My other car's a Jaguar..!

Having negotiated arrivals, customs and immigration, we quickly make our way to the Car Rental offices. The main rental firms have offices on site at the airport, rather than having to get transport to an outlying area of the airport. So it's collect luggage, quick exit from main terminal and into one of either Hertz, Dollar, Budget, Enterprise etc - we opt for Hertz again this year. Within 5 minutes, the pre-booked forms have been signed, car collected and we're ready to leave the Airport. Just a few minutes to set up the TomTom - I know the way after all these years but it is reassuring to hear and see the route confirmed.

Most car rentals offer SatNav but we are lucky to have a UK and US version of TomTom so use that instead. After a quick upgrade of vehicle - we get a Mazda CDX SUV that greets you with "Hello" and "Goodbye" when you switch on and off the engine, a check all is well with lights, wipers, breaks etc and we're off. Before long we are on the interstate heading south - I want to get over the Sunshine Parkway bridge before dusk.

It's holiday 2010...!

Almost a year on and we are embarking on our latest trip to Florida. I have already mentioned how I like to break the trip down into components, each with its unique bit of familiarity and tradition - this year is no exception. Our usual taxi firm collects us as 7am and we are on our way. Check-in at Gatwick is quick and easy and whilst we may get there a bit early, it's worth it not having to wait in queues. BA check-in staff are their usual helpful selves, polite and reassuring and we soon have our cases checked in and and through Security etc. Just time for some browsing through the shops for those last minute forgotten items (!), and up for breakfast at Cafe Noire.

A good breakfast, brief wander round some more shops and a light beverage before we wend our way down to the departure lounge. Clearly the gate staff are on a mission today as boarding starts almost at once and before long we are on board the BA 777 and seated. Take off is on time and we have soon left UK airpspace and are cruising at 38,000 feet. The mood on board is good, lots of families on their way to Disney no doubt. The nine and a half hour flight seems very quick once cabin crew start serving some complimentary drinks, lunch, in-flight entertainment and afternoon tea. I have to say, BA's in-flight entertainment system is really good - latest films and TV programmes, a film library with a good choice of films, music, quizes and even surveys. And the moving map tops it all of nicely. Well done!

We soon arrive in Florida but our landing is held up by some really bad storms around the airport so we circle round for 35 minutes or so waiting for a clear spot in the clouds and weather.