Poohshoney
<font color=6666CC>Ya-ya sister!<br><font color=gr
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2001
- Messages
- 1,155
The Cast:
Roland (37, German) Worlds best husband.
Carol (42, British) Trying to live up to him.
Thursday, 11 December. Day 12 Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Ok, so neither of us actually said that, but I dont often get a chance to quote Shakespeare so I couldnt resist! At least I think it's Shakespeare. Knowing me it well might have been someone else. The great Walt! He certainly knew a thing or two.
Wed finally decided on 8:30 for our Tiffany Towncar pick up. Wed pulled our own cases over to the entrance, trying not to wake anyone with the noise of the wheels rolling. It felt very strange, watching people get their breakfast when we were leaving. I got a bit of a lump in my throat when I said goodbye to Fultons in passing. I do like that shop. The tree got a special goodbye as well. There was a couple checking in and I hoped theyd get our room and have as good a time as we had. Maybe they had stuffies with them as well?
Our driver this time was a lady; she was already waiting for us when we got to the front. She was very nice but spoke very little English, so the drive to MCO was a very quiet occasion. I decided that the more senior drivers probably take the airport collection. I reckon incoming guests are in a better mood and havent been cleaned out yet by the mouse so they tip more. Certainly, our driver seemed VERY surprised when I gave her her tip! I had to stop her going before I could give it to her. Maybe shes just had bad experiences with foreign tourists.
We flew late morning this time, as opposed to early afternoon last. Much better. We didnt have to wait ages for check-in to open. Surprise, surprise, we didnt get our `reserved´ seats! The lady thought she was doing us a favour by giving us ones nearer the front for our transatlantic flight but as they were in the middle, which we didnt want, we asked if there were any window seats available. There were but right at the back well take them! As it was, we had just one row behind us, but at least Roland got a window seat for both flights.
Now, remember how weve never changed planes in America? Except for the incoming journey, when we had to collect our luggage and then hand it over again? Well, silly me thought it would be the same for the return journey. I can see now how thats not logical but at the time Luckily, we quizzed the check-in woman as to how things would be in Detroit as we wanted to know if wed be able to meet up with Jennifer. So we found out that for this leg, our suitcases would be forwarded automatically. Panic! Gimme me suitcase back! Because it had Emilys birthday present in it, plus a tin of biscuits. Can you imagine how annoyed I would be to have carted a big box with a princess outfit in it, plus a tin of biscuits, only to cart them all home again?! They very kindly allowed me to dig them out again. Made my suitcase SO much lighter than Rolands, that did!
We spent an awful long time wandering round check-in. Our suitcases were dumped in a holding pen, along with a lot of others. And there they stayed. We were a bit worried that there theyd stay forever but we had to admit defeat eventually and just leave them there.
Once through to the other side, I thought I'd better ring Jennifer and tell her we wouldnt be collecting our luggage thats where wed arranged to meet her. That made our being able to meet up look less likely and I thought she ought to know. Which is when I realised I had no idea what to do with her phone number to make it work. I'd brought it, but it was the version I use from Germany. It wasn't till I was actually holding the phone in my hand that I realised I had no idea what bits to remove or what to add. I was sure the 001 was the international bit but otherwise So I tried removing the 001 and trying a couple of other numbers in front. Then no numbers. Then other numbers. Eventually, I asked a couple sitting nearby if they knew they assured me I should use the same number I called from home but I tried it and it didn't work either. So I gave up and just hoped for the best.
I wasnt actually hungry but I was pretty sure I would be by the time we were halfway to Detroit. Soooo, what food was available? We'd already checked the landside options and not found anything I could eat that wasn't sweet. I can't stand sweet when I'm hungry, it makes me feel sick. Leaving Roland guarding the bags, I went off in search of edibles airside. This stroll included the time needed for the aborted phone call. I eventually found somewhere that did bagels and cream cheese well theres a novelty for you! Unfortunately, there werent any baked. I had to wait in a long queue, then I had to wait whilst someone got one organised. And nobody seemed willing to take on this arduous task. I kept looking at my watch, knowing Roland was waiting for me, unaware of where I'd disappeared to. I had to ask three times where my bagel was before one appeared. Then the man took ages wrapping it all up so it stayed warm. Convinced my marriage was on the line as there were only 20 mins left till the flight and we werent even at the gate, I hurtled back to find a very calm Roland. Which is more than could be said for me! Why wasnt he panicking? Why did he say, Oooh, I think I'll go and get one of those as well.? Elementary dear Carol; because the flight leaves at quarter to, not quarter past! Oh well, at least my marriage was safe.
Once Roland had his bagel too, (which took a lot less time than mine did!), we gathered our stuff up and moved to the gate. On the inward journey, the staff had been VERY vigilant at making sure people only had one bag. Bags had been forcibly prised from customers fingers, with much protesting on both sides. I'd managed to palm the biscuit tin off onto Roland, (thanks, sweetheart!), but I still had a large blue box with a bow on it. I'd tried disguising it as one bag by putting the box in a plastic bag and tying that to the handle of my travel bag. (See, its not really two bags, it's just one bag with an extension!) I neednt have worried: when we got to the gate, some people had five bags each and nobody said a word. I guess if youve just been to DisneyWorld, airlines expect you to have a lot of bags.
I saw a gentlemen walk off minus his baseball cap. When I told him, he was SO grateful. I've read about American gentlemen and their baseball caps. I understand they can grow very attached to one another, a bit like me and my stuffies, so I felt very pleased with myself!
When they called our gate, it was a mad scramble to get on followed by a very boring flight. Not a doggy to be seen anywhere. We declined the sandwiches and ate our bagels they were nowhere near as good as the ones at Riverside. I offered to go back and get some but Roland didnt take me up on it.
We were in two minds when we reached Detroit one each. I was determined to meet up with Jennifer, Roland was terrified I was going to do something that would mean us being stuck there. In separate cells. No plane home. I found the escalator down to luggage retrieval yup, it meant leaving airside. I was sure this would be ok that wed just have to go through passport control again Roland still wasnt convinced. So I asked an airport employee. See, Roland, he says the same! Roland might have been a bit more convinced if the man hadnt been holding a broom at the time. But then I spied a lady at a desk, at the top of the escalator, who looked all official. Sure honey, no problem! You just come right back through here again afterwards.
It was showdown time. I wanted to go down there, Roland didnt but also didnt want to let me out of his sight. No telling what I'd get up to if eye contact was lost. I dont often get my way in a head-on confrontation but this time I did, I was just so determined down we went!
And what did we find? An empty hall. Couldnt see a soul anywhere. But then I spied two little figures hurrying over, Paige and Emily, followed by an adult one Jennifer! Theyre there! I yelled, jumping up and down with excitement. Where? said Roland. I think fear effects his eyesight. Oooh, wed found each other! It had been meant to be, we were meant to meet!
We spent about 35 mins together, I think. It cant have been much more. In that time, Jennifer very kindly rang Kim for me, so that she and I got to talk as well thankyou Jennifer and it was great talking to you, Kimmy!
I'd brought the ladies a Heidelberg Christmas market mug each, with a Heidelberg key ring each in the girls mugs and a feather angel in Jennifers. Emily said THE sweetest thing dangling hers in front of her she sighed, Now I can see Heidelberg every day!
I really wanted to show Paige what all the different things on the mugs were and as shes a bit smaller than me, bending down wasnt very effective. So I crouched down. So Paige crouched down with me. It suddenly occurred to me that two figures hunched over something the cameras probably couldnt identify might worry any security guards watching so we quickly moved to the seats! I managed to get myself into Aunty heaven with Emily on one side of me and Paige on the other pure bliss!
As I said, Jennifer and I share a love of knitting and she put me to shame. She was wearing a stunning hand knitted sweater. Shes a much better knitter than I am (and dont let her tell you otherwise), I could never have even attempted it. My shame was because I'd suggested we both wear hand knits then I'd put my aran sweater (I can cable!) that I'd worn on the journey over in my suitcase because it was just too hot and heavy. Jennifer sweated away, just to please me. Baaad Carol, much nicer Jennifer!
We took photos of our meet oh dear. Jennifer looks great and the girls look as if theyre having fun. I appear to be attempting to beat the world record for the number of chins in one picture. And my eyes are teeny tired little dots. I'm so sad, I would have liked better memories. Hey, we could meet up again and redo them?!
The time went much too quickly. Roland desperately needed something to eat and a coffee for some strange reason hed got a stress headache. So we had to say goodbye. This wasn't as hard as youd think as the whole episode had a dreamlike quality to it it just couldnt be real! It wasnt till I was going back up the escalator, waving at three waving figures fading into the distance, that I realised I'd had my share of hugs, it really was over. Jennifer says the girls were discussing visiting us as they waved. They decided on in 6 years time as they thought 16 and 12 would be old enough. All I can say is, youre all of you welcome any time. Cant come soon enough for me! Thankyou so much for taking all that trouble, just to meet us for such a short time. A treasured memory. I've got that lump in my throat again.
Roland was a wreck when we got back up. He needed food and caffeine, pronto. We ended up at McDonalds, just because it was quick and easy. Everywhere else seemed packed. Roland ordered a Big Mac and a coffee, I went for chicken nuggets. I was actually too excited to be hungry but Roland thought I should eat something. We got our order plus a quarterpounder! The people before us had ordered one and then left, so they just gave it to us, free of charge. This brightened Rolands spirits a little as he got to eat that as well you wouldnt get that happening in Germayn! Then he took some aspirin and we went to sit down somewhere quiet.
Thats just about it. The flight was uneventful. I spent my time either playing a video game with lines of jewels (diamonds being a girls best friend sorry, couldnt resist!) and reading the gorgeous knitting magazines and beautiful Country magazine Jennifer had given me. After 2 weeks of no knitting, Jennifer reckoned I'd have withdrawal symptoms. Yup! Roland got better acquainted with Harry Potter.
There was a little boy behind us with a mother who didnt seem to care where he was, so long as she got to sleep. She was only tiny but she still managed to kick me in the kidneys every time she turned round. Our very camp steward (he was almost a parody) kept telling her how adorable she was. Cant say I thought so
We cant remember dinner so it must have been good. Breakfast was an English muffin with an egg in it. I wished I hadnt eaten it, it was so sickly. The first thing I did at the airport was get a pretzel to counteract it. I could still taste it for hours afterwards but at least it stayed down.
Youll be pleased to hear that our suitcases did make it safely. We were very glad to see them! The railway station was freezing. And we had a 50-minute wait. We stayed upstairs where it was warmer as long as we could when we went down on to the platform we thought we were going to freeze to death. Hypothermia city. Welcome back to Germany!
We got home early evening last year and were dead on our feet it took us days to recover from the jetlag. We were home by 10:30 am this time and were pretty much fine. We went shopping, had some lunch, phoned the world to let them know we were home safe, then just vegged. We had an early night at 9:15 but were awake at more or less the normal time next day. We had so little jetlag that people thought wed been home a week when they met us. Yup, well definitely be taking that route next time we go see the mouse with an obligatory stop in Detroit, of course!!!
So, that was it, our trip to the mouse was over and, as Christmas hit us, a fast fading memory at that. But what a memory, just the best EVER!
P.S.
I just wanted to say well done to everyone that read my reports WELL DONE!!! Just be thankful I didnt write them straight away, theyd have been even longer! I didnt take any notes whilst we were there, though I made some a couple of weeks after we got back, and life got in the way of writing them for a long time. Then Roland said how he wished I had have done, so I made a belated start. I think the amount I remember, the clarity and the detail are testimony to just how magical it was. Theres nowhere like the mouse!
A HUGE thankyou to everyone who posted or PMed me to say how much you enjoyed my ramblings, it was very much appreciated. I shall miss wittering on to you all. Anyone got a local newspaper that would like a free columnist?
To everyone who kindly said WE HAVE to go back it wont be for a while yet. But when youre there next, please say hello to the castle for me and tell it how much I miss it. There I go, tearing up again. Byeee!!!!!
Roland (37, German) Worlds best husband.
Carol (42, British) Trying to live up to him.
Thursday, 11 December. Day 12 Parting is such sweet sorrow.
Ok, so neither of us actually said that, but I dont often get a chance to quote Shakespeare so I couldnt resist! At least I think it's Shakespeare. Knowing me it well might have been someone else. The great Walt! He certainly knew a thing or two.
Wed finally decided on 8:30 for our Tiffany Towncar pick up. Wed pulled our own cases over to the entrance, trying not to wake anyone with the noise of the wheels rolling. It felt very strange, watching people get their breakfast when we were leaving. I got a bit of a lump in my throat when I said goodbye to Fultons in passing. I do like that shop. The tree got a special goodbye as well. There was a couple checking in and I hoped theyd get our room and have as good a time as we had. Maybe they had stuffies with them as well?
Our driver this time was a lady; she was already waiting for us when we got to the front. She was very nice but spoke very little English, so the drive to MCO was a very quiet occasion. I decided that the more senior drivers probably take the airport collection. I reckon incoming guests are in a better mood and havent been cleaned out yet by the mouse so they tip more. Certainly, our driver seemed VERY surprised when I gave her her tip! I had to stop her going before I could give it to her. Maybe shes just had bad experiences with foreign tourists.
We flew late morning this time, as opposed to early afternoon last. Much better. We didnt have to wait ages for check-in to open. Surprise, surprise, we didnt get our `reserved´ seats! The lady thought she was doing us a favour by giving us ones nearer the front for our transatlantic flight but as they were in the middle, which we didnt want, we asked if there were any window seats available. There were but right at the back well take them! As it was, we had just one row behind us, but at least Roland got a window seat for both flights.
Now, remember how weve never changed planes in America? Except for the incoming journey, when we had to collect our luggage and then hand it over again? Well, silly me thought it would be the same for the return journey. I can see now how thats not logical but at the time Luckily, we quizzed the check-in woman as to how things would be in Detroit as we wanted to know if wed be able to meet up with Jennifer. So we found out that for this leg, our suitcases would be forwarded automatically. Panic! Gimme me suitcase back! Because it had Emilys birthday present in it, plus a tin of biscuits. Can you imagine how annoyed I would be to have carted a big box with a princess outfit in it, plus a tin of biscuits, only to cart them all home again?! They very kindly allowed me to dig them out again. Made my suitcase SO much lighter than Rolands, that did!
We spent an awful long time wandering round check-in. Our suitcases were dumped in a holding pen, along with a lot of others. And there they stayed. We were a bit worried that there theyd stay forever but we had to admit defeat eventually and just leave them there.
Once through to the other side, I thought I'd better ring Jennifer and tell her we wouldnt be collecting our luggage thats where wed arranged to meet her. That made our being able to meet up look less likely and I thought she ought to know. Which is when I realised I had no idea what to do with her phone number to make it work. I'd brought it, but it was the version I use from Germany. It wasn't till I was actually holding the phone in my hand that I realised I had no idea what bits to remove or what to add. I was sure the 001 was the international bit but otherwise So I tried removing the 001 and trying a couple of other numbers in front. Then no numbers. Then other numbers. Eventually, I asked a couple sitting nearby if they knew they assured me I should use the same number I called from home but I tried it and it didn't work either. So I gave up and just hoped for the best.
I wasnt actually hungry but I was pretty sure I would be by the time we were halfway to Detroit. Soooo, what food was available? We'd already checked the landside options and not found anything I could eat that wasn't sweet. I can't stand sweet when I'm hungry, it makes me feel sick. Leaving Roland guarding the bags, I went off in search of edibles airside. This stroll included the time needed for the aborted phone call. I eventually found somewhere that did bagels and cream cheese well theres a novelty for you! Unfortunately, there werent any baked. I had to wait in a long queue, then I had to wait whilst someone got one organised. And nobody seemed willing to take on this arduous task. I kept looking at my watch, knowing Roland was waiting for me, unaware of where I'd disappeared to. I had to ask three times where my bagel was before one appeared. Then the man took ages wrapping it all up so it stayed warm. Convinced my marriage was on the line as there were only 20 mins left till the flight and we werent even at the gate, I hurtled back to find a very calm Roland. Which is more than could be said for me! Why wasnt he panicking? Why did he say, Oooh, I think I'll go and get one of those as well.? Elementary dear Carol; because the flight leaves at quarter to, not quarter past! Oh well, at least my marriage was safe.
Once Roland had his bagel too, (which took a lot less time than mine did!), we gathered our stuff up and moved to the gate. On the inward journey, the staff had been VERY vigilant at making sure people only had one bag. Bags had been forcibly prised from customers fingers, with much protesting on both sides. I'd managed to palm the biscuit tin off onto Roland, (thanks, sweetheart!), but I still had a large blue box with a bow on it. I'd tried disguising it as one bag by putting the box in a plastic bag and tying that to the handle of my travel bag. (See, its not really two bags, it's just one bag with an extension!) I neednt have worried: when we got to the gate, some people had five bags each and nobody said a word. I guess if youve just been to DisneyWorld, airlines expect you to have a lot of bags.
I saw a gentlemen walk off minus his baseball cap. When I told him, he was SO grateful. I've read about American gentlemen and their baseball caps. I understand they can grow very attached to one another, a bit like me and my stuffies, so I felt very pleased with myself!
When they called our gate, it was a mad scramble to get on followed by a very boring flight. Not a doggy to be seen anywhere. We declined the sandwiches and ate our bagels they were nowhere near as good as the ones at Riverside. I offered to go back and get some but Roland didnt take me up on it.
We were in two minds when we reached Detroit one each. I was determined to meet up with Jennifer, Roland was terrified I was going to do something that would mean us being stuck there. In separate cells. No plane home. I found the escalator down to luggage retrieval yup, it meant leaving airside. I was sure this would be ok that wed just have to go through passport control again Roland still wasnt convinced. So I asked an airport employee. See, Roland, he says the same! Roland might have been a bit more convinced if the man hadnt been holding a broom at the time. But then I spied a lady at a desk, at the top of the escalator, who looked all official. Sure honey, no problem! You just come right back through here again afterwards.
It was showdown time. I wanted to go down there, Roland didnt but also didnt want to let me out of his sight. No telling what I'd get up to if eye contact was lost. I dont often get my way in a head-on confrontation but this time I did, I was just so determined down we went!
And what did we find? An empty hall. Couldnt see a soul anywhere. But then I spied two little figures hurrying over, Paige and Emily, followed by an adult one Jennifer! Theyre there! I yelled, jumping up and down with excitement. Where? said Roland. I think fear effects his eyesight. Oooh, wed found each other! It had been meant to be, we were meant to meet!
We spent about 35 mins together, I think. It cant have been much more. In that time, Jennifer very kindly rang Kim for me, so that she and I got to talk as well thankyou Jennifer and it was great talking to you, Kimmy!
I'd brought the ladies a Heidelberg Christmas market mug each, with a Heidelberg key ring each in the girls mugs and a feather angel in Jennifers. Emily said THE sweetest thing dangling hers in front of her she sighed, Now I can see Heidelberg every day!
I really wanted to show Paige what all the different things on the mugs were and as shes a bit smaller than me, bending down wasnt very effective. So I crouched down. So Paige crouched down with me. It suddenly occurred to me that two figures hunched over something the cameras probably couldnt identify might worry any security guards watching so we quickly moved to the seats! I managed to get myself into Aunty heaven with Emily on one side of me and Paige on the other pure bliss!
As I said, Jennifer and I share a love of knitting and she put me to shame. She was wearing a stunning hand knitted sweater. Shes a much better knitter than I am (and dont let her tell you otherwise), I could never have even attempted it. My shame was because I'd suggested we both wear hand knits then I'd put my aran sweater (I can cable!) that I'd worn on the journey over in my suitcase because it was just too hot and heavy. Jennifer sweated away, just to please me. Baaad Carol, much nicer Jennifer!
We took photos of our meet oh dear. Jennifer looks great and the girls look as if theyre having fun. I appear to be attempting to beat the world record for the number of chins in one picture. And my eyes are teeny tired little dots. I'm so sad, I would have liked better memories. Hey, we could meet up again and redo them?!
The time went much too quickly. Roland desperately needed something to eat and a coffee for some strange reason hed got a stress headache. So we had to say goodbye. This wasn't as hard as youd think as the whole episode had a dreamlike quality to it it just couldnt be real! It wasnt till I was going back up the escalator, waving at three waving figures fading into the distance, that I realised I'd had my share of hugs, it really was over. Jennifer says the girls were discussing visiting us as they waved. They decided on in 6 years time as they thought 16 and 12 would be old enough. All I can say is, youre all of you welcome any time. Cant come soon enough for me! Thankyou so much for taking all that trouble, just to meet us for such a short time. A treasured memory. I've got that lump in my throat again.
Roland was a wreck when we got back up. He needed food and caffeine, pronto. We ended up at McDonalds, just because it was quick and easy. Everywhere else seemed packed. Roland ordered a Big Mac and a coffee, I went for chicken nuggets. I was actually too excited to be hungry but Roland thought I should eat something. We got our order plus a quarterpounder! The people before us had ordered one and then left, so they just gave it to us, free of charge. This brightened Rolands spirits a little as he got to eat that as well you wouldnt get that happening in Germayn! Then he took some aspirin and we went to sit down somewhere quiet.
Thats just about it. The flight was uneventful. I spent my time either playing a video game with lines of jewels (diamonds being a girls best friend sorry, couldnt resist!) and reading the gorgeous knitting magazines and beautiful Country magazine Jennifer had given me. After 2 weeks of no knitting, Jennifer reckoned I'd have withdrawal symptoms. Yup! Roland got better acquainted with Harry Potter.
There was a little boy behind us with a mother who didnt seem to care where he was, so long as she got to sleep. She was only tiny but she still managed to kick me in the kidneys every time she turned round. Our very camp steward (he was almost a parody) kept telling her how adorable she was. Cant say I thought so
We cant remember dinner so it must have been good. Breakfast was an English muffin with an egg in it. I wished I hadnt eaten it, it was so sickly. The first thing I did at the airport was get a pretzel to counteract it. I could still taste it for hours afterwards but at least it stayed down.
Youll be pleased to hear that our suitcases did make it safely. We were very glad to see them! The railway station was freezing. And we had a 50-minute wait. We stayed upstairs where it was warmer as long as we could when we went down on to the platform we thought we were going to freeze to death. Hypothermia city. Welcome back to Germany!
We got home early evening last year and were dead on our feet it took us days to recover from the jetlag. We were home by 10:30 am this time and were pretty much fine. We went shopping, had some lunch, phoned the world to let them know we were home safe, then just vegged. We had an early night at 9:15 but were awake at more or less the normal time next day. We had so little jetlag that people thought wed been home a week when they met us. Yup, well definitely be taking that route next time we go see the mouse with an obligatory stop in Detroit, of course!!!
So, that was it, our trip to the mouse was over and, as Christmas hit us, a fast fading memory at that. But what a memory, just the best EVER!
P.S.
I just wanted to say well done to everyone that read my reports WELL DONE!!! Just be thankful I didnt write them straight away, theyd have been even longer! I didnt take any notes whilst we were there, though I made some a couple of weeks after we got back, and life got in the way of writing them for a long time. Then Roland said how he wished I had have done, so I made a belated start. I think the amount I remember, the clarity and the detail are testimony to just how magical it was. Theres nowhere like the mouse!
A HUGE thankyou to everyone who posted or PMed me to say how much you enjoyed my ramblings, it was very much appreciated. I shall miss wittering on to you all. Anyone got a local newspaper that would like a free columnist?
To everyone who kindly said WE HAVE to go back it wont be for a while yet. But when youre there next, please say hello to the castle for me and tell it how much I miss it. There I go, tearing up again. Byeee!!!!!
Glad you had a safe trip home, and will be looking for you on the boards from time to time. Tell Roland I send hi and take care. 
