Thursday 9th December 2010

[09:13 GMT]

It's cold here. For one that normally isn't affected by such things this is a bold statement, especially since I'm currently indoors!

Yes, the airport lounge has some issue with air conditioning this morning, so it's wrap up warm time!

Our journey started this morning in the dead of night, ice still on the floor from the recent snow falls. Initially, it went well - once I'd defrosted the inside of the car so I could stick the Sat Nav to the window. However, once we got to the Dartford Bridge it was stop and start from there until just after the A21 turn off on the M25. This coupled with the fact that one of the departure ramps was closed at Gatwick (it was too icy) meant we didn't drop the car off until over 30 minutes after our allotted arrival time.

Still, check-in and security was quick (no beeps for either of us and for some reason no-one asked us to remove shoes) so we gained back some time there.

Linda's just back from her visit to duty free - laden down with creams and potions. Still, it means I have someone to get me another coffee whilst I sit with the stuff.

Flight time is 11:15 and is currently still on schedule. Estimated arrival time: 15:25 EST.

Weather outside is becoming very overcast, although no rain is forecast. Oh, did I mention it's cold???

[18:45 EST]

Well, we're here in the villa. I've just been looking at the trouble at work on the news. Glad I'm out of that all.

The flight was a hour late leaving due to some issue with some passengers getting through security :(

Aside from the late start, the flight itself was pretty nice, only a little bit of chop. The seats I'd picked were OK, aside from the fact that the locker above us was full of emergency equipment, so I had to leave my camera bar with the flight attendants in the back of the kitchen.

We arrived just after a flight from Scotland, so we weren't as quick through immigration as we've been before. Still, this time we remembered to carry our cases with us as we walked through the airport.

We went to Hertz for the first time to hire our car. We were pretty impressed. Not only were we seen pretty quickly, we actually got the Mustang car that we booked online - normally we get swapped out for a Sebring.

Linda's unpacking now, we'll then pop out for a quick bite to eat before grabbing some shopping for the week.