The adventure has started

chris dropped us at Bath station at 21:30. boarded the London train at 21:56 heading for London. REading was the third stop along the line, our destination. Just after we had been warned about speaking with mobiles, a man with a VERY loud voice told the whole carriage about One foot in the grave and went on to Dad´s Army. the sweetest words we heard were, "this is our stop."

There was a "suited" man who had not paid his fare who had an argument with the conductor. He was heading fore London but the conductor decanted him in Reading.

There was bucketing rain in readin and only two other passengers on the very well driven trip to Heathrow. (met them later in the QUEUE!)

the airport was deserted apart from a helpful, pleasant young scot who directed us upstairs where we had mineral water and a comfy seat and panicked when the departures EVENTUALLY appeared without Lima!

An Australian couple was there at the back of one who were waitning for their noon flight to Tenerife!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There was the school grooup from hell, abandoned by a teacher at the end of his tether who had told them to stay with their luggage. They did´nt. they DID give eachother rides on luggage trolleys down the ramp.

at three am Margaret discovered a notice for the flight and we escaped from the minilouts.

downstairs there was a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge queue for the 6:20 flight to Mdrdid, whose check in time was 5:00am. our check in time was 4:30m although our flight was 7:30 and they told us to go back upstairs and wait for a check in call. we all refused because we had been there for hours.

the flight was delayed and the weather was disgusting and when we did take off it seemed an eternity before we cleared the clouds. we arrived late in Madrid and neither of us had eaten since Bath. It is now 14:30 plane time and wer are starving. We met one or two of our group but no names yet.

still starving. Scabby heided weans - do not draw nigh!! but Hey ho this is exciting.

meal at 2:45 no choice - only pasta, rest delicious.

we are seated in 46D&E although we were second and third to book in.