Check-in at Dubai was fast and painless. No sooner had the car stopped at Emirates Business Check-in than one member of Emirates staff was welcoming me and directing me to a free check-in desk whilst a second collected the bags and followed on. The charming check-in lady quickly found my reservation (although I'd mislaid my e-ticket receipt), issued the boarding pass and Business Lounge Invitation and confirmed that Emirates were also providing a car from Birmingham Airport to my home. Passport control and security was equally fast, but then I was on my own in the huge terminal.
More by luck than judgement, I navigated to the Lounge without error. As befits Emirates home base, it's a huge lounge on two levels with comprehensive facilities. There's a large area with at least 20 internet computers you can use but, if you've your own machine, you can pick up mains from one of the many floor sockets and my Notebook attached to their Wi-Fi without my intervention.
Three hours ago I was in the pool under the deset sun, now I'm in the air-conditioned calm of the Emirates Lounge, about to start the final leg of what has been a fantastic journey.
Post Script
Well, I got back to Birmingham safely, the Emirates car took me home quickly and I was re-united with my dog Tai. The following day, Sunday, I didn't do a lot and on Monday I was back to work. It'll take me some time to sort out all the experiences of the trip and post my photographs but it was a wonderful time.
The world's financial systems seemed to be collapsing whilst I was away and, on my return, they went into free-fall giving each of us many uncertainties for the future. Whatever the future holds, I've been fortunate in having had some splendid experiences for which I'm most grateful.
