The start of the journey...

I booked myself onto an AirTransat flight and a four night stay in the Radisson Harbourfront hotel.

Dad couldn't make it and Baz was working so I was off on my own. Ben volunteered but I decided that it was something I needed to do alone.

The thought of going alone was scary and I spent the few days before the departure date trying to think up good reasons not to go. Despite this however, I got up at 5:00am to catch Flight no. 232 to Pearson International, Toronto.

It was very sad leaving my family, friends dogs and England for my unknown adventure. Ben made me a little book covering all aspects of the trip, with an envelope to open each morning and night I was away, along with presents and maps for where I was going

The check in went swiftly with my cheeky request for the extra leg room being granted :) Once I finally said good bye to Baz and starved off a few tears, I went through to my favourite place in the world... Duty Free.

Normally I am like a kiddy in a sweet shop however this time, being alone and feeling trepidation kerbed my usually large spending habit!

Despite me being at the airport 3 hours before the flight and all checked in, I nearly missed the final call for the flight!? After some Olympic style running down to the gate (plus the scornful look I got off the air stewardess) I boarded the plane and sat down in my extra leg-room window seat. After I made myself comfy and got out my Ipod and book, I noticed this 6'6" guy hovering in front of me.. turns out he was the rightful owner of my seat and had paid the £35 to pre-book it.

Before I could 'offer' my seat (yeah right!!!), the guy sitting next to me hopped up and gave the large guy his seat!

The flight from Gatwick to Toronto was 8 hrs 10 minutes and boy did it feel it!... In short, to relieve the boredom I fidgeted lots, read a book, watched neither film and squeezed in two Tom & Jerry cartoons before landing.

The plane itself was crappy - 3 toilets in total for the economy passengers (about 250 of us maybe?). One didn't have water so they put in some hospital hand sanitizer.... still, was disgusting and considering the 2 toilets at the front of the plane catered for only 25 people, I am still amazed at their stupidity. At one point, there were 12 people queuing in front of me for the toilet!.... ewww

Apart from the usual rubbish food there was nothing else of note on the flight - although we did get a boiled sweet before landing which I thought was a nostalgic touch!

Queuing up at Passport Control was amusing - when it came to my turn, I got asked the usual questions... "What are you doing here".. "Where are you staying".. "How much money do you have with you" to which I answered with the standard answers "...seeing my nan"..."Radisson Harbourfront"..."not much but enough to get by".

The Border Control lady obviously decided that these were unacceptable answers, and a young girl travelling on her own on a British passport was obviously dodgy (grrrr) so I was packed off with a flourish of pink pen to Immigation!

After 20 minutes hard questioning (because I look like a terrorist), I was finally "released" (after emptying the entire contents of my hand luggage across the mountie's desk!). I was granted a whole 6 months access to Canada.. whoop.

I was finally here.. alone but smiling and ready for my next step - taxi to the hotel...