Well hello Orlando, I\u2019ve missed you!<\/p>\n
I sit here again on a lovely November morning.\u00a0 It is very tranquil as the waterfall gently cascades into the pool and the sunshine is making me squint! Seriously, I am not complaining at all as the weather is fabulous.<\/p>\n
So lets go back a few hours\u2026<\/p>\n
We left home at 8:30am on Saturday and after a quick McDonalds breakfast stop we headed up the M6.\u00a0 All was well for half an hour or so and then we hit traffic.\u00a0 There was a large slow moving load that was causing chaos \u2013 a whole 9 miles of chaos according to the sat nav!\u00a0 There seemed to be no quicker alternative routes so we sat it out reaching the airport at about 11am.<\/p>\n
Check in was easy with no queue at the Upper Class desk and the fast track security line was similarly empty.\u00a0 We both got searched though for some reason.
\nA quick stop at WDF for aftershave and lip gloss and then off to the lounge.\u00a0 It\u2019s a shared lounge at Manchester and quite poor \u2013 a million miles away from the Virgin Heathrow lounge. (Metaphorically speaking for anyone who wants to be smart).<\/p>\n
Everything was on time and we boarded at 12:30. We weren\u2019t in our usual seats of 6A and K but were a row back in 7.\u00a0 The Upper Class cabin was full, all but one seat however the Premium Economy was totally empty!<\/p>\n
The flight time was well quick at 8.5 hours; we were really pleased.\u00a0 The flight itself had various bumpy spots, not really bad but the Captain was a little over zealous with the seat belt sign so we were belted in a fair amount.\u00a0 The food was ok.\u00a0 Paul had garlic chicken with mushroom risotto and I had cheese and biscuits.\u00a0 We both then had sticky toffee pudding with vanilla sauce.<\/p>\n
Paul watched some movies; \u2018Salt\u2019 (described as superb), \u2018The Sorcerers Apprentice\u2019 (described as OK) and \u2018Dinner for Schmucks\u2019 (described as crap).\u00a0 I read mags and did endless puzzles.\u00a0 The only real notable part of the flight was the nutter woman!\u00a0 She looked normal but her behaviour indicated she was definitely a few sandwiches short of a picnic.\u00a0 She had a throw away camera and took LOADS of pics throughout the flight \u2013 many of which were out of the window, with flash!!\u00a0 At 40 thousand feet over the Atlantic even without the flash reflection what was she hoping to get?\u00a0 At some points she took pics of the cabin and even took one of Paul!!\u00a0 She also laughed hysterically and loudly at whatever film she was watching.\u00a0 She spent loads of time out of her seat too and yet whenever you looked around the cabin she was no-where to be seen.\u00a0 When it came to landing the seat belt sign had been on for ages and it was almost at the \u201ccrew take your seats\u201d prompt that she finally arrived back to her seat.<\/p>\n
We landed at 5:30 local time to a slowly setting sun.\u00a0 Debarkation was quick but sadly being on the late flight meant the immigration hall was packed.\u00a0 We queued for half an hour but at least our bags were waiting for us on the carousel once we were through.\u00a0 Customs was quick and as we headed up the escalator to the train we thought we were home free.\u00a0 Trouble was we noticed we had yet another broken case.\u00a0 We decided to go and get the car and then deal with the luggage desk afterwards.\u00a0 Paul had booked and pre-registered the car to allow him to use the Alamo kiosk.\u00a0 This would be great as there was a massive queue at Alamo.\u00a0 Trouble was, yep, you guessed it, the kiosk didn\u2019t work.\u00a0 So Paul got in the queue and I waited (patiently I might add :-)).<\/p>\n
We then headed to the Virgin baggage desk which was on the other side of the airport.\u00a0 We filled in all the forms and were given a number to call.\u00a0 The desk could authorise only $100 so we need to call to get authorisation to spend more after we have priced up a replacement case.<\/p>\n
We finally left the airport 1.5 hours after landing (we have got through in 30 mins before) so were perhaps a little fractious!<\/p>\n
We have a small Kia Rio \u2013 it\u2019s a bit naff but was cheap and does the job!\u00a0 The evening traffic was fine as we headed to Publix and Applebees.\u00a0 We got the usual essential shopping and then got a carry out from Applebees as we were both tired.<\/p>\n
We had a minor panic when we got to the house as there was a weird lock box hanging on the door and Paul couldn\u2019t get the key to work.\u00a0 We thought for one awful moment the locks had been changed but it was only user error and we soon got in ok.
\nWe ate, unpacked and hit the sack, it was 10pm local time so all in all had been a very long day.<\/p>\n
We were up bright and early on Sunday morning (body clocks still not adjusted) and had our usual itinerary item for day 1 planned \u2013 breakfast at McDonalds in downtown Disney.\u00a0 Being early we parked ok and the weather was really nice.\u00a0 It was warm and pleasant enough for shorts and T-shirts.\u00a0 As we walked past the Lego shop we both suddenly realised that McDonalds was gone!\u00a0 The building was there but had been turned into a new chicken restaurant.\u00a0 Being creatures of habit we didn\u2019t like our plans being changed!\u00a0 We got back in the car (the rest of Downtown Disney being boycotted for now!) and headed to Crossroads, the nearest McDonalds.\u00a0 Paul tried to order off menu bit it didn\u2019t work at all.\u00a0 Anyway, we did eventually eat our breakfast.<\/p>\n
After brekkie, we went over to Millennia.\u00a0 We were early so went the long way via I-Drive.\u00a0 We got there at around 10 to 11 so decided to go to Super Target and Off Broadway shoes first.\u00a0\u00a0 We bought loads of sweets and some coat hangers but surprisingly NO shoes.\u00a0 We both tried some on but nothing that spurred a purchase.<\/p>\n
We then went over to Millennia, parking up by Niemman Marcus.\u00a0 I did hand over some dollars here with purchases of L\u2019Occitane handcream, some Yankee candles and a silver necklace from Tiffany\u2019s.\u00a0 The shop assistant tried to get Paul to buy me the diamond version.\u00a0 I was with him but it was not to be!\u00a0 Jimmy Choo was very disappointing with no sale items at all so my spending was reasonably curbed it has to be said.\u00a0 I did fall in love with a handbag in Juicy Couture but left it behind\u2026\u2026(for now ?)<\/p>\n
As we exited Milennia it was raining!\u00a0 It was very fine rain and the temperature was still warm and as we drove back to the Davenport area it soon brightened up.<\/p>\n
We decided to have food early (kind of lunch and dinner combined) so went to TGI\u2019s.\u00a0 We had some really nice Jack Daniels chicken and then I had caesar salad and Paul had Pasta with chicken and prawn.\u00a0 It was really nice, accompanied by a big glass of root beer.\u00a0 The only slight issue was that I was a bar and it was Sunday so there was a lot of noise from those watching the football.<\/p>\n
We came home and watched X-Factor and the results out by the pool with a nice cup of tea!<\/p>\n
So, here we are this morning.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had bagals, juice and tea and a visit from George and the pool man.\u00a0 Sadly, the pool heater is broken and it\u2019s a call out job so no swimming for us (unless we are very brave!).\u00a0 No idea how long it will take as we\u2019ve left it with George.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re off to Disney now, Hollywood Studios and Epcot.\u00a0 Until next time\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Well hello Orlando, I\u2019ve missed you! I sit here again on a lovely November morning.\u00a0 It is very tranquil as the waterfall gently cascades into the pool and the sunshine is making me squint! Seriously, I am not complaining at all as the weather is fabulous. So lets go back a few hours\u2026 We left … <\/p>\n