Well here we are,almost a third of the way into the flight and still 8 hours to
go! And it’s daytime so the chance of a sleep is probably negligible. So what else can I do to while away a few minutes then bring you up to date?

Dan and Helen took us to Farnborough to get the train to Gatwick where we had booked into (where else) the Premier Inn! From the station to the North terminal via the shuttle is all undercover and all you have to do is cross the road to the hotel. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, the heavens opened and in a dash of a couple hundred yards towing 2 wheely bags we got proper soaked!

Once in the hotel foyer, you are 2 floors below reception and about 20 people and bags are waiting for the lifts - which go up to the 10th floor, are incredibly slow and one was out of order! However, once there there were plenty of screens for automated check in. Apparently, these don’t work too well with wet fingers!

Anyway, once past these hurdles, we found a space in the bar and RELAXED!

Walked across to the terminal at 8 am, dropped the bags (automated and thus the odd problem!) got through security (but left the iPads in the bags so got pulled in) and finally made it to a cafe for breakfast (where smoked salmon was ‘off’ negating the anticipated eggs Benedict).

Plane took off more or less on time and Top Gun Maverick film available so a great couple of hours spent there.

And there you have it - see you in Costa Rica

ADOG/LMAG xxx