Well hello from London Town! I have finally arrived safe and sound :) I have to say it was very hard for me saying goodbye to my family at the airport :( I don't think it had actually hit me at my send off that I was leaving all my beautiful friends and family behind.  I'm sorry if I didn't appear too emotional on Sat night, it certainly caught up with me as soon as I realised I had a few minutes before I had to go through to the departure lounge. I had a fabulous flight over to Dubai, the time went relatively well, and of course it didn't take me long to strike up a conversation with a fellow traveller waiting in the queue for the loo down the back of the plane. Dave was a lovely young guy from Dublin and he had been out working on an Oil rig off Australia, he was a heavy duty Fitter (private thought to self) will keep it clean! Anyway he was very nice to chat to and as it turned out it wasn't the last I saw of young Dave :)
Note to anyone wanting a peaceful seat where you have access to the loo at arms length away, no kiddies pulling your hair and your own personal waitress.waiter and own water cooler within reach, try sitting right down the very back, I had the entire row to myself, until a fellow moved from the seat across to be at the other end of me. This was on the Boeing 777 seat 39d, I normally go for a wing seat, but I was pleasantly surprised. I was able to spread out, move the arm seat up, thank heavens for my bum cushion! I know my kids gave me a hard time about it, but it saved me squirming in my seat for 12 hours!
Got to Dubai, and after finding my way on the shuttle train and through immigration went to go and pick up my case and guess who was sitting on his lonesome? Yes it was Irish Dave :) What a shame he was married girls, he was such a sweet guy and really quite happy to chat :) I was very impressed he. Told me all about his family, so that was lovely and we chatted on and on when suddenly we realised everyone had gone, the case thing had stopped and "No cases for either of us!" So we both decided to go find out what had happened, tracked someone down and they send us to a baggage place and they said, oh yes it has been locked away, for the flight tomorrow! I only had my little overnight bag with me, and makeup, tooth paste thank heavens. We both went out to the exits
together to find a taxi and a bit of a queue and a bit warm outside, but ok.  Word of warning, watch taxi drivers - they take you the longest way possible to hotel!   I remember what my brother Steve said, don't smile at them! Well I tried lol and I tried not to talk to much and the taxi driver kept talking still lol Dubai was very pretty with all the lights of the city.  After many corners and watching the odometer on the taxi driver's cab, I started to wonder if I would make it to the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa. I do have a view pics of inside my room, but I have to get them off the computer and work out how to upload them :)
I had to have a little smirk when I was greeted at the hotel by a gentleman who was wearing those funny shoes with the turned up toes and did look the part.  I had a room on level 7 which was in the executive suites, mine wasn't that opulent, but very adequate.  My only drama was, hmmm no change of smalls, as Emirates have my case!  Oh well, wash them Alana, they will dry by morning.  Showered and crawled I to bed.
My goodness where did the time go, when that wake up call went off I was still deep in slumber, having a nice dream.  Was woken at 5.00am so I could be down for breakfast at 5.30am and then get the shuttle bus at 6am. Damn, only one problem! Smalls still very damp on the close hoist over the
bath, OMG what is a girl to do?  Quick thinking, out comes the iron and was very grateful for a bit of heat to dry the smalls!
Had time for a (Dubai style continental breakfast) which consisted of about four or five sweet pastry things on a plate, beggars couldn't be choosers this morning, so had the lesser of evil's and then the bus actually took about half the time the taxi took to get us to the airport, amazing!
Got to the airport way too early, but then it was better getting the free shuttle bus as apprised to paying 53.00 Dirham (not sure of the spelling) .  Had plenty of time to wander around and look at the things I wouldn't be buying, I definately cannot carry anything else, am already at max weight :( besides this new bloody case is terrible, it's not coping well at all! Had time for the world's biggest coffee, not only did it require fingers to hold the cup (or should I say bucket) I needed both hands to pick it up lol
I met in the departure lounge a woman by the name of Lisa, who was a little older than me, she was travelling to London to see her son and grandson. She was from. South Africa, so Bianca I met two of your lovely ppl from Durban and previously from Joberg. Lisa gave me her card, so she wants to stay in touch.  After walking half a mile to the other end of the plane, found I was in the last row again with two spare seats between another traveller (Joh) from Durbhan and Joberg. John was busy with his camera when I sat down and then we ststarted chatting and then he showed