUSE? there would be pictures taken at the scene of dust on the TV screen, grease in the grill pan and worst of all look at that bed they havent even changed the bed linen! Shocking!
Anyway I finally get home after hopefully making sure that the restaurants that I run do not poison anyone while Im away!
We rope in the in-laws to drop us at the train station and as we arrive we see the train we are about to catch pull into the station! Not quite perfect planning as we have two flights of stairs and a bridge to negotiate with four suitcases and four pieces of hand luggage.
Just about make it in time and finally we can relax into holiday mode.
In 2002 - we came to Florida as an "extended family" - there were 8 of us - ME, DW, DS1, DS2, DD, MIL, FIL and Nephew. This time it's just 4 of us plus DS1 & his DGF are coming out a week later to stay in a different hotel (can't blame them really!).
We begin the epic journey with a train ride to Glorious Gatwick - Jewel of the South! - And check in at the sumptuous Travel Inn!
The room is simply furnished but adequate for the purpose - one double and two single beds.
After dropping off the bags we stroll over the road to the terminal building in search of some fodder.
Now thats not quite as simplistic as it sounds. We cross the very busy road like a bunch of scared hedgehogs caught in the dazzling lights of the on-coming traffic taking our life in our hands at the mercy of some manic granny in Nissan Micra who swerves all over the road - doing her best to try to hit us! What a nightmare - it had crossed my mind that we could walk to the hotel from the terminal but with the bags and suitcases to weigh us down we may not make it across the road. I think we will stick to the bus tomorrow.
On the other side of the road we follow a couple of other people - who we presume to be fellow travellers into a doorway. We go up two flights of stairs, along a corridor, along another corridor, along another corridor, past the MDs office, past the Boardroom, past a security office! And along one more corridor before bursting out through a door into the main Terminal.
I look back from whence we came to see a notice above the door saying NO ENTRY AUTHORISED PERSONEL ONLY.
Oh well! Thats Airport Security for you .
Can you see that happening at Sanford? - I dont think so! - Perhaps I may try though it would be one way of extending my stay in the U.S. Ive always wanted to see Guantanamo Bay in the spring!
After a browse around the shops and soaking up the atmosphere we dine in luxury at an exclusive restaurant (McDonalds) no expense spared go on Love have a McFlurry were on holiday!
Then back to the room for a fitful nights sleep - neither myself nor DW are much good at flying (or running or walking come to that!) so we nap/snore/kick our way through the night!
It's the flight tomorrow - the adventure begins!
I dream of being arrested by an old lady for failing to tidy my bedroom before going on holiday - the offence carries a mandatory 5 years!
Night all -
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I went to work as normal today. DW stayed at home to finish packing. She has been packing for two weeks now and re-packing almost every day!
The day before going on holiday is not a day to be around (in my experience) as there are all those essential cleaning jobs to be done before leaving namely the whole house!
I mean God forbid a burglar should break in while we were away and notice that we have forgotten to clean the oven! I can just see the tabloids getting hold of that one how would we ever show our faces in public again? You can imagine the headlines WOULD YOU BURGLE THIS FILTHY HOUSE? there would be pictures taken at the scene of dust on the TV screen, grease in the grill pan and worst of all look at that bed they havent even changed the bed linen! Shocking!
Anyway I finally get home after hopefully making sure that the restaurants that I run do not poison anyone while Im away!
We rope in the in-laws to drop us at the train station and as we arrive we see the train we are about to catch pull into the station! Not quite perfect planning as we have two flights of stairs and a bridge to negotiate with four suitcases and four pieces of hand luggage.
Just about make it in time and finally we can relax into holiday mode.
In 2002 - we came to Florida as an "extended family" - there were 8 of us - ME, DW, DS1, DS2, DD, MIL, FIL and Nephew. This time it's just 4 of us plus DS1 & his DGF are coming out a week later to stay in a different hotel (can't blame them really!).
We begin the epic journey with a train ride to Glorious Gatwick - Jewel of the South! - And check in at the sumptuous Travel Inn!
The room is simply furnished but adequate for the purpose - one double and two single beds.
After dropping off the bags we stroll over the road to the terminal building in search of some fodder.
Now thats not quite as simplistic as it sounds. We cross the very busy road like a bunch of scared hedgehogs caught in the dazzling lights of the on-coming traffic taking our life in our hands at the mercy of some manic granny in Nissan Micra who swerves all over the road - doing her best to try to hit us! What a nightmare - it had crossed my mind that we could walk to the hotel from the terminal but with the bags and suitcases to weigh us down we may not make it across the road. I think we will stick to the bus tomorrow.
On the other side of the road we follow a couple of other people - who we presume to be fellow travellers into a doorway. We go up two flights of stairs, along a corridor, along another corridor, along another corridor, past the MDs office, past the Boardroom, past a security office! And along one more corridor before bursting out through a door into the main Terminal.
I look back from whence we came to see a notice above the door saying NO ENTRY AUTHORISED PERSONEL ONLY.
Oh well! Thats Airport Security for you .
Can you see that happening at Sanford? - I dont think so! - Perhaps I may try though it would be one way of extending my stay in the U.S. Ive always wanted to see Guantanamo Bay in the spring!
After a browse around the shops and soaking up the atmosphere we dine in luxury at an exclusive restaurant (McDonalds) no expense spared go on Love have a McFlurry were on holiday!
Then back to the room for a fitful nights sleep - neither myself nor DW are much good at flying (or running or walking come to that!) so we nap/snore/kick our way through the night!
It's the flight tomorrow - the adventure begins!
I dream of being arrested by an old lady for failing to tidy my bedroom before going on holiday - the offence carries a mandatory 5 years!
Night all -
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
you smoothie you 
I am LOL 
