Our Once in a Lifetime Trip to the World part 4
Cast
M (DH44) 'I can think of places I'd far rather spend all this b****y money on'
J (Me42) 'I'm soooooooo excited'
D (DS15) 'I can't bear crowded places' (!!!)
M (DD11) 'I don't care how fast/high/scary it is I'm going on it'
Y (DS9) 'Can we do this and this and this and this
'
The kids got home from school mid-afternoon and DH and the DSs went off to have their hair cut. Finished cleaning out the fridge and giving remains to the neighbours; bedding all changed and put back on the beds; keys to the two families who were looking after the house; rubbish out; and time-switches set. At 4.30 I left DH to have plenty of faffing time and I took the kids off to the pool to tire them out and have a last ditch attempt at getting these lily-white legs looking a tad less British!
Showered, changed and final checks and we're in the taxi at 7.45pm as arranged. He took a really round-about route and charged about 250 shekels for the pleasure (about £30). We arrived at 8.55 and as I was getting out of the taxi I caught the back of my trousers on a piece of metal in the car and they ripped all the way down the back! I didn't know where to start rummaging about in the cases for another pair and thought I'll get a replacement pair once we've checked in easier said than done (more later).
We got to the Delta check-in desk and my little heart is pounding away ten to the dozen as I present the tickets and passports sure that I'm going to get left behind because of the discrepancy in the name on my tickets. Thank goodness hurdle number one successfully completed as they don't even bat an eyelid and we're through check-in and passport control by 9.25.
Suppertime and the boys had pitta and shwarma, DH and I shared a tuna sandwich, DD didn't eat (more interested in buying CDs) and drinks all round about 100 shekels.
Now to the search for replacement trousers. It's possible to find every kind of t-shirt, cap or bag in the airport but not a single pair of trousers (and it was the same in Orlando airport by the way as I checked it out on the way back). I finally found a sports pair but they didn't have my size. My DD convinced me a bubblegum pink pair would be ideal (even a size too small). I was so fed up by this time that I took them and toddled off to the bathroom to change. It took me the good part of 15 minutes to squeeze myself into them but they only came about half way up my backside. Fortunately I had a long shirt on and after putting my socks and trainers back on (which involved having to take the trousers down so that I could bend down) I manoeuvered my way back to the rest of my family. I looked as if I was desperate for the toilet as I could barely move my legs. Throughout the flight I had to remember to haul them up at the back as I got out of my seat or the people behind got a face full of said behind. Needless to say this apology for a pair of trousers would not be making the return trip and it helped that one of the kids managed to get pen down them during the flight.
I digress, as usual. Bought some magazines for the journey and DS2 bought some cars which he actually played with on the plane.
It was soon 10.30 and we went through to the departure gate. There then appeared to be some problem with our boarding cards and we had to wait until everyone else was on the plane before they could sort it out. Everyone of course was staring at us and wondering what crime we'd committed but we were soon on the plane only to be disappointed to find that the seat configuration wasn't exactly as we'd thought.
The plane wasn't full and lots of people had spare seats beside them. Unfortunately the 3rd seat beside DH and DS1 (both 6' tall) was taken and they were a bit peeved to say the least. This person, sitting in the aisle seat, also proceeded to fall asleep as soon as the plane took off making it almost impossible for my two to get out and move about. He did at one
