Saturday 20 to Wednesday 24 January

Checked with a variety of International Car Hire firms; settled on 'Fast', which links with 'National' and 'Alamo' in the US. After much to-ing and fro-ing found the best way is to pick up a car from Newark, New Jersey and drop it off in Miami. Also works well with flight arrangements since we only need a return to Miami, which, serendipitously, stops off in Newark.

Information input also came in from Bill and the Internet. We also sent out enquiries to Ross and Lou and Jen.

A trip to the US Embassy showed we need a visa, but, from the Canadian Embassy, do not need one for Canada.

Saturday 3 March

Visa day at the American Embassy

Background

Turn up for the books. We at ITS are informed on the Tuesday prior to the Eid week that we have the full five days off. Pen got to know on the Wednesday they have only four days. This means I have to brave the American security net alone for both of us. Arrived at 08:30 picked up the first of a series of numbered tickets. Then off to get copies of the passports (told they are required). Two and a half hours wait outside and I get to present the papers and pay the visa fee as well as explain for the first of a large number of times why, as British Nationals we need visas.

Next a two hour wait inside to finally meet with the visa officer who was also wondering why we were applying for visas. The thirty second run down ends with the synopsis, 'I was told at the information counter the month before we needed them' and I am told to collect the passports between two and three the following Wednesday.

Why do I get the feeling that this will repeat when we cross the border between Canada and America in the summer?

Sunday 4 March

While surfing the web for accommodation details we book the Sheraton on the Falls (Canadian side) for our first two nights since the room seems too good to pass up on. More pieces fall into place, but the biggest are still to be placed!

Wednesday 7 March

Two o'clock and time to collect the passports, which was done swiftly and with a minimum of fuss albeit with some confusion on the part of those collecting since the only people who knew for sure what was going on were the guards. Even so matters were done and dusted in less than twenty minutes.

Wednesday 4 April

Flights paid for well in advance. Now will we live to regret this apparent madness?

Tuesday 10 April

Official Application goes in for Summer Leave, TWO months ahead of the anticipated date. This really is a turn up for the books and one that shows a really positive effort on the part of ITS. Most definitely, ten out of ten for them at this point in time. This is also the best confirmation that the holiday dates are a 'GO' until we are on the plane and it is taking off!

Time to pick up the flight tickets. We find that the booking is for the expected departure, but the return dates, confused by our safety plans are for August 4. This works out better than we had planned, so we are very happy with the dates and making the most of the, what can now be described as, extra time! There must be a new angel in heaven looking after us and I think I know her name.

Tuesday 8 May

Car Hire paid for early. Actually it would have been even earlier if the Car Hire people had not changed who they dealt with in the time between our first enquiry and our return to make the booking a week ago! We also very nearly ended up making the booking via the internet and would have if it had not been for having to work through two sets of international exchange rates with the Sterling pound the thin meat in the sandwich!

After much restructuring and no guarantee of 'cruise control' (one of the main reasons for thinking of going for a full size car) we have gone for an intermediate car namely a two door Pontiac Grand Am and requested 'cruise control'. It remains to be seen what we end up with! One slight saving is that we do not need to get international licenses. However, we lose out in that the one way drop off charges have changed from $199 to $500 as a result of the changes mentioned above.

Now it is time to start saving furiously for the hotels, food and spending money! At least we have two more paydays (in theory) to help there.

Tuesday 8 May

A pre-America purchase (an MP3 car player ) was ordered by mail order and, after checking with Ross, delivery was arranged to Ross in Toronto. The best laid plans go awry when Ross goes for three weeks holiday and the package is dispatched earlier than expected (supplies came in earlier than expected). Panic and intercontinental phone calls later, not to mention a few e.mails, and some sort of arrangement is sorted via UPS and a very competent assistant, Aimee, in Calgary! Time will tell, so I must bide my time and watch the developments via the UPS tracking system on the www.

Thursday 25 May

Ross returns and calmly takes control of the situation, then gives me my next shock. Canada has taxes that I had not considered and, if that was not enough, there is a brokerage fee to cough up as well (for crossing an international border?). I am now thinking I should have had the player sent to an American address, but time to bite the bullet and pay for my stupidity and ignorance.

In truth, the payment comes later, in the interim Ross covers me till I reach him and my erstwhile package! When we do connect I have a series of MP3 files to transfer in readiness for getting the system up and running and a few days stationary will be needed to sort that side of things, hiccups not withstanding!

Saturday 2 June

Another Pay Day, with a surprise in the bank. The boys at ITS have pulled a rabbit out of the hat and sorted out holiday pay earlier than anyone had expected. Another ten out of ten, without doubt.

Money is sent back to the UK for this month and the holiday period and most of the rest is passed on to the travelling bank, Penny. The holiday is now as much of a 'go' as it can be short of having our feet off the ground, but we still have twenty six days to go for that experience!

Friday 15 June

Bill flies into Dubai and drops in with us for a whirlwind visit while on his way to visit his new school in Kenya. In his brief five day stopover we reformat his laptop and introduce him to a few web formats while he enlightens and entertains us in his own inimitable and energetic style. While with us it seems the holiday has already started. In due course he will be in America visiting friends in Missouri. January 2002 may see us in his neck of the woods if we swing the trip to Madagascar.

Tuesday 19 June

The start of the ten day countdown. Tension mounts and nerves start to fray.

Saturday 23 June

The pocket book returns home after suffering a hardware malfunction and being rushed off to hospital. It is one of the vital pieces in the electronic communications armoury since it allows me to keep an ongoing record of events as they happen ready for download to the laptop, which is neither as portable nor as dependable in its self sufficiency for power.

Tuesday 26 June

A totally riveting day at work (left the flat at 05:30, on station by 06:30 till 16:30, back at the flat by 17:45) left even the under forties in need 'Philisan' revitalisation, let alone the over forties!

Getting back into Abu Dhabi did not mean clearing ones mind. Instead it was a case of grabbing the flight tickets and zapping over to Mehdi for an eleventh hour check (Yes, I know the flight has been booked, confirmed and reconfirmed, but . . . and Johannesburg is still a fresh memory)!

Wednesday 27 June

The last 'working day'. 'Get Out of Jail Free' cards were awarded at midday and the fortunate steamed into Abu Dhabi and an island wide power cut! Did I say fortunate? We start as we mean to go on!

Pen happened on the scene soon after the power cut occurred and, in her words, 'there was mayhem on the roads'!

Power was finally restored at about seven in the evening after a failed restart at four. These things are sent to fry us.

Thursday 28 June

Abu Dhabi to Dubai (100 miles)

A quiet start with games on the computer to while away the time. Final checks on the Internet and a failed attempt to pay the phone and Internet bills in advance. By six it was time to drop off Pen's truck and go for a meal with Joan and Neil. A very relaxed and enjoyable three hours later and we were on the way back to the flat for final preparations for Dubai.

Etisalat was swiftly revisited and the clerk dispatched the bills with swift efficiency. Next a taxi. Despite the awkward time, one was encountered quickly and by quarter to ten we were already boarding the waiting coach by Al Rais Travel on Al Falah Street (erstwhile Jawazad Street) ready for the run to Dubai. The holiday has already started, now the journey begins.

Arrival at Dubai International at midnight was notable for the traffic at the airport itself. Despite the volume and queues we were through check in by 12:45 and having a drink in the departure lounge by 1:00. Only one hour to boarding, time for a drink and quick run round Duty Free. Boarding by 2:10 and we continue on our way!

Everything is as ready as we can make it. All the known pieces of the jigsaw are starting to come together. Now it is time for the acid test; we will find out how it all works for real.

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