CHRIS FRANKLIN
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2004
- Messages
- 16
Cast Members
Chris [me]
Val [Shopping Champion wife]
Scott [14 nearly 15 year old son]
Glenn [Football crazy 10 year old son]
December 21st to 24th
I finished work on the 18th due to a combination of outstanding holiday leave that had to be used and some extra days allowed for weekends lost travelling for work, it was quite strange knowing that I was off until 12th January 2004 and also heading out to WDW.
We started packing on the 21st as we did not want to be running about on the 24/25th, I instructed every one that we were travelling light, but must admit to taking double the amount that everyone else was, but I figure I will not be buying clothes out in WDW but the rest of the party would.
The time would not go quick enough, Val still had two nightshifts [21st and 22nd], all I wanted to do was get on the aeroplane now! I filled up the time with last minute shopping, acting as a taxi for the boys, and taking Scott to the hospital as he had broken his wrist in November and had an operation on it, so it was a check up to see if everything was ok. Luckily the cast had been taken off a couple of weeks earlier and he could use it normally now, although it was a good excuse for him to get out of carrying any luggage.
The 24th finally arrived, we had arranged to have Vals parents over for a pre Christmas lunch, had a great time, but always in the back of my mind I was still thinking about flight times passports and money etc. In the evening I helped by falling asleep while Val added the finishing touches to the cases, at least I woke up to be able to carry the cases down to the garage, for an easy load tomorrow.
Christmas Day
We got up about 8.30am, after distributing the presents, it was time to shower and pack the overnight bag for Gatwick. We had arranged to have Christmas dinner at Vals parents at 12.30 and as they only live 5 minutes away it was not a problem. But, all plans went astray as we started to run out of time and panic about being late! I drove around to drop some stuff off and had a cup of tea with them, they had brought their plans forward for us and now we were telling them we are going to be late. They were so understanding and dinner was rescheduled to 1.45.
When I got back home had to reverse the car onto the drive, after a few attempts I finally manage to get in straight lol, then loaded our entire luggage in. Now it was time to tell the boys that the Christmas presents they had got a few hours earlier had to be put away for two weeks now, I must admit I wished that I had not brought the flights forward to the 26th and left them to the 27th, but too late now.
We had a fantastic Christmas lunch and really managed to chill out [no alcohol for me as I had to drive to the hotel], we left Vals parents at 6.15 and after a brief stop at home for a final check, i.e. automatic lights etc we were off.
The journey to Gatwick was no problem, although busier than I expected there were no hold ups, we found the hotel no problem as we have stayed here so many times [Formally the Post-House now the Holiday Inn @ povey crossroads], although not our first choice, it is always reasonable and comfortable.
We checked in argued with them where the car was staying i.e. I was not moving it from their car park and driving to the long term, after producing the proof they gave in. To get us back they gave us a room for three people not four, but again after complaining they gave us a executive room with two extra beds, they must have had to run around get the beds, make them up etc. Finally we were able to set our luggage down after a tour of duty around the hotel, i.e. in and out of lifts in and out of rooms on a trolley with a mind of its own lol.
I took the boys down to the bar while Val had a long bath or put it another way I had a long stay in the bar, in the end after the boys had begged me to let them go to the room lol I stayed there on my own. When I got back to the room, we took some pictures on Glenns new instamatic camera and then settled for the night but not before I text some friends and asked Guess where I am going
I must admit today never felt like Christmas Day and it would have been better to fly on the 27th but we are getting an extra day in WDW so what a trade off.
Next
Day 1 the flight and the 800 metre Olympic sprint to get the connecting flight in Atlanta.
Chris [me]
Val [Shopping Champion wife]
Scott [14 nearly 15 year old son]
Glenn [Football crazy 10 year old son]
December 21st to 24th
I finished work on the 18th due to a combination of outstanding holiday leave that had to be used and some extra days allowed for weekends lost travelling for work, it was quite strange knowing that I was off until 12th January 2004 and also heading out to WDW.
We started packing on the 21st as we did not want to be running about on the 24/25th, I instructed every one that we were travelling light, but must admit to taking double the amount that everyone else was, but I figure I will not be buying clothes out in WDW but the rest of the party would.
The time would not go quick enough, Val still had two nightshifts [21st and 22nd], all I wanted to do was get on the aeroplane now! I filled up the time with last minute shopping, acting as a taxi for the boys, and taking Scott to the hospital as he had broken his wrist in November and had an operation on it, so it was a check up to see if everything was ok. Luckily the cast had been taken off a couple of weeks earlier and he could use it normally now, although it was a good excuse for him to get out of carrying any luggage.
The 24th finally arrived, we had arranged to have Vals parents over for a pre Christmas lunch, had a great time, but always in the back of my mind I was still thinking about flight times passports and money etc. In the evening I helped by falling asleep while Val added the finishing touches to the cases, at least I woke up to be able to carry the cases down to the garage, for an easy load tomorrow.
Christmas Day
We got up about 8.30am, after distributing the presents, it was time to shower and pack the overnight bag for Gatwick. We had arranged to have Christmas dinner at Vals parents at 12.30 and as they only live 5 minutes away it was not a problem. But, all plans went astray as we started to run out of time and panic about being late! I drove around to drop some stuff off and had a cup of tea with them, they had brought their plans forward for us and now we were telling them we are going to be late. They were so understanding and dinner was rescheduled to 1.45.
When I got back home had to reverse the car onto the drive, after a few attempts I finally manage to get in straight lol, then loaded our entire luggage in. Now it was time to tell the boys that the Christmas presents they had got a few hours earlier had to be put away for two weeks now, I must admit I wished that I had not brought the flights forward to the 26th and left them to the 27th, but too late now.
We had a fantastic Christmas lunch and really managed to chill out [no alcohol for me as I had to drive to the hotel], we left Vals parents at 6.15 and after a brief stop at home for a final check, i.e. automatic lights etc we were off.
The journey to Gatwick was no problem, although busier than I expected there were no hold ups, we found the hotel no problem as we have stayed here so many times [Formally the Post-House now the Holiday Inn @ povey crossroads], although not our first choice, it is always reasonable and comfortable.
We checked in argued with them where the car was staying i.e. I was not moving it from their car park and driving to the long term, after producing the proof they gave in. To get us back they gave us a room for three people not four, but again after complaining they gave us a executive room with two extra beds, they must have had to run around get the beds, make them up etc. Finally we were able to set our luggage down after a tour of duty around the hotel, i.e. in and out of lifts in and out of rooms on a trolley with a mind of its own lol.
I took the boys down to the bar while Val had a long bath or put it another way I had a long stay in the bar, in the end after the boys had begged me to let them go to the room lol I stayed there on my own. When I got back to the room, we took some pictures on Glenns new instamatic camera and then settled for the night but not before I text some friends and asked Guess where I am going
I must admit today never felt like Christmas Day and it would have been better to fly on the 27th but we are getting an extra day in WDW so what a trade off.
Next
Day 1 the flight and the 800 metre Olympic sprint to get the connecting flight in Atlanta.
