Urgh, an early start...

I think I've mentioned this before...I'm not a morning person. Having to get a flight at 05.55 meant I had to be at the airport for 04.30, so I had to leave the house at 04.00. That meant I had to be up at 02.30 to get showered and check I had everything. I'll only really get up early to travel...work I have to get up early for, but it doesn't mean I'm happy about it!

Needless to say, I didn't actually sleep that night - partly through excitement, partly through nerves (I was terrified I'd sleep through the alarm and miss the flight) and partly because I wasn't actually tired. So I started getting ready at 02.00 and just took my time. Mark - my husband - was also awake so he chatted to me as I got my stuff together. I checked all the radio kit I was taking with me and made sure I had all the right cables and plugs, and I headed out to wait for the cab around 03.45 because it was booked for 03.50. But it didn't turn up until 04.05 and by that point I was starting to get miffed! Apparently the first car that had been sent for me got lost so they had to dispatch another. Grr...

This trip was going to be an unusual one from the start. I didn't know any of the three other people I was travelling with - I'd only emailed the MOD press officer and had no idea what any of them looked like. I had no idea what kind of environment I'd be going to in Germany and above all I wanted all the copy and audio I sent back to be good and worthwhile. I was going to have to contend with sending stuff back by Internet, to edit audio on software I'd never used before and make sure everything was right. Eek. I checked in as soon as I got to the airport, and thankfully the check-in agent was able to tell me the others hadn't checked in but we would be seated together, so not to worry! At least I'd find them on the plane. I withdrew money from the ATM and changed it into Euros.