Had a nightmare day today, preparing for the holiday with a very heavy cold :(. Tried to tell one of my credit card companies that I was going to be away, but they needed to know where I was going. They suggested that I wait for Grumpy to come home so that he could tell them.

This routine works for 2 companies (and both of the reps thought that Grumpy was lovely for organising the holiday - me still none the wiser thanks to being locked in the ensuite while Grumpy filled them in in the kitchen.

3rd call is to Capital One, and I am promptly put through to their (indian) call centre. I start the normal security drill, and explain that I'm phoning to let them know that I'm going away tomorrow.

Cap.One: "Where are you going?"
Me: "I don't know. My husband is taking me as a surprise. I'll put him on so that he can tell you, because he doesn't want me to know yet."
Hands phone over to G and retreats to the ensuite.............

Grumpy: "He wants to talk to you again"
Cap.One: "Right Miss Butler, so you are going on holiday to USA........."
Me: "I beg your pardon?"
Cap.One: "You are going on holiday to.........."
Me: "Ummmmmm, I can't believe you just told me that! I told you it was a surprise from my husband and you've just ruined it!!!"

He starts to protest, saying security rules mean he has to tell me (and I tell him exactly what I think of that - he got both barrels).

Within 30 seconds I'd confirmed I would be complaining and closing my account immediately. G will be too.

What a bunch of muppets.

So with 5 hours before we leave I know we're headed for the States, but beyond that I'm clueless. Grumpy is quite relieved, but we'll see what happens in the next 24 hours...................