Journey Home

Up at 6am, bit of a shock. All ready by 0745, which was good as Susan's parents arrived a little early. They gave us a holographic picture of Berlin, which was very kind. Much shaking of hands and smiling, and we were on our way by 0815. M8, S7 and then the FEX from Ostkreuz to Flughafen. All very smooth ... so far.

Not smooth at the airport at all! BA are apparently not part of the Fast Bag Drop scheme here, and the day after being closed by strikes for 24 hours they were operating just two desks. It took 50 minutes to drop the bag. Then Security took an hour to get through the Disney queue; it was like the 1990s all over again.
Adding insult to frustration, my BA app got confused about my boarding pass, thought I was going to Hamburg again! Luckily it came right in time for Security but failed again at the Gate - the BA lady shrugged and told me my seat. I suspect the whole BA system was a bit overloaded today. That was quote an irritating and stressful experience. 

Flight pushed back 15 mins late, landed 10 mins late. Always exciting into London City in a big jet because the runway is only just long enough. It looks as though we're going to land in the river. DLR to Stratford and the still quote shiny new Elizabeth Line straight to Paddington. Pad station was heaving - it is Fri pm. With no seat reservations, we hovered and then legged it. Got seats OK but btw smelly food and loud, posh girls. Sixth and last train of the day - phew.

Overall it was a really good trip and everything worked as planned/hoped. We dodged Airport strikes and rail strikes ... in Germany!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Conwy & KP

Image
 Good, cosy night. Used gas for coffee and microwave for porridge. Spent a few hours in Conwy, parking outside the tiny town centre. Another big tick and worth revisiting. Coffee at marina, ice cream on quay, lunch in van. Easy 90min drive to Gatley. Much chatting, eating, drinking. They had early shift so bed at 9pm. N caught up on Must See Moments from Paris Olympics. L reported a river swim, poetic progress, and a new friend who is in Plymouth Labour - small world.
Read more

Gatley & Cheadle

Image
 KP both working 6am-2pm. Leisurely morning for N, doing this blogging and planning tomorrow and Scotland in Sep. Heard the v sad news that Audrey didn't wake up this morning. A peaceful passing. She was the last of that generation in L's family on either side - loss of a much loved aunt and end of an era. An unusual view of the van. KP & N walked to Cheadle, to a park and then a chi-chi coffee shop for cafe kuchen. Quite hot walking. Collapsed on garden sofa for a good read. K has had a 9% pay rise, the first she's ever not fought for. Obviously this new senior journalist role on BBC England page is going well. Pete also v happy with his SJ (producer) role on the One. They are having trouble, the nice kind, deciding what to do with all their weekends together. Mushroom stroganoff and Olympics highlights completed the day.  L reported a sea swim with two others again, despite rain; these poets are hard core. Also read to N a beautiful/sad long poem written that day. The...
Read more

Four days more

Image
 26th to 29th September Sunday we went on a modest walk to Tilberthwaite and back, with some rain along the way. At night we finished the fizz that had been a celebration of our wedding anniversary. Monday we set off early for Tarn Hows, despite the rain. We had a mission, to say a prayer for Lesley's uncle Hugh and scatter his ashes in the lake, without being observed by NT staff. We also screwed a third plaque into the back of Our Bench at the lake, to join the ones which remember Lesley's mum Deirdre and sister Mary. Then we drove to Coniston for some retail therapy at the Vintage shop - green clip earrings and a silk hankie - and an early lunch at the fantastic Green Housekeeper cafe, where soup & bread is a meal. Thus fortified we had a walk along the lake side towrads but not as far as Tolver. Tuesday dawned and resolutely remained wet and windy. Lesley's birthday (pic) was spent unapologetically inside, reading, opening presents (which involved more reading) and ...
Read more