In snow motion

Blizzards, drifting snow, blocked roads. Ah, the joys of an English winter. What a difference 10 hours makes (or maybe it was the 4500 miles) as our plane descends into Norman Manley Airport with the stunning backdrop of the Blue Mountains. Welcome to Jamaica.

The flight nearly didn't happen. And given the fact that Britain seizes up at the merest hint of the white stuff, it's something of a miracle that it did. The cabin crew had to be scrambled from "anyone who came through door" as the captain bluntly put it. One of them was meant to be going to Manchester, another to Heathrow and another to Barbados. But for those bound for Kingston, we were just grateful they found enough to get our flight off the ground (with the help of the de-icers).

Away from the selfish factor of needing to make it to the first Test on time, the happiest people on the plane were the healthy number of England fans who had battled through the weather to make the airport on time. There was a good smattering of Barmy Army, wearing the T-shirts of previous overseas adventures, who by the time we were half way across the Atlantic were starting up conversations with the locals on board. The consensus – England might not have it all their own way.

About thirty minutes before landing, the captain urged anyone who was interested to look out the right hand side windows for a glimpse at Guantanamo Bay. Not something that will be on the sightseeing list of many England fans, but there was still a mad dash to one side of the plane – but, unlike in the movies, the aircraft stayed perfectly upright.

Going to the Caribbean is one of the few cricketing destinations (from the UK) where you travel east to west, therefore earning yourself a few extra hours. The warm sun was still shining as a plane load of Brits, many with winter jackets now flung over their shoulders, trooped to the taxi ranks.

And so the adventure begins. For some it will be a week-long trip, others the holiday of a lifetime and for some the experience of life on tour. Expect another influx of supporters for the Antigua and Barbados Tests, but bare a thought for a few unlucky fans who missed Monday's flight as they were stuck in snowdrifts on the M25. They are due to arrive into Monetgo Bay and transfer to Kingston on Tuesday, just in time for the Test, but that all depends on the snow stopping. Now, where's that sunblock.