“Don’t we need to come off at this junction?”, asked K from the back of Martin’s car.

A moment later and we were skating across the hatched lines and heading in the right direction for airport.

We had allowed three hours to check in and, as a result of the latest attack on Glasgow Airport, we needed all that time. Having found the end of the queue for check in, waited in line then said goodbye to our bags (wondering if that strap really would hold in all the suntan lotion and shorts) we went right back to the same place to queue all over again for security to the accompaniment of an automated announcement telling us that the fire alarm had been activated somewhere in the airport.

Rather worryingly Thomas Cook Airlines lists broken limbs almost next to extra legroom on the special requirements page of their website. Having sat on their seats for nine hours broken limbs seem to be the only way to tolerate the seating. An additional charge of £100 per seat to actually sit down is ridiculous on top of £20 per adult return to sit together.

I suppose the fact that we were all packed in tightly was one saving grace as we descended into Varadero through a thunderstorm. After all that traveling we seemed to be back to the weather we had just left but this was 25°C with 100% humidity.

After a coach journey stopping at what appeared to be every place in the resort we finally got to our hotel. Neither of us were totally convinced with the room we has been allocated so back to reception and a chat with Katrina. Armed with a new room key we then had to tip Pedro who had moved our bags from one room to another in all this heat.

After unpacking and a swim in the pool under the storm clouds it was off to the bar for the first Mojito of the holiday before exploring the beach and watching the thunder storms rolling around far out at sea.

Despite the need to book for the Cuban restaurant we managed to blag our way in with no booking (“Are you sure you want the tuna - the grouper is much better”) and survive the waitress who topped up the wine glasses every time she saw them even the slightest bit empty before we headed to bed to the sound of cicadas at 03:30 am UK time….