Boxing Day
We had our alarm set for 0600 as we were due to be departing at around 1000.
We checked the AA app and discovered that our flight was delayed by 1hr25 
We continued to get ready (as we were already awake) and headed over to the terminal at about 0730 (which with hindsight was too early.)
We dropped off our bags and printed our boarding cards which was simple.
We had a few minutes wait in security and the after eights in my bag (we took a selection of chocolates for our friends) needed checking but otherwise it was smooth sailing.
We headed to the American Airlines lounge as we are both still silver (sadly I will run out soon as I haven’t done enough BA flights this year!)
We had some breakfast including tea and coffee and then moved to some of the comfy seats to wait.
According to the app we were going to start boarding at 1050 but we actually ended up boarding at about 1140.
We were back in economy but luckily, we ended up with 3 seats between us, otherwise it would have been a bit tight – I don’t know if it is my imagination but the AA aircraft always feel smaller (but maybe it’s because we don’t like economy!)
We took off just after 12 and the meal was served at 1250 (we both has a pasta meal and it was fine), shortly afterwards we were plunged into darkness - why is this a thing now?
Around 1500 (UK time) we were brought ice cream, I watched Barbie (again) then multiple episodes of Modern Family.
Shortly before landing we were brought the famous Monty pastry things, we went with the vegetable option, and it wasn’t too bad.
We collected our bags and were through immigration and over to the car hire place by 1500 US time which felt quite speedy.
Rob selected a Jeep Rubicon (gladiator) from the available range, it was quite funny as the people in the garage seemed baffled that we didn’t select one of the other options (I have forgotten what they were).
This vehicle had the advantage of being 4WD which as snow was predicted felt like a good idea.
We took the short drive to Jennifer & Tom’s where we arrived just before 1600 and without any of the threatened snow arriving.
They had ordered pizza for our arrival (which was welcome) so we had dinner and then spent the evening catching up. This did involve making a puzzle which actually seemed to help keep us awake for the evening (not that I actually helped!)
We also received our signed copy of Jennifer’s book Friction and were amazed to find that we are listed in the acknowledgements….!
We haven’t read the book yet as we are waiting for our copy (that we have pre-ordered as it isn’t released yet) to arrive so we don’t get the signed copy messy 
Christmas Eve
We started our day at breakfast with my uncle John (some of you will remember my auntie – his sister, passed away in 2023 and he now lives alone so I always try to take him out ahead of going away) at our favourite breakfast places.
Rob and I then did our workouts, followed by cleaning the house (for the burglars as always) and then we set off delivering Christmas cards to friends and family. We also dropped off a few presents for friends that we wouldn’t manage to see on Christmas Day.
Christmas Day
I got up and did my workout at 0730 (I know I am crazy), Rob ironed while I was doing my workout then he did his.
We then put our last load of washing on (gym gear - so it wouldn’t be gross when we got back) and then we started packing which was completed by 1120. We also unwrapped the presents that our friends had given us :)
We then went to see uncle John and then to Rob’s dad’s for lunch (via the cemetery).
Too much food was cooked as always, and we exchanged gifts - we were given one of the hotel chocolate wreaths which means we will be eating chocolate for months.
We also got a load of chocolate from John, he is trying to be careful as he is in the “pre-diabetic” phase so he basically gave us everything he had received so that he didn’t eat them.
We headed home to do a couple of last jobs and to swap cars before leaving for the airport at about 1600.
We stopped briefly at Fleet to add a tiny bit of charge (sadly no free charging this year).
We arrived at the Heathrow long stay car park at 1830 and then took the bus to T2.
We walked to the Hilton Garden Inn where we went straight to the room as we had a digital key. We had been able to pick our room online and had been upgraded to a high floor room with a view (it was dark so not sure about the view!)
We had a couple of snacks which we had brought with us (given the giant lunch) and watched tv until about 2130.
MondayLast day so we had a lazy morning, and didn’t get up until after 9.
Our flight was at 1700 and so we had managed to secure a late check out as there wouldn’t be much time to do anything else.
For breakfast we got muffins and coffee from downstairs, and then watched some of our HGTV shows until just before 1300.
We ordered an Uber to the airport, we were checked in and got through security quickly, the TSA pre check lane was quite quick.
We walked over to the lounge where we had some ‘lunch’ – essentially a selection of sandwich type items.
We found more comfortable seats and I had a coffee.
We headed to the gate around 1620 and they were already boarding when we arrived.
We were offered a drink as we boarded but declined (options are orange juice or sparkling wine which neither of us drink.)
At about 1645 boarding was complete, and we taxied shortly after, taking off just before 1730.
The crew took quite a long time to bring the first drink service – Rob and I both had cokes but oddly some of our fellow club passengers ordered much more complex drinks and got them quicker.
I decided to skip the meal service so got settled and made up my bed, Rob had the meal but was brought the wrong dessert – and didn’t realise until he started eating it!
The flight went quite quickly and I woke just as they were bringing breakfast around. I opted to just have some fruit and a muffin rather than the attempt at a cooked breakfast.
We were off the plane quite quickly on arrival and passport control via the e-gates and bags weren’t too bad this time (as I haven’t moaned in my notes!)
We took our pod back to the Thistle where we were quickly on our way.
The last photo I have taken was at Fleet services where we stopped to get a drink and something to eat whilst we added a bit of charge.
That photo was taken at around 0815 so I can conclude that we would have arrived home at about 1030.
Holiday over and back to work the very next day
Sunday
This morning we were awake at 0630 we packed our last few bits into our bag, got ready and left our cabin
We headed to breakfast at luminae for the last time; I had French toast again and Rob had an omelette with some bacon and toast.
We headed down after breakfast and were already able to disembark so we walked off the ship, we collected our luggage and went through passport control – all very smooth.
We ordered an Uber to our last hotel – the Hilton downtown where we dropped off our bags.
We knew there was a monorail so we headed outside in search, we did have to pop to the publix across the road because both Rob and I discovered that we had been savarged by mosquitos in Cozumel and the bites were really itchy! We secured some cream and then found a monorail station nearby.
It arrived in a few minutes and we went to Knight Center then walked along the water.
We found our way to shops and had a look around before getting some drinks because it was baking out.
We then got back on the monorail to near a Target, we went shopping and got a few bits - bounce sheets obviously!
While we were in Target there was a mega rainstorm so we went to Aldi and had a look in a couple of other stores.
We managed to navigate to a nearby Publix and then had a look in the Brightline food court but didn’t find anything we wanted to eat.
We ended up taking the monorail to a McDonald’s which was odd and possibly not in the best neighbourhood but we got food which was the main thing (we were hungry by now.)
We took monorail back to the Hilton, our room was now available so we had a rest, while we watched our cruise ship leave us behind and caught up on some discovery tv programmes!
We decided to have Publix subs and cake for dinner as we didn’t want a big meal after the cruise.
We then watched some more of our favourite tv shows before bed.
