Amsterdam to Dubai and home

Had a silly coughing fit during the night and awoke to sore throat and blocked nose but I refuse to succumb to another cold. I've had my turn! Roomie is getting over her bug and tells me that she had been sipping scotch through the night!!! Don't be worried though as I'm sure she only had a thimble full left from the big bottle purchased during our initial coach tour. Plus had there been more I'm sure she would have woken me to share!!! Down to breakfast which was nothing special, but at least we had a chance to chat with D and G, and C and L. Back upstairs to grab my jacket and coach to get the 9.30 shuttle to the rsilway station where I head straight for the chemist to stock up on cold and flu tablets plus more throat lozenges. Walked back to the hotel as it wasn't nearly as cold as yesterday but still very grey skies and hardly warm weather. Final packing of suitcase and all fits without having to expand the case. Roomie had determined last night not to open her case again as she had her necessary items in hand luggage. That turned into a good idea as I'm sure we would have struck difficulty trying to close it again. As it was I packed her hair straightener in my luggage rather than attempt a quick opening and shoving in of aforesaid item into her case. D and G popped in for a final catch up and we thought we had plenty of time as our pick up transport was booked for 11.30 but just on 11 our phone rang to tell us that our airport transfer was already downstairs waiting for us. So a quick gathering up of items and down stairs to checkout. Once again there was a hold up at reception and their new computer system buggered about again and the lass yet again had to get help from the tech fellow to unfreeze the screen. What a shabby way to run a business. Anyway, hasty farewells to D and G, and C and L. M is already checked out and waiting at the van. He complained about the poor service received at the hotel so they gave him a big block of chocolate. No sign of the chocolate though or offers to share.... Hmmmmmmm. Note to self, M apparently doesn't share chocolate! LOL. Anyway, we've all had a great trip and there are already mutterings from the gang about where I'm planning to take them all next time. I'm choosing to ignore them. More LOL! Fast trip to the airport with a driver who fancies himself as a blasted rally driver, but we do get there in one piece. Roomie and I head for the tax refund area and queued for about an hour but receipts finally processed. I had already told M to go ahead as he didn't have his boarding pass. By the time we finally get to the book in counter there is no delay so straight through we go. Then it's the bag check and stand in the machine where they do the body scan. I apparently have set off yellow flashing lights so am then pat searched by a woman who told me it was the bling on my top. I tell her that it was my 'fat'. She thought that was funny and kindly said much fatter than me had gone through. So then through passport control and surprisingly Aussies were able to go through a 'quick' gate and so again no delay. We head for a cafe for a much needed hot drink and sit down. We still have two hours for our flight so now go in search of M who is likely propped in a corner somewhere quietly reading his book. Well, we can't have that, can we??? Our flight was 20 minutes late leaving but so far all good as roomie and I have great seats right up near the front however the woman sitting in front of me promptly put her seat right back, which is where it stayed for the duration of the flight apart from when she was feeding her face and the flight attendant asked her to put her seat upright. But no matter. I watched a movie had a couple of glasses of wine, had a nice chicken dinner and started watching 'The Night Manager' series that roomie had recommended. Arrived in Dubai after an easy six and a half hour flight. We were really quick to get off the plane and then had a super long walk up hill and down dale to get to our connection gate where our flight to Adelaide leaves in just under two hours. Then we have the uber long haul flight home. Can only hope it is as quiet and uneventful as the first leg. I need to make an update to an earlier comment because as we wait at the gate for our Adelaide flight, M offers us some of his chocolate bar that he was given at the hotel, but at the same time tells us that he's not prepared to share his egg and bacon sandwich he bought at Amsterdam airport! We both decline the offer of chocolate. Another note to self, Don't get between M and an egg and bacon sandwich! Bless him! Hope you've enjoyed the tour through Europe. I'm already thinking about another river cruise for 2018 that does Paris and along the Rhine, BUT whatever you do, don't tell the others...................