CAPTAIN SLOG STARDATE 65.13

Well, that was a crappy night's sleep. Thank God for my Jet Rest pillow! The pillows were all soft and squishy so had to abandon them. 6am came round far too soon and I dragged myself out of bed. One look at the breakfast sandwiches I'd brought with me was enough and they were consigned to the bin. I whipped the tea bags though as they were probably the only chance I'd have for a decent cuppa in Fort Lauderdale.

I rang the front desk and found out that the Hoppa was due at 6.45 and got out there with a minute to spare.  I do like Terminal 5, it's just a bit more civilised than the rest. I was just a bit disappointed not to see the Specsavers' shepherd again though.

 I had already got my boarding pass when I checked in online so just needed to visit the bag drop desk.

Oh Debs, what can I say, you must be stronger than you thought! The damn case weighed over 24 kilos and I was only allowed 23! 

So I had to unlock it and transfer some of my clothes to my hand luggage. She said as long as it registered 23 something,  it was OK. Otherwise it was £40. Good job I pack in poly bags, so I didn't have to transfer my smalls in full public view. Hmm this could seriously curtail my shopping plans .....

Got me a squirty of Marc Jacobs Dot at the Duty Free, think I may get some on the way home. Didn't buy anything though as it's much cheaper to buy it in the US. At the gate it was obvious that it was going to be a full flight. No chance of an upgrade this time.

I got  a bit of a fatty in the next seat. Not too bad but he kind of commandeered the armrest and part of my leg space and very conveniently dropped off to sleep. Schweinhund!

I watched Skyfall. Pretty good, especially the starting sequence across the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Never expected Judi Dench to peg it though!

Had a really nice Butter Chicken curry for lunch - more of that later -literally!

The guy on the seat across the aisle worked for the Disney cruise line as an entertainer and from what he was saying, it sounds like a great job to have, they even paid for his flights home twice a year as well.

The 747 landed like a ton of bricks at Miami (obviously a male pilot), then the fun began .....

I was quite close to the front of the plane, so managed to get off early and leg it over to Immigration. You would not believe that it took a little over 2 hours to shuffle to the front of the queue and be put in a line for the desk. They only had 6 desks open. Unacceptable! Everyone was seething but if you said anything, you would have been sent to Guantanamo Bay! No photographs allowed in the Immigration Hall so they were hoping nobody would find out. If that was the UK, heads would roll! About half an hour before we got to the front there was an announcement asking BA 207 passengers to move their luggage from around the luggage belt - chance would have been a fine thing !

Anyhow with true British aplomb we all chatted and joked our way through two hours. As I was nearing the front, I felt the stirrings of my Butter Chicken and then it became more urgent! I just had time to entrust my hand luggage to the family in front and dive into the loo! Bloody Stuff as Jethro would say!

Got back just in time to reach the desk. The Immigration Officer asked me how long I had waited, so I told him we hadn't been impressed with the hospitality so far. He looked like House and was just as grumpy. All he could say was, how lucky I was not to be coming through next week when most of them would be on strike and queues would be up to 8 hours long!

I spotted my case from quite a distance. That would be the bright pink flowery one with the outside pocket torn off! 

b*****.

And, I still had to find a public telephone as my US cell phone was nearly out of credit, so I could call my transfer.

As luck would have it, as I went through into the Arrivals hall, I spotted my name on a card and met up with my driver, Antonio. Just after that we passed a couple of English ladies, Pam and Sally, who I had met in the interminable queue and whose driver had not turned up.

Antonio knew who their driver was and called him up to tell him that they were going to be in my car as they were staying at the Marriott down the road from me.

So, here I am in the Best Western.

I have been out for a walk, found the beach and bought a six pack of Bud which is now down to four and residing in my room fridge. I also have a microwave and a coffee maker, a free breakfast, free wifi and a TV the size of a small bungalow.

The sales lady where I bought the beer told me that there is a trolley bus that whizzes around the beach area and shopping centres. It costs $2 which seems pretty reasonable, for all day. There is also a shuttle to Sawgrass Mills which I may have to visit to sort out my luggage problem.
The beach also looks nice so I may go for a stroll along there as well.

Bit tired tonight so think I'll go to bed soon and watch some adverts with a bit of a programme in between. Those of you who know US TV will know what I mean!

Pam and Sally have given me their hotel's telephone number, so I may see if they want to meet up for dinner tomorrow as I think their hotel might be just round the corner.