Did we forget anything?

 Hey, Carys here, and we have set off on our adventure! Yay! NO work, school, jobs or difficulties (hopefully) for two weeks. I am currently typing this in what I like to call an @Aiport-Hoptel' as it is near to HEathrow airport. I am currently dreading waking up in only a few hours to leave for the airport.I should probably get to bed or I'll wake up grumpier than dad is when the SWans lose. So, we left our house at approx. 2pm, smiling and laughings, shouting out possibilties of items we could have left - because obviously you always leave something. When suddenly Dad mentioned BRyn's asthma pump. Seeing as this may have been the difference between life and death, we spun the car around - luckily before we'd left magor - and grabbed bryn's medication, along with the now-remembered toiletry bag which he had also seemed to have forgotton.

So, not a great start to great holiday. however, despite the minor mishap we arrived in one piece after that. The journey only took around 2 hours, though I felt very delirious and disorientated when we arrived. Bear in mind, we haven't even stepped foot on a plane yet. I'm worried this jet lag is going to hit me hard. After bringing up all our bags - not that we really needed much out of them - to our room we just sat and relaxed for a while. Our room is very nice, even though I have to share a bed with bryn. I'm sure we will survive though. We afterwards decided to check out the swimming pool an leisure areas, and decided to go for a swim. The pool was lovely and warm, as was the sauna and steam rooms. IT's almost a shame we aren't staying longer, though I'd much rather stay in a hotel in a foreign country. We later decided to go out for some food, post showers, and bryn and i shared a pizza, whilst mum and dad enjoyed some nachos. THe boys then decided to watch the SWans play in a bar - Bryn easily passing as 16 - and mum and I went to relax upstairs. I've just set my alarm for 3am, and now the fun begins...

Lloyd

Back in the room after watching the Swans scrape a lucky draw against Birmingham.  All watched in an Irish Bar in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 15 minutes away from Terminal 5.  Decided to take this option as we need to be at the airport at stupid o clock and pretty much the car parking prices weren't that much difference to a night in the hotel, and you get that included, so all good.  A relaxing start to the holiday, although the bars and restaurants here are a bit pricey, so need to factor that in.  But with a Sports Bar and the Swans on the box it all made perfect sense to me.

Quick rewind to earlier. Last bit of packing back in Undy after doing my second half marathon training run of the week. Knowing the next time I now run 13.1 miles will be the Great North Run a few days after we get home meant I have had to really clock the miles up this week.  Any running on holiday will have to be the shorter stuff, so hoping that is miles in the bank now.

It is now a family tradition it feels to make at least one return to the house after we set off for the airport, always nice to make sure we haven't been broken in to, or burnt down in those first 2 minutes.  The Crowne Plaza hotel, whilst a little dated, has all the facilities you need, and a healthy afternoon in the sauna and pool set us up nicely before the less healthy beers.

Anyway, that is the extent of our travel today, Magor to Heathrow, the real fun starts in about 5 hours time!!