I slept well at The Regency. I like it a lot and it will be my hotel of choice in future. Much as I loathe Miami airport, it is a good gateway to other parts of The Americas, so has to be tolerated.

I was wondering about brekkie when I realised, that as a most honoured Sapphire Member of the One World Alliance, I would be able to scrounge some free nibbles at the airport in the Business Lounge.

I had a really nice drive to the airport with Ramon, the bus driver.  Before I left, I had asked to speak to the Manager. I told her that this was the best hotel I had stayed in, in Miami and it would be my hotel of choice next time. Praise given, where praise due. So many people are happy to complain, so few praise.

Ramon was from Cuba. He said how nice it was that I spoke English properly. I didn't say daw-der I said door-ter ( phonetics, say it out loud). It's a wonder he understood me at all. He was already mentioned in despatches anyway to the Manager when I spoke to her, as he had been charming on the way in too.

I managed to find enough to eat at the lounge but it wasn't great as it was only for domestic travel. You get much better food and drink when you are travelling internationally. Enough though to stop any hunger pangs.

On arrival, it was all very easy, ABC stuff, and I was waiting for my bus outside within 20 minutes of landing at Tampa.

Along came the A-Z bus which serves the Hilton Garden Inn and I was checking in 10 minutes later.  There is a complimentary Mall bus from this hotel with a choice of two malls, The International and The Westshore.

The International is a bit upmarket, but I believe, mostly outlets and the Westshore  was more my level, Macy's, JCP etc, so I chose this one.

Again, a really nice welcome to this hotel. My room was spotless and comfortable. So off I went on Black Friday at 4pm to the mall.

It was manic!!

People everywhere, long queues for the tills, harassed assistants, you get the picture?

My idea was to do a spot of retail therapy and grab a nutritionally deficient meal and then go back to the hotel.

This was going to take a while.  I did find a few things, some crops, tops and a pair of grey trousers for bowling. I had to be careful as my case was groaning as it was.

Triumphant at last, I waited for the free hotel shuttle. Sure enough along it came and I trotted upstairs to my room with my purchases.

A quick celebratory glass of wine down in the bar, $8.50??? You are having a laugh, really??

It would now be a good time to pack my case for my return home and then go down to the business centre and check in for my flight.

Oh b*****!!

The harassed sales assistant has managed to leave the security tag on my crops. So now I have to go back again tomorrow and have them remove it.

Curses!!

Right then, check in for my BA flight. Seat 11J has been reserved for me in Business Class.

Oh no, it hasn't.

I am now in 3A which must be by the window. Damn, that means having to step over someone if I need to go to the loo etc.

Do you know what, I can't be bothered, there are no other seats on the aisle anyway, so I checked in, printed my boarding card and went to bed.