ZENA'S TRIP DAY 1

After all the excitement of will or won't we fly out on 24 April we had a fairly uneventful journey.
We were looking forward to the holiday, I thought I had everything planned but even I couldn't forsee what was going to happen the day before.
My husband leaves for work at 5.30 when he's on days and he woke me to say that he couldn't find the cat. We'd starting to pack the night before so I thought she'd found somewhere different to sleep. My husband has never owned a pet before and for the last 18 years they were unseparable. I started looking a couple of hours later and found her body on the lawn. I was upset but I knew that my husband would be devastated.
So instead of completing my packing, having my hair done, I'm telling white lies to hubby that I found the cat asleep and trying to organise the cremation. The vets had a charity box so I was able to donate the mountain of food I'd got in as our neighbour fed her whenever we went away.
We didn't get much sleep that night and had a very quiet and reflective journey round to Gatwick.

Used Valet parking in North terminal, very good except that they neglected to tell you that you have to enter via the multi storey car park. Last year we flew from South terminal and it's better from there. Everythings on the same level. In the North you have to go up 3 levels and then take the lift down to the ground floor to enter terminal. You're then at arrivals so have to go up a floor. Perhaps it was because I was very very tired but I found this all too confusing and much prefer the South terminal.

We checked in, avoiding the man trying to herd us to the auto checkin machines. Chris took his golf clubs to oversize baggage and we got through security reasonably quickly. We had breakfast and then went through to lounge.
They don't announce your flight there so we made an executive decision to make our way down and arrived before the masses. We weren't seached again at the gate so were soon boarding.
I watched a few films between sleeps and made use of the rewind/fast forward to see bits I'd missed. Tried to watch Avatar but gave up and watched The Blind Side instead.
A good flight, minimal turbulence until the last 45 minutes. Unable to use toilets so had a dilema should I join a queue at immigration or wait til afterwards. Decided on the former and picked the wrong queue. Our guy had had problems with his computer registering the fingerprints and he was so slow. When we went through he decided to go back to the old reader which only reads your two index prints.
Had to wait a while for our bags and to get through customs. Offloaded bags to conveyor belt, up esculator and straight on train. If we didn't have golf clubs we'd have taken bags with us.

First in queue at Dollar Express and received a Jeep Laredo. Chris has a Malibu, quite a big boot which goes under the back seat. Not quite big enough to take clubs lengthways as they are in a large carry case. Did manage to get a med size suitcase in as well.
Off to the villa, made it out of the airport this time without getting lost.

Last year we noticed that our local Dollartree were selling small milks so we stopped off there as my sister and I were desparate for a cup of tea. No milk so had to wait until we went to Walmart at Bass Road. This is being remodelled so not a pleasant experience to shop in at moment.

We went to Perkins for a meal, service was slow. Basics bought in Walmart and home to bed and hopefully to sleep.

great start Zena!!! sorry to hear about the cat, something we dread each time we go away.... hope things get much better for you xxxx

Oh no - your poor cat, I really feel for you. Look forward to reading more.

sorry about the cat, but do enjoy your holiday.

Thank you all for your kind comments. I debated whether to include it in the write up as it was a personnal thing. It did have a major impact on our holiday which I will reveal soon.

So sorry to hear about your cat.

Awh, so sorry to hear about the cat -isn't it funny how these things happen- best thing you can do is go away, things won't seem as bad when you get home.

Terrible news about your cat, but what a way to begin getting over it.

So sorry to hear about your cat, our cat had to be PTS a couple of months ago and we still miss her so much. Ours was about same age as yours so you have to think that they've had a fantastic life.

The cat had the best life ever, it was my husband I was more worried about. He spoilt her rotten and I was unsure of how he was going to take the news.

He took his mum and dad's death better!