Okay, I admit it. Even being able to sleep anywhere doesn't make you immune to the horrors of jetlag. (Yes Mum, I should have listened to you!).

I thought I had prepared well, not sleeping at all after 9am on Thursday. At 5.30am we loaded the luggage into the car and drove to Egham, at 6.30am the taxi picked us up and at about 7.15am I found out we were headed for SAN FRANCISCO!!!!!

Bleary-eyed but excited we mooched around the departures lounge, grabbed some breakfast (and some decent teabags - the americans don't do decent tea). Had a bit of a surprise when I turned round from buying teas and saw Grumpy talking to friends Craig (Rutty) and Helen, but no, it wasn't another surprise - they were heading for New York!

After what seemed an eternity we got on the plane. I was unconscious before the safety demonstation!!!! Managed several broken hours sleep on the 10 hour flight - couldn't sleep when I woke up and saw out of the window the gorgeous mountains and lakes of some part of Canada as we flew down the west coast. Does anything look so perfect as a bright white fluffy cloud when viewed from above??

The pilot parked the plane, and off we went for the various security procedures and endless waiting to be reunited with the luggage. (Question - why is our luggage ALWAYS the last to come off the plane?? Is it some kind of conspiracy??)

With luggage piled high on the only airport trolley with a whining wheel (again - ALWAYS us - WHY???!) we set off to collect our hire car.......................