Pre-holidays

We knew that we had to use the timeshare points this year – and decided to go away using them on my birthday as I always take off at least that week if not a touch more. In February, we went into Virgin Holidays in Basildon and booked a fly drive with a 6 park flexi-ticket – giving us Seaworld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens, Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure & Wet and Wild. I am pretty sure that we will use all bar Busch and Wet & Wild – but will wait and see how we feel.

We will be flying on the Tuesday (difference in price is quite remarkable flying on the Tuesday as opposed to any other day of the week) from Gatwick. Trying to book the assistance that we need not as easy on that Saturday (only work Monday to Friday!) so we had to speak with them (please note the we – not Virgin Holidays) during the week. The flight time of 1pm means that we will probably have to travel at rush hour – over the Bridge down to Gatwick to be there the three hours before that is suggested by Virgin Atlantic – or maybe we need to come up with a plan B.

Pat rings the assistance team on the Monday – explaining the situation, detailing the wheelchair etc and booking the actual assistance at the relative airports – and she is advised she can also book the seats on this call. Pat asks for the seats at the very back of the plane - well the wing sides as opposed to the very back which is the centre part of the plane. She is asked if she has a preference to which side and she says no – it doesn't matter. They are booked for us – seat numbers in both cases – 63A & 63C so everything is good - well perhaps…..

While Pat is booking the seats, and advising the wheelchair sizes and weight etc – I go into work and book the time off. Flying on the Tuesday means we will not be back in the country until a fortnight Wednesday meaning that I will use 11 days of my holiday entitlement – so decide to be a bit radical and book the three weeks off (15 working days). This will give me a chance to pack etc, and when we get home a day or two to recover! That is the plan and my boss has no issues with it – probably as she knows she is moving on (although the team doesn't know anything about that) and then her replacement has the administrative problem of trying to work around me being out for a full three weeks!

About a month before we are to go on holiday – I come up with the plan B – we had bought a caravan at Selsey on the South Coast which is on the other side of the M25 and therefore the Dartford Crossing. So, confirm with Louise that she is ok for a couple of extra days' cat and house sitting, and plan to drive down after I finish work on the Friday prior to departure. Means that we will have a break before the holiday – giving me a chance to recharge my batteries as well. We will spend some time down at the "nest" – being a Starling and a Gull what else could we call the caravan.

The week before we are due to fly, the tickets and paperwork arrives – but I have a few questions – so decide to contact Virgin for confirmation – nothing worse than turning up to find out there is an issue.

So, I went to their website to see if there was a phone number or some-such – to find they had a live chat facility. It just had to be done – didn't it?

It went very much like:……"Please wait - we'll be right with you..."

'Chelle says:
Hello Gordon. My name is 'Chelle how can I help you?

Gordon says:
Hi - got my docs for my holiday that starts 6 sept and have a couple of probably silly questions

'Chelle says:
Fire away... :-)

Gordon says:
The universal 6 park ticket has start date and end date 6 sept and in the notes it states expires 31/12 and as i can't get to the parks to the 7th at earliest is that ok?

'Chelle says:
Yep - they all do that. It's fine, the date is irrelevant, the system just wants one on there, but your 'day one' of its 14 day validity is the first day you go to your first park where you exchange the voucher at guest services for the 'real thing'. The date is meaningless and a rather daft choice if I'm honest as it causes this question a fair bit! :-)

Gordon says:
Suggest you tell the bosses :-)

'Chelle says:
Noted ;-) What's next?

Gordon says:
Also same with book in for Downtown Disney drop off of luggage always states 6th when we don't fly back to 20th - missus wants to know if we have to put in our luggage on the 6th and then buy all new gear ......and pay for extra luggage ;-)

'Chelle says:
Tell her NICE TRY but no. Same thing, voucher date is irrelevant as all it does is tell them not to charge you, they go by your e-tickets as you are checking in for your flight.

Gordon says:
OK phew - think you saved me load of dosh - many thank 'Chelle :-) that hopefully was an easy one for you

'Chelle says:
Indeed :-) Sorry for the daft dates but hooray for avoiding the outlets.... ;-)

Gordon says:
Oh we will still go there i'm sure

Had to include that here – well made me laugh anyways…..

Friday the 2nd of September comes around – and being my last day before my holiday and therefore my birthday I bake a cake and take it in with me – to find that my desk has been decorated and later once everyone gets in, Alex and Jacq. have also baked me cakes! As its normally me doing the decorations etc. took my breath away a touch. They also bought me a large balloon which they had decorated. A few beers at lunch – and then finish up – putting my out of office on my email account and head off home, not to think about work for over three weeks!

Quick bath, a bite to eat – and then we are packing the car, and we are away. Drive down not too onerous and we arrive and unpack our "weekend" stuff, and spend the Friday night, Saturday, Sunday and Monday just chilling and enjoying the relative quiet of Selsey. The only real time we left the caravan park was to go shopping – and that was just a quickie as well. As I settle down on the Monday evening I am excited and sleep does come fairly easy but before I go off decide to set the alarm for 6:00, just in case I don't wake up under my own steam.