Cardiff and then home (sniff!)

So, I got out of the car, only to be told Merrill had just gone in - rats! However, I got more than my fair share of him later on, so all was not lost. A few weeks earlier Jenny, Merrill's European assistant, had announced that if it was your birthday at an event, then you'd have a little surprise - it was Janette and Shelley's that day and I saw them go in as I arrived. When they came back out again, after watching a bit of Merrill's sound check, we shared chocolate cornflake cakes which I'd bought with me (not made myself!). YUM! We all waited outside for ages, but it was very pleasant. The Point is in a very quiet (on a Sunday) part of Cardiff Bay and is a former church, decommissioned in the early 1990s, having been built at the turn of the 20th century. After a while, security came out and, given my tendency to not like being called names like 'love', 'dear', 'sweetheart' and stuff like that, when he asked me to wait at the other side 'my lovely', I was tempted for a second to deck him, but, actually, that's quite sweet! He was very nice too (if you know what I mean - haha!).

Anyway, eventually, after Mr Osmond decided that he'd checked his sound loud and clear, I went in first, joking that they could now shut the door on the rest of the crowd! Rather surprisingly, they didn't listen to me! BAD security people! LOL!

I was guided to my seat and it was at the end of the third/fourth row in the middle, right in the centre of the stage - very good view of anyone who happened to appear on it (and there was - when you adjusted your camera to not get anyone's head in the way - JOAN! HA!). We waited quite a long time, and I chatted to loads of people and just waited and looked at the venue - really lovely inside, they've kept a lot of the stained glass windows and the interior - really lovely. Music was playing a lot of the time in the background and it was very mellow! We were given a package about the Shiloh weekend and our ticket for the M&G which I promptly nearly lost! I met Jenny and got a hug and a thank you from her, which was sweet.

Merrill coming on was a bit strange - he just suddenly appeared, really quietly from the back of the stage, it was like 'Oh, he's there!' LOL! He then sang a few songs, interspersed with chat about the weekend, about his family, about working on Sundays (the guilt some may feel about being there, he said something about 'if you need to be here, then that's OK', or something like that), he talked about being away from his family (and given what he went back to, that had added poignancy for me later). The weekend in June became even real for me. He told us to prepare for it beforehand, because it will change us, take us out of our comfort zones, specially the creation therapy. He introduced some people who were going to help him with the weekend. He answered some questions, which I can't remember most of now! It was a very moving time, to hear him talk about what he wanted to achieve and then the songs interspersed with that. Let Me In got me going AGAIN - thank you, Janette, for the hand hold and the tissue - much appreciated.

All in all a lovely time with him, he did the first half, there was an interval where I decided to go and look at the merchandise - I had it all (am I sad, or what?! LOL!)! The second half was Mal Pope, a really lovely guy who has got to know Merrill very well - he talked a bit about what they've done together, he introduced himself by singing the theme song from Fireman Sam - which he wrote. All together now............... LOL! I love a man who can laugh at himself! Merrill came on for some of it and sat and watched him at work. They did some stuff together, even some Osmond hits (Mal needs to work at his Crazy Horses dance! HA! Tooooo funny!). All of it was a very lovely time.

Afterwards, I decided I needed a drink, so after recovering (!), chatted to people (I spent the second half sort of in the first/second row in the middle again) and went to the bar! I got myself a Coke, and was just casually loitering with no intent whatsover - honest - and Merrill suddenly (again!) appeared down the side, I was pointed out to him, got a HUGE bearhug and then 'Would you like my sandwich?!' Well, I didn't quite know what to say, really - WHY does he feel the need to give me his food?! LOL! Sweets last June, Chicken mayo sandwich today - hmmmm....... ha! So, I said yes! HA! And he gave it to me, and then came the dilemma of what to actually DO with it! So, I went to the merch stall, wrapped it in a Osmania Stateside booking form (SORRY Karens!) and carried it around with me for the rest of the day (it went in a plastic bag when I got to the hotel).
Next June I'd like a lovely Belgian chocolate please, Merrill! (I know it's supposed to be healthy eating, but one won't do any harm!). We also had a raffle, which I forgot to buy tickets for - sorry Karen!

Then came the Meet and Greet Time, I was 34 or something, and they were being pretty strict about going in order, so I waited a bit, chatting to people in line, or who were just sitting there, soaking up the atmosphere. I discovered that the M&Gs were taking place upstairs, and decided that I would go walk upstairs, I had my crutches with me, I could do it. I discussed (!) it with Jenny and one of the security guys and they said they'd help get me up. So, I waited in line and when it was my turn, I got up, walked up one step, two steps and then there was a third, MUCH bigger step - and my foot got stuck! No matter how hard I tried, I could not move it. It was gently (ish) put to me that perhaps I shouldn't go upstairs - I wanted to try, but my foot wouldn't move. So, extremely reluctantly, I stayed at the foot of the flight of stairs - and bawled my eyes out! I was annoyed with myself, embarrassed that all these people wanted to help me and my body just couldn't do it - grrr!

Elinor was brilliant, she gave me a hug and managed to calm me down, reassuring me that at least I'd tried. I was left for a couple of minutes to get my breath back and then Merrill appeared 'Now, Ms Gerry, dry those tears!' He then crouched down in front of me and gently admonished me, saying that I didn't need to go to him, he'd ALWAYS come to me. I told him that I wanted to do the opposite and felt frustrated that I couldn't. There then followed the most wonderful conversation I've ever had with him and I'm keeping it to myself, if you don't mind, but it was lovely. We talked about health issues, families (mine and his), Belgium, it was just absolutely wonderful. I've always said that I'm often concerned that people talk about what's going on in their lives to Merrill, just didn't understand it - but I do know now. May never do it again but I needed to this time, obviously. Then Mario appeared and we had our photo taken together on the little ledge by the stairwell. The background and setting may not have been what I wanted (and I'll probably look like death warmed up in the photo), but the atmosphere couldn't have been bettered. Absolutely gorgeous.

Eventually, he went back upstairs and I floated back out to the hall! (Why couldn't I do that up those flipping stairs!). Thank you to Elinor and Joan for all their help, you are stars!

When I got back out, I spent the rest of the time talking to people, watching people go in (and again, one or two!). We were eventually asked to leave, very politely, by the security guys, as they needed to get everything down. So we went outside, and waited for a VERY long time whilst everyone else saw Merrill. Had great fun, got told the history of the neighbourhood by Bernard - bit dodgy, kept being threatened to be thrown in the Bay if I was naughty! There was a pub across the way which was a bit noisy, and some lads were playing with this small bouncy ball which they promptly lost and at one point we were all looking for the stupid thing - in darkness, with not much lighting where it had gone!

Most of the evening was spent deciding which exit Merrill would come out, and we were sure that certain people were playing cat and mouse with us, so several people were eventually posted at each entrance - tooo funny. 35 years of experience of trying to locate an Osmond is not to be sniffed at - or to try and con them into thinking Osmonds are somewhere they are not, or vice versa! LOL! He eventually came out at 10.15PM, after asking to see Susan's children, who were as lovely as ever! There was only a few of us mad fools there, it was flipping freezing, I had no long coat with me, but I got a handshake (!) and a 'you take care, Gerry' from Merrill as he got into the car and went off to Holland.

I was a bit worried about my hotel, so Lesley offered to give me a lift back in her car (even though I wasn't sure how to get back to it - it was DARK!), but I couldn't get into her car. Bernard and Susan offered, and I knew I could get into his, and he knew vaguely where it was, so off we went, with the family, and eventually got back to the hotel. They waited to see that everything was OK, just in case they'd forgotten I was coming back! If I had problems, we would go find somewhere else (or a nice quiet spot on the water somewhere, apparently! LOL!).

But no, no problems, checked in properly, hugs all round and then off to bed! I hadn't eaten all day so wondered about room service, but quite frankly couldn't work out how to get it, so had a tea and a few shortbread biccies that were provided instead! The room was quite narrow, not really suitable for a wheelchair, although the bathroom was - it had a shower, which was no use, so I had a wash, went to bed. Slept quite well, and woke up the next morning, and realised I didn't know when my train was! HA! Checked and, luckily, had time for breakfast, which was lovely - scrambled egg and bacon. Not many people around, so good service. Oh, and the lights were the same as the Jurys at Newcastle, so I was an expert on them by now - although when you took the card out at night, they went out straight away - which meant it was an experience getting into bed!

Ordered taxi to station and then sat in foyer and read the paper. Taxi came, took me to the back entrance to the station, which was not exactly the right place to go, but they were very helpful in getting help to get me to the train - which came very promptly. He carried my bag for me, was quite chatty without being overly so, and eventually I got to the platform. Same little four carriage train, such a LONG journey. No famous people this time. Sat opposite two young lads who were going to Manchester, journey was uneventful, same stations, some with weird names! Raining in Manchester (!). When I got on the train in Manchester, I started to feel quite emotional, thinking about the weekend and looked out of the window a lot (if you know what I mean!), there were a couple of extremely weird people sharing my carriage a couple of times, one of them muttering under his breath something about stupid train companies, I'll get them! A little disconcerting, but he was quiet the rest of the way to Leeds. Then there were two businessmen who chatted very loudly about closing this company down (they may have been lawyers), and then spent most of the rest of the time emailling on their little hand-held thingies.

Got off train, was helped to the taxi rank - it was assumed that I would stay in my chair, so went down this very long line of cabs to find a wheelchair accessible one, who couldn't or wouldn't get out of the line, so I told them I could get out and the customer services guy apologised for not asking me! Eventually got home, tired but happy - and hungry!

Thanks so much to everyone who made the Cardiff day a really special occasion - it was a truly lovely day.

Next time - LONDON!

Bridgend to Cardiff

*Forgot to say that, now I knew how to work the lights system (same as the Jurys), was able to go to bed knowing I wasn't breaking anything! Woke up the following morning, bright and earlyish, packed and got down to breakfast. Really weird way of doing it - never done it like this before! LOL! I'd heard the receptionist tell someone else where breakfast was served and she'd said 'if there is room' at the end of it, so I thought I'd better be early just in case. There was a man and his son in there watching Match of the Day, but that was all. The breakfast was definitely a DIY job - the cereal on a highish shelf which I sort of had to launch myself at -too funny! There was a machine for the coffee - lovely! And then I had to find the bread for my toast - MUST have toast! I looked everywhere, and then decided to be nosy and look in cupboards - nope! I eventually found it in two plastic boxes right in front of my nose - doh!

Anyway, eventually ate breakfast and went back to room to check out and wait for cab. Chose a company with accessible taxis - they came in a normal saloon car! lol!

Got to station in one piece and went on to platform - to find I was on the wrong side of the tracks (normal, I hear you say!), the station person asked me if I'd come with a local taxi firm - yes (where the heck did he think I'd come from?!), he then walked down the correct side, while I struggled with my bags on the OTHER side, and we met in the middle and he pulled me backwards across the railway line - ha!

I then waited for my train - went to see if the coffee shop was open - nope. Went to see if there was an accessible loo - nope. Sooo (and if you're of a squeamish disposition, do not read on!), put my bags down, got my crutches out, walked into the loo, left the door open so I could see my bags - did what I had to do and then got out of there as fast as I could - dumpy toilet!

More people arrived and, despite there being several signs on the station regarding the no smoking policy, these Danish people who'd come to see the fight insisted on lighting up and we, being the polite British people we are, let them get on with it, no staff in sight! Eventually the train came and, as I was only going to be on it for 30 minutes, it turned out to be a HUGE eight carriage inter-city job thing, rather than the four carriage jobby that I'd endured the day before - typical! Train comes to a halt - no help to get me on train, and I wait, and wait, and eventually he saunters up 'did you think I wasn't coming?!' Yes, you idiot! LOL!

Anyway, got on train and the journey passed uneventfully (I should think so in 30 mins!). Got to Cardiff and - waited for help to get off! This poor student thought he was going to have to carry me off - he was trying to be so helpful. I think he had someone with him and THEY went to find someone, but again it was this attitude of 'I'll get there, eventually!' It's not like the train was stopping there, for goodness sake!

I had to make my own way out of the station - luckily I know how to read (I seem to have said this before! LOL!) and got to the taxi rank. I love the way cabbies look at me as I arrive, specially when they have saloon cars - the look of horror of having to help me is too funny! However, as soon as I leap out of the chair, their blood pressure soon drops several points. He was very helpful and quite chatty, knew which Osmond Merrill was (always a Brownie point or two in my book), didn't talk about any other Osmond (nudge, nudge, wink, wink!), and got me to my NEXT hotel in quick fashion, and knocked 50p off the fare! Nice man, very very nice man!

I was a bit worried about this leg of the journey, as I'd rung the Future Inn a couple of days before and asked them if it was OK to book in early. They said no, as rooms would not be ready as they were full the night before (that flipping fight, remember), but I thought I'd give it a go. So, I went in, receptionists were lovely (as all receptionists are, of course!), I explained I had a meeting (!!) at The Point, but they said no, I couldn't book in, but I could leave my bags, so that's what I did, and they'd leave a note to say that I was coming back later to check-in properly (and it WAS later, MUCH later!). I then used the loo and then went back out to reception to book a taxi to The Point - as it was about ten minutes walking time. I actually think I MIGHT have been able to do it as it was well signposted, but if it had been raining - no chance! Also, the hotel had some interesting sculpturework outside it -one in particular!

Went outside to wait for taxi, met up with others who were coming to the GT as well,who had had an interesting journey! Three cabs came alone before mine, and caused huge confusion when they picked up two parties who were going to the same place. The guy I went with had come to take people to the station, he went to check where they were, saw that they'd gone and said 'I'm all yours' - oooo!

Then he asked me where I was going, I told him, 'Where's that then?!' Oh my goodness!

We went on our way and I scrambled in my handbag for my ticket and gave him the location - 'aaaah, thought it might be!' Idiot! He didn't have a Welsh accent, sounded Canadian or American to me, so maybe he'd just arrived, or something, anwway, he needs more lessons in how to inspire confidence that he knows where he's going! LOL!

The route to The Point was nice - past the Millennium Centre, and other interesting buildings and fountains and such stuff. I pointed out a sign that said 'The Point' - thought I'd be helpful, and he smiled (probably thinking 'idiot woman'! hehe!). We eventually turned the corner and there was a car coming in the opposite direction, and also there was this grey-haired bloke standing in the middle of the road.............

Eventually, the car moved back - it was going the wrong way down a one-way street, and we parked and I got out - only to be told that Merrill had JUST gone in. Now, looking back on the grey-haired bloke in the middle of the street with no road sense, and what Merrill was wearing, I'm not TERRIBLY sure they were one and the same, but if I'd had my wits about me, I'd have beeped on the horn (even though it wasn't my place to do it!) and said 'Get off the road, you daft Yank!' However, I just got out of the car and behaved myself - for a bit, anyway!

Bridgend or Bust

Soooo, there I am in Bridgend, with a female taxi driver, and we drove to my hotel. Never stayed in a Holiday Inn Express before - not bad. Checked in and went to room - nice and big, bathroom had a shower though, don't do showers (I know, I know, ecologically they are better, but I don't do them, OK!). I do wash though, so I wasn't completely mucky! HA! Arrived ridiculously early so spent the rest of the day texting people to say I was bored, watching the view out of the window (lovely Sainsburys and a MacArthur Glen designer outlet, which I could've gone to, I suppose, if I'd risked my life going across a very, very busy roundabout! Watched telly, relaxed a bit - which was a good thing, really. At about six I decided I needed to eat, and decided to go to the Harvester round the corner - not across the road, just down the path. I decided to go then as I thought it wouldn't be crowded - WRONG! Heaving! 15 minute wait for a table - so I did what any sensible girl would, I had a glass of wine - my second in a week, my goodness me!

Eventually my table was ready and I had a lovely meal of roast chicken, baked potato and salad - very healthy - ha! Decided against a pudding (my goodness, I must've been coming down with something), had a coffee, and then went back to the hotel. The path was very dark and I am very glad I wasn't tiddly, as it ran out and I had to go into the road of the car park, and nearly got run over by a taxi coming round the corner - eek!

Anyway, got home safely and went to my room, after investigating the breakfast room and whether there was computer access anywhere public - nope!

Spent the rest of the evening in my room, trying to find Merrill on the radio - he wasn't on mine - and I wasn't the only one who could find him either, apparently - where were you?! So, I watched telly some more - Casualty and Strictly (or vice versa!) and then I went to bed, and slept not too badly. Room was quite cold as I couldn't shut the window properly, so it was noisy from the fireworks and cars going by - couldn't hear the motorway though.

True Friends, Trains, Taxis, Taffies and Turkey Sandwiches

That intriques you, doesn't it! I seemed to have spent most of the last week or so either in a train or a taxi, so that seemed a most appropriate title! The turkey is slightly misleading, but it begins with T, so fitted more than - chicken!

Anyway, I'd spent most of the previous week washing for the weekend, or so it seemed. Went to mum and dad's for lunch on Friday and we had the most disgusting fish lunch - they cut a piece of small fish even smaller and shared it between mum and me. Complaints were put in and it won't happen again - better not do!

Anyway, Saturday arrived - I'd decided to go down on Saturday as train times would've meant getting down very late and not arriving until after the get together started, and I would've missed lots!

So, went down to station and said hello to customer services again - must get a season ticket soon! Arrived way too early again - this time, my taxi driver was not weird, didn't grip the steering wheel like the devil incarnate possessed and just kept his mouth shut - hallelujah!

So, waited a little bit and they got me on the earlier train, without any problems. The trains are new, peca-something or others (I was thinking of pecadillos, but I don't think that's quite the right word - LOL!). Really roomy, a bit like sitting in the guards van in that you don't really have a table, you're in a space where seats can be if you're not there, if you understand what I mean. Train took about 90 mins to get to Manchester (yes, Manchester), and I had a well-earned cuppa on the way and a packet of crisps! It was lovely in York, rained in Manchester (I'm saying nothing!) and when we arrived in Wales, lovely again - but I'm racing ahead.

Arrived in Manchester, undercover, so didn't get wet. Had to wait for assistance to next platform as I was early - and boy, did they let me know that I was early - wow, 30 minutes, what an inconvenience! Anyway, he came eventually and didn't offer to carry my bags, just LEAD me to the next platform!

Train hadn't arrived, but when it did, I was stunned! It was a tiny little four carriage thing and was going all the way to Milford-flipping Haven! How would we all fit in it?! Loads of people got off, my 'help' wandered off, and I rushed to follow him, with handbag, holdall and crutches all flapping about all over the place - dingbat! Got to the end of the train which, let's face it, wasn't that far away, and got on train. Had a seat space and a table - woohooo (simple things please simple minds, dontchaknow!). Then settled down - as it was going to be a longgggg journey - three hours or so, and we went through some very small places, stopping at every station known to man, woman and child! Have you ever heard of Church Stretton?! Me neither! Went to Crewe and Shrewsbury, Abergavenny, Newport, some tiny little place called Craven Arms (sounds more like a pub). A guy from the RAF stood opposite me - guarded my bag (he didn't know it was mine!), and we had great fun teaching people how to use the loo - not literally, thank you very much, but the door mechanics were a bit complicated for some people (if you know what I mean) so we had to tell people to keep their finger on the button, go in and press another button - talk about acrobatics, it was hilarious! He got off at Shrewsbury, as he was based at RAF Shawbury (I didn't know that at the time, I just looked it up!) and the train went on its way and eventually arrived in Bridgend - my first port of call due to some person called Joe Calzaghe, or however the heck you spell it, fighting some Danish bloke in Cardiff, thereby making all the hotels in Cardiff fully booked. What fun! I have a cousin who lives in Bridgend, but he wasn't around, so that's why I went to a hotel. Pretty easy to get off the train (getting on again would be MUCH more fun - not!), and I made my way to the taxi rank. Had to go to them as they were having a chinwag in the rank. I got a female driver, which I think is a first for me - can't remember having one recently anyway. She was great. Very helpful, chatty without being intrusive, but had a bee in her bonnet about some new rules the local council (or the train company) were bringing in about taxi dress code - not a happy bunny. We've been through this in York, and it seems to be working now. Personally, I think it makes them look very efficient, but can understand some of the practical and safety issues associated with it.

Adventures with Donny and Ian - continued

So, got back to the hotel and decided to relax a bit with a glass of wine (white, dry, country of origin unknown!), and chat a bit with those who were also staying at the same hotel. Chatted about the concert, and Merrill, who we were going to see the next weekend - more, MUCH more in my next blog, Branson, and gossip - LOL! Had a great time, but all too soon it was time I went to bed. So, went back up to my room, lights still refused to go back on, so went back down to reception at 12.30am and was told that you had to insert your card into this socket by the door and, hey presto, the lights would go on. And, do you know what?! They DID! Now, if they'd only told me that when I booked in - DOH!

Had a good night's sleep, woke up the next morning, train wasn't until 11, so had a leisurely breakfast of cereal, coffee, toast and scrambled egg (I never have this at home, just when I go away), yum!

Eventually came time for me to leave, taxi driver OK, bit animated about the Osmonds (and not particularly in a good way - never mind!), but we got to the station, and I went and waited for my train. Luckily Newcastle is also a GNER station so I knew where to go to get help, and they were really good, again they tried to get me on an earlier train, again the chair wouldn't fit through the door, so off we got again and I waited.

Eventually the train arrived, got on OK, and the train journey was pretty uneventful until we got to Darlington and then these three guys got on, and I racked my brains to see where I knew one of them from, and it suddenly dawned on me that it was Ian Botham (or SIR Ian Botham as he is now!), he didn't look particularly happy, but the previous day, some cricket manager's memoirs had been published in a newspaper and he didn't come out of it well. There seemed to be a lot of phone calls going back and fro, so I expect legal stuff! LOL! He was alright, and he was still on the train when I left at York (he lives near Doncaster). Anyway, had to make my own way to the taxi rank - good job I know York station well. Taxi was fine, home was still intact, but I had a hugely busy week ahead to prepare for my next adventure - and what an adventure!

Adventures with Donny and Ian - continued

Did I forget to tell you that the train stank?! If not, there you are - LOL!

After a little while Donny disappeared (and it all ended very quickly, one minute he was there and then WHOOSH - he was gone!), glad he did it though, seems to be a relatively new thing for him - good to see! We then decided that we would go back to the Jurys Inn for a bite to eat - had a steak sandwich which was lovely, and chips, and salad and - a coke! Spent the next three hours or so gossing, errr, talking about various things.

I then decided to make tracks for the arena again and, because of the big hill, decided to get a taxi, and reception ordered it for me 'for a lady who wants to go to the Donny Osmond concert.' How did they know?! I never mentioned his name! LOL!

Anyway, he came, was really nice in the short journey, and very helpful, so I gave HIM a tip (just a quid, remember I'm from Yorkshire!).

Waited outside for what seemed like ages, they only had one door open when they did open them, then two. Went straight to my seat (well, sort of, went through wrong door first! HA!).
And - I was the only one there for quite a while, right in the middle of the wheelchair area in Block 110. Looked across to see where I am in May - the other side, nearer the stage - woohoo!

The arena crowd took quite a while to get in - for ages it was about 3/4 full - Donny fans are like buses, none for a while, and then they all come at once! LOL!

Eventually this countdown appeared on the screen ten minutes before the show started, and at about 2-3 minutes, the floor started shaking, and there was this low rumbling noise - very effective, loved it!

I liked the show a lot - he did a lot of the Love Songs CD, some stuff from the 70s, 80s and 90s - major bits were Let's Stay Together (keep the growl to a minimum, D, let the experts do it!), the walkabout was astonishing, how he did what he did was amazing, and how he suddenly appeared somewhere completely different was baffling! LOL! He ended up about four or five rows back from us, and some fans didn't ingratiate themselves well by entering the wheelchair area and pushing past us to get to him - BAD people! I also didn't like people yelling out 'I love you, Donny' in particularly quiet moments - ruined the moment! Specially during Sacred Emotion - dingbats! During LMFAR I had a Merrill moment - during this, pics of the brothers are flashed on the screen and there, right in front of me, was one of my very, VERY favourite pictures of Merrill with his brothers (well, I think they were there, it got a bit hot!) - it's a picture of when he was about eighteen, and he's sitting on the floor, leg out stretched, other leg bent, and he just looks sooooooo sexy - mamma mia!

ANYWAY, back to Donny! I loved all the different versions of Puppy Love (personally, my fave is the country version!), loved Twelfth of Never 2007, loved Soldier of Love.

Now, Hold Her Tight - been looking forward to this, was a bit intrigued. Well - loved the music, did NOT like the singing, the two seemed, to me, to be in different keys, and it sounded icky.
But I will ALWAYS love him doing Crazy Horses live - although we can do without the giddyups - not that kind of horse, Dman, you should know that!

All too soon the concert was over, and it was time to go home. I waited outside for a bit, as I thought I was walking home with people, but when the doors closed, I thought 'hmmm - probably not!' So, I made my own way home, with the help of one of the stewards who got me through the traffic queue at the end of the road, and two lovely ladies who helped me the final way to the hotel - thank you! Turns out we had crossed wires and I was supposed to get a cab, never mind - safely back at the hotel!