We had scarcely fallen asleep when the alarm went off at 5am. Horrible!! We scurried around in a daze doing last minute packing etc and left for the airport just before 6.30am. The roads were very busy already and the M25 car park lived up to its name and we didn't reach Heathrow until about 8.30am, but it could easily have been worse. Having sailed through the formalities without any more than the usual amount of hassle we are now sitting in the BA Lounge enjoying coffee and bacon rolls. Delicious! We rarely take BA morning flights but perhaps we will have to do so more often!!

The flight was good, in spite of the fact that it took off nearly two and a half hours late due, so we were told, to a problem with the toilets! We stopped at Bahrain on the way but luckily we did not have to leave the plane and were able to snooze on board. Half an hour after taking off again we arrived in Doha. Lovely to be back after all these years! Immigration and customs were easy to negotiate and we only had to wait a few minutes for a taxi. Five minutes later we drew up at The Ramada Encore. Our room was clean and comfortable but a bit basic to say the least! They obviously don't expect people to bring any clothes with them as there was no place to put them! Never mind the lack of a wardrobe, not a tiny shelf or drawer anywhere! Ah well, no alternative but to live out of the suitcase. At least there was free wireless internet, a big bonus these days. We finally fell into bed at about 1 am, thankful for the air conditioning even though summer is still months away.