So Stage 3, from setting off at 4.30am we are now sat the other side of the country in Manchester Airport after a £90 taxi journey (courtesy of Mr BMI) with the worlds most talkative dude.

Having checked on the drive over we headed for the Brussels Airline desk, whilst the other 11 taxis occupants all went to BMI (not realising that BMI had moved them to a different airline). We got checked in just as the woman closed the desk to anyone else, as 15 irate passengers stood fuming that we had been allowed through, so they should be too.

Fingers crossed this bloody plane takes off!