Woop woop, it’s Arrival Day Eve (or Departure Day Eve, whichever side of the fence you’re on)!!! Weeks, months, years of stressful planning finally capitulating in today’s shenanigans. The 60 day restaurant booking window, the 7 day Lightening Lane booking window…the whole damn stressful, wonderful wait until departure…Finally, our time had come, Mickey…we’re coming for you!
Up and at them, we have a lot to do…animal feeds, and guilt cuddles complete (two weeks without Tala cuddles…bad times), a few last minute bits and bobs and notes for house sitter extraordinaire Anna, and we were finally out the door. Only 2 hours later than planned…thank goodness we aren’t flying today, our time keeping is on par with the March Hare (little bit of Disney referencing to start the trip).
Right, kids to pick up, Elsa to drop off…Gatwick via Warwick…hmmm. Yep, Jordan’s beloved Poodle was holidaying with her lovely breeder…living the life of luxury and pampering for a fortnight (Although I’m certain given the opportunity the Poodle would have been holidaying with us over the kids 😂).
I digress…a brief 2.5hr danger run to Warwick, where Jordan only almost killed us twice (a new record, but to be fair…the van’s breaks did temporarily disappear…apparently). Elsa dropped off (she’ll never want to leave), and Dad displaying his stereotypical Welshness; ‘damn those sheep are sexy’…bloody hell Paul, chill out mun!! Note: I may have exaggerated the last part just a little…thought he was impressed with the rare breed sheep in an adjacent field.
With the loss of Elsa from our travel party, Jordan instantly hits a new emotional low and momentarily tries to end it all with some further poor driving…fortunately attempt number 3 of the day was foiled, and we all lived to fight another day and make it to the nearest services for a quick formula 1 style driver swap. I should say…the weather was particularly bad today, and visibility was awful…which doesn’t help when the M40 is filled with undertaking idiots, intent on riding the hard shoulder. Happier mood Deany…Disney awaits tomorrow.
Speaking of which, quick lunch break, BK, Chopstix and quick entry into the services hop scotch tournament, where I schooled the kids, won the Reading services ‘Ultimate Hopscoth Champion 2024’ trophy, and Grayson won the contest to intimidate a young kid off the communal services piano for a quick blast of Three Blind Mice to spur us on the way…damn this kid can psych you up!
The rest of the trip seemed never ending, with some glimpses of whitty bants (mainly from the kids), and my Dad showing his age…’How do I do filters?’. I have no idea either Paulos…never had to use them 🙄
One last pee break at the services just off Slough that Grayson insisted he would one day live within, before showing his domination as Alpha male within the Fletchers. “You look like you need a good beating!” (Insert swift sucker punch to poor old Dad)…Sorry dad, no idea where that came from, or why he laid into you harder than Daniel San did to poor little Johnny Lawrence (been catching up on my Cobra Kai) but if it helps, Grayson does now look more distraught than you do in pain 😂. Poor overexcited little kid…
And just like that…we were finally here!!! Yep, now time for the next bit of trauma…Navigating drop off. For the grand privilege of 10 minutes premium parking, in the drop off zone, at good old Gatwick South…only £6?! Bargain at double the price…which apparently we decided was true, racking up a mind boggling £11 fee as apparently we can’t move fast enough to beat the 10 minute limit…damn. Thus, the great drop of debacle was born! Kids, make a note, this will not do for the next two weeks…speed is our friend if you want to Disney the right way!! They’ll learn…
Bloc Hotel for the night…game changer of a hotel. Right in the terminal, a short walk in the morning to the bag drop off and security, and just a damn convenient hotel all round…with some discounts across the terminal restaurants and coffee shops…excellent. The trade off? A quick game of hotel room Tetris. Yep, I hadn’t heard of this twilight bag drop off, so instead had to navigate 4 cases, 4 backpacks, a double buggy, 2 children and 2 very tired adults through the narrow corridors and tiny rooms of the Bloc Hotel. I do love this challenge mind…
Evening meal at the most expensive Wetherspoons in the country with the Elmo twins (yep the kids are wound up and excited beyond belief), where Jordan hit new lows with a bean and sausage barter with the kids for a slice of pizza. Damn Jo, control yourself. To be fair, she had drank almost half a pint of cider and was now hammered. No Jordan, you haven’t been spiked, you have half a stomach and can’t handle your alcohol…not that you ever could.
Take away Lemonade coffee cups, and it was time to head back to the room, quick showers, bit of TV and chill before bed. Early start tomorrow…it’s DEPARTURE DAY!!!
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