I'm going to see daughter and family for a few days next month (grandsons birthday) and just taking hand luggage on the plane. Initially, because I only need one dose of MTX while I'm there I was just going to take tablets (I now inject it). I then got thinking, I'm going over for Christmas, will be there for several weeks so I really don't want to go back to taking it orally for a month, being that injecting it at the moment made such a difference to how I am. So I've decided that I will take it this time to see what happens at security, (taking tablets just in case)

I've got a letter from Heath Care at Home and one from my consultant so I'm not really expecting any problems taking it there. However I am a little worried about bringing an empty syringe back with me. I've bought a little plastic box, one with the clip down lid for carrying everything in, but will they allow me to take an empty one back on the plane? I could be very irresponsible and just throw it in Julie's bin but that's not really what you are suppose to do.

Anyone had to bring back empty ones in hand luggage or anybody got any suggestions.

Paula x

That was quick Anne

I didn't think of that. How big is the box? The one that I have bought is tiny, the needle when used just fits in it at an angle. Because we've only got hand luggage and I'm certain that things will start to appear that she's ordered from e-bay, Amazon etc for us to take over, space in the case is very limited. Suppose thinking about it I could always leave it there (in the box I've bought ) and when we go again, bring it back then, will be having hold luggage then. Simples!!!!!!

Well, I've had a call today about my next delivery and asked the young lady if she knew anything about bringing syringes back, this is what I call my 'need to know' basis. She didn't but got their pharmacist to ring me up. He said he would send me a travel sharp box, telling me that they aren't very big and then for me to take it to a chemist in Gib or to the hospital (lid closed) and they would dispose of it for me.

I might not even have the problem, had a telephone call from daughter asking how much it would be if I put a case on. I think she wants me to buy some birthday presents for her and take them out with me. Things are very expensive out there, don't mind as long as she pays for it.

I've taken various things out with me over the last few years. The strangest thing was a part for the engine of their car. Have had Nippon ant poison take off me at security, not allowed to take that in your hand luggage onto a plane. Think they were worried I might terrorise some ants on the plane.

I once had a pleading telephone call from her to take what she described as a Boom Boom box out for her. Something that you put your i pod music thing into to play music loud. It weighed........wait for it..........8kg..........., big part of our luggage allowance. Husband was not very pleased about it, but she said she just had to have it, she'd even ordered it before she asked us. At check in when we were asked the security question.........Anyone asked you to bring anything with you, he replied ......Yes, a b***dy BOOM BOOM box.

Not something you really should say at an airport check in desk, I stood there waiting to be surrounded by armed police.

Paula x

We're only going Thursday to Tuesday Dorothy so I shouldn't need to take many clothes with me. I have a box at Julies with all of our toiletries in and my pampering things so that saves an awful lot of space in our cases. We are flying with Easy Jet so there is no weight limit on our hand luggage, only the size of it. I can see both of us wearing our kagools with all of the pockets stuffed with things. She told me she's ordering a hard drive for her laptop for us to take over. We've got a few x box games to take out for her as well. I left Daniels birthday present there last September when we went over so at least I don't have to worry about that.

I think I will, if Julies says it OK, leave my sharp box over there. I always put my meds. on the top of her fridge/freezer when I get there, out of reach of the grandchildren, so I'm sure it will be OK to leave it there. I really don't want to have to dispose of it with only one needle and a few bits of plastic in it. It seems such a waste, I then can put it in my hold luggage when we leave next time.

Ann, I forgot to mention that when I was speaking to the pharmacist I asked if we had to put all the packaging in the sharp box. The nurse did this when she showed me how to inject, but we where in my lounge at the time and I thought that she was just tidying everything away. I told him that if none of the drug had leaked out it seemed silly to put it in the sharp box, it would fill it up quicker. He said and he did think it was a bit OTT, but anything that comes into contact with the drug had to be put in the sharp box because it was a cytotoxic drug. Was going to say.....I won't fit in it......but resisted it, his sense of humour might not be on my level.

Paula x

Hello Ann

Glad I cheered you up.

I did get the clean up kit with my first delivery. I knew it was a chemo drug, always call Friday Nasty Medicine Day, but it really made me realise when I read the instruction of what to do if you spill it. Having to wear the goggles, gloves, do an incident report and then if it gets on your clothes put them in the bag for safe disposal. Better make sure I am not wearing a designer outfit when I stab myself.

Daniel will be 8 in November, I've also got a granddaughter called Paris, she was 6 last month. They first moved to Spain December 07, I really had the rug pulled from under me. I use to look after them so much while Julie was at work and then nothing. It broke my heart at the time. My RA symptoms started the following March and my consultant thinks that the upset may of trigged my RA.

I do see them alot. I have often said that if you count all the days in a year that I see them, I probably spend more time with them than some grandparents who's grandchildren live nearby. I had them for most of the school holidays last year and the same this year. When we took them back last month we stopped with them for 10 days for Paris's birthday. Normally spend Christmas and Easter with them and sometimes get to go in between.

If your husband spent some time in Gib he will know about the runway there. When I tell people that they have to stop the traffic and people walking across the runway when a plane is due to land of take off they think I am joking at first.

Not looking forward to the flight in November, well not so much the flight but the landing. When we went last November we where feet off landing, I was waiting for the bump, next thing I knew we were climbing again. Pilot had to abort the landing at the very last moment. We flew around the Rock, approached again, lined up for another approach, husband turned to me and said 'It's poo pant time'. Again, feet from landing then back up into the air we went. I then had visions of the pilot and co pilot flipping a coin to see if we were going to have another go. Husband turned to me and said 'I wish I was down there watching this, it must be so entertaining' I replied 'Yes I do, I'd rather be watching the entertainment than be part of it.' We ended up landing in Malaga.

My eldest daughter recently watched some documentary about airports and Gibraltar is the 5th most dangerous one to land in. It something to do with the wind and the Rock. The wind coming off of it swirls and it can flip the plane over if it's caught in it. I didn't really want to know that!!!

Paula

Paula x