Hi Francesca, Don't know what I did there but I managed to lose the first bit I had written. Anyhoo, thanks again for your comments and yes, I'll make full use of the count to 80 technique. I'll let you know how I get on. I plan to keep a short log of the trip - apart from anything else its another activity to keep me occupied during the flights. While I'm really looking forward to seeing my children and granddaughter, in an odd way there's part of me thats looking forward to the flights as I've always been something of an aircraft "nerd". But with my fear and phobia, its easier viewing them from the ground!! I'll write again soon. Best wishes. Frank.

Hi Francesca,
Great to hear from you and I'm delighted to have been of some help to you. I've posted a bit on the Claustrophobia Group in reply to "Fearful of Flying" and spoken about my own upcoming flight to NZ - its a long trip approximately 25 hours flying on three successive flights to get to Auckland. I am apprehensive about it but seeing may dayghter, soin and granddaughter will be worth all the effort. I have made the trip before and NZ is a wonderful country. So there are rewards for the effort. Hope you had time and space to enjoy your "get together" with the friends PC and that life is being good to you in Philly. Keep in touch and best wishes for the future. I'll keep you uposted. Frank

Hi and thanks for joining us on this the internet’s biggest and most successful social network for fearful flyers.
Please don’t hesitate to ask me anything you need to know about. I will always give you honest answers, and I hope that I will be able to explain the complexities of flying in a way that is accurate, helpful and interesting to you.
Please post your stories, videos and pictures to encourage others to share your successes and to encourage them when they need support.
We’ve got a lot of help and information on our website (flyingwithoutfear.com) and our shop has all the help you’re ever likely to need (Book, CD, DVD, Guide, Audio Courses).
May I encourage you to face your fear as soon as possible? I know that you will think that the longer you leave addressing your fear the better it will be for you. In fact the opposite is true. When you look around the site and on this forum I can promise you that you will not uncover something that will make you more nervous than you are right now. This site is written in a way to help you to overcome your fear.
We don’t do the hearty slap on the back stuff, and we don’t do the ‘Look how easy it is to fly a plane’ angle.
We’re here to help you by explaining the truth as simply and helpfully as we can.
Best wishes