Well, I over estimated how long it took to get here, not 36 but 34.5 hours and that was with landing 30 minutes early at
Orlando, LOL.

Jason dropped us off at Perth Airport about 15.30 and after a wander through the shops we ducked into the ladies shower (for
the bench) so Marian could give me a hand putting on some compression socks for those dreaded swollen ankles. Well,
didn’t work, socks too small, so after another wander through the shops and purchasing another pair, we once again
attempted the feat, LOL,we must have looked a sight, and a South African lady helped with the finishing touches. A wait at the
gate and we twere off on our Emirates flight to Dubai at 6.09 (one minute early, LOL). The plane had lots of empty seats, so
we managed to have our row of four to ourselves. Didn’t sleep much, my longest for the whole trip was the first 2 hour nap on
that flight, after that they deteriorated to intemittent very short naps.
The food was very nice, with some interesting foods I’ve never even heard of, but rather tasty. However, overall we had 3
dinners and a pizza snack before we got a breakfast coming into New York.
There was lots of turbulence so a rather bumpy trip, and once at Dubai we had to circle as there was lots of traffic. Interesting
that it was so busy in the middle of the night! Anyway, watching the lights of the runway getting closer on these great cameras
they use nowadays, when we rather sharply went skyward again. Apparently there was still a plane on our runway, so we
circled yet again, and they were big circles, to the extent when we got off the Departures board had our next flight as
Boarding! So very rapidly we headed for the train to the other side of the airport and our gate, Missed the train and had to wait
another 3 minutes. Got to the other side and the Departures Board now says Final Call,6 minutes. Well to say we hurried is a
little understatement, but we got to the gate where they were still boarding, only to discover the 6 minutes meant walking time,
the plane was leaving in 10 minutes! Shattered we found our seats and as this flight was rather full, managed to have one
spare seat in the row of 4 this time. Shared it with a nice Indian man who slepy most of the time to our envious astonishment.
When he finally woke and was asked, apparently he does the trip quite often and has trained himself to sleep the time away.
Lucky beggar, lol.
Sunday in immigration in New York – 2 people on checking the arrivals with new travel visas, so needless ro say the queue
took a while, but reinforcements did finally arrive. Had our fingerprints scanned & photo taken and then on to claim our
baggage and go through customs. Caught another train to the domestic terminal and as our cases had already been checked
through to Orlando, we found the drop point and then queued for check-in. The man there designated us as TSR checked,
which meant we were not to take anything out of our cases at security, eveything had to stay inside them. Very odd!!!
Another wait at a gate, and then finally on the Orlando flight which was very full as well. Got off the plane, caught another train,
claimed our baggae, and then picked up the hire car, I am driving a grey Volkswagen Beetle on the wrong side of the road on
the other side of the world, LOL. The GPS took us quite nicely to Joan & Hal’s, and as it was still light made it a lot easier,
though like home, no one likes sitting on the speed limit! Joan fed us some great home made soup and some strawberry
cake, and then I left Marian there and made my way to my motel room for the first 2 nights. Am now unpacked & showered
and blog written and as it’s 20 past 10 in the evening, am going to see if I can get some sleep. First priority tomorrow is a sim
card and then some walking after these 2 days of inactivity interspersed with airport walking!
PS I know it’s late, but it is still Sunday here, Happy Mothers Day. xoxo
PPS It’s thundering outside……