Day 1 – It’s D day!

We made good time to the airport and were dropped off early at 11:00

And this is where it all started. I just happened to be standing next to a guy and hadn’t put my handbag into the container. Well the lady told me to fit it in his tray. Ok. Didn’t think much about it. Then I have to stand in front of the man with the hands up picture. As soon as I go to the lady she wants to pat me down because my buttons are shining on their screen. (Last time I’d set all the screens off because I was wearing a lurex threaded jumper and jeans with lots of sequins- maybe the X-ray machine remembered me?) As soon as she starts to do that I suddenly realise that I still have my security bum bag thing secured around my waist under my jumper. Oops. So off it comes and I have to go back and put it in its own tray. Ok I get through but then Helen and Tom are saying I’m in trouble, because my trays are behind another screen. OMG. There’s the guy at the end with the screen asking who’s water is it. I have no idea I just say that’s my bag though- pointing to my bag in the random guys tray! All ok then but I still don’t know why they also segregated my carry on. Next part of security where we had to face the cameras after scanning our passports. I don’t know why my machine was asking me to take off my hat and glasses?? (I wasn’t wearing either). But then we are in and free to wander around aimlessly.

We can’t get rid of the cases just yet so we are having a coffee and cake at the pseudo P J O’Briens! (Sadly PJ O’Briens is no longer and has been a ritual for all our trips). But we didn’t take the photo there – instead we decided to go through customs.

We went to where our gate was and found an eatery. Thankfully part of my arm is still attached (you know the saying it’s cost an arm …etc). Then we took this selfie.

This will be the last post for a while as we are at gate 9 and waiting to be allowed through. But I do have to mention there was a little ‘thing’ that happened in the ladies toilet that will be Helen’s and my secret. Finally we actually found the ladies toilet after passing a dogs toilet and an ‘all Gender toilet’. Ooeer. and then there’s the Atrium story – you’ll have to ask Tom about that one!

On the plane now and only Helen’s boarding pass beeping (thankfully no one is thrown to the ground or had to go and face security questions!). All good we’ve settled on the plane and heading for the runway. 14 hours to Doha….. talk soon.