The journey started slowly - security in San Francisco moved at a snails pace then the baggage system at the airport was broken so we had to wait for an hour on the plane until our luggage was loaded.

I was in a middle seat - not good and made worse by the toddler in the seat behid who either cried or kicked my seat for the whole journey. No sleep as usual for me but I did catch up on four films and the entire last series of Downton Abbey.

Arriving half an hour late in Dubai mean my complementary stay at the airport hotel only allowed me 3 hours sleep before heading back for nearly 3 hours at the airport before my flight to Cape Town.

I was very confused about what time it was by this stage as I had eaten dinner then breakfast in the flight there then was offered dinner at the hotel and my body clock though it was the evening but the actual clock said it was the early hours of the morning as I had lost 11 hours on the journey over!

I was relieved to get on the next flight - next stop Cape Town and a reunion with mum!