2013 stoopidity: here, there, everywhere.. incl around the world (twice). .

[Stoopidsteve]

And along the river. Nice views across to Jericho, and of course the meadow is a public space with local grazing rights, so lots of livestock, and the river used by many forms of transport...

View attachment 17957



row boat, motor boat, narrow boat, sail boat
View attachment 17958

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And then we head back to East Oxford, and Cowley Road for an early dinner.

Kadai and Naan is the restaurant we choose.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g186361-d4241764-Reviews-Kadai_Naan-Oxford_Oxfordshire_England.html

Has a good reputation. I'd say deservedly so. Fresh clean flavours, happy service without being obsequious, worth a vISIT. No decent Indian restaurants on Gold Coast so I enjoy a lot of food, but it must be pointed out that gluttonous as I am, not ALL that food was for me...

 

[trentusjuventus]

Fantastically detailed TR Steve. Have been thoroughly fascinated for the last few hours! Looking forward to the continuation!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Fantastically detailed TR Steve. Have been thoroughly fascinated for the last few hours! Looking forward to the continuation!

Thanks. I always worry that I am merely reciting trivia....

and tonight on arrival at T3 LHR, I am greeted by the trivial news that my upstairs economy seat in 32A will not be mine for QF2 to DXB.

I have to put up with ruffians further forward.

11B is my seat for the trip to DXB.....double op-up!

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks. I always worry that I am merely reciting trivia....

and tonight on arrival at T3 LHR, I am greeted by the trivial news that my upstairs economy seat in 32A will not be mine for QF2 to DXB.

I have to put up with ruffians further forward.

11B is my seat for the trip to DXB.....double op-up!

Noice.

I guess 32A will have been re-alocated by now, so there is no point refusing.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Noice.

I guess 32A will have been re-alocated by now, so there is no point refusing.

Yes, I reluctantly gave up 32A, and I survived 11B pics and more reports to follow later.

Meanwhile more trivia: 19C DXB-SIN has morphed into 6K....happy boy! First time EK in business

 

[JessicaTam]

Yes, I reluctantly gave up 32A, and I survived 11B pics and more reports to follow later.

Meanwhile more trivia: 19C DXB-SIN has morphed into 6K....happy boy! First time EK in business

It seems more than a few QF WPs are feeling the love from EK.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

It seems more than a few QF WPs are feeling the love from EK.

So I've heard...certainly didn't feel any from BA....

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So, first stop after clearing security through fast- track is to defeat man's greatest enemy with the aid of a beanie. For some reason it had made its home in T3 departures.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Then a quick shower in First Lounge....doh, wasn't until after I got in that I remembered why I used AA lounge for shower last time. T3 first lounge showers are TINY.

A quick snack. Hot dishes available were Thai veg curry, butter chicken, hot and spicy beef ribs. NO PIES!!!!! I just had a little cheese: Denhay Cheddar (not crumbly enough for my liking); Somerset Brie (what can I say? it's not Brie!), and some Stilton (yup, that was good).

Caught up on emails.

 

[TonyHancock]

Really enjoying your trip reports. Looking forward to the pics from 11B.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Boarded VH-QK "John & Reginald Duigan".

made my way to 11 B. Much as I shouldn't complain about double op-ups, I don't think the in-seat massage is that amazing, I do like to use it. But on this seat, the motor was so loud and buzzing that it was unusable. 11A was also noticeable, but not quite so loud.




Pushed back at 2135, and in the air at 2156 (vs scheduled 2130). Mark Ford and Neil Holding on the flight deck. CSM came over and gave the "iPad welcome".

During the flight, discussions with the cabin crew revealed:
-that they have many complaints about travel via DXB, partic the short leg to DXB for pax from LHR: evening departure leads to interrupted sleep, whereas previous routing gave plenty sleep time to SIN.
-that the UK-based crew now just do LHR-DXB, so they don't mind the shortened legs, but with "only" 6-7hours, they are still tinkering with service to get it done quickest.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

so, dinner plates menu included:
minestone soup
schnitzel sandwich (if anything like the one I had on KTA SC run in June, DON'T BOTHER)
Monk fish
Pot-roasted Duck leg
cheese
leaf salad


Nothing very inspiring: should have eaten properly in lounge before boarding!
had some duck, but as expected, overcooked and lacking in flavour.



The black cherry/chocolate mousse stuff was good. They called it black forest trifle, but it's lacking Kirsch (for obvious reasons on routing) so doesn't deserve that name!




and more cheese Grommit?




Arrived into DXB, touchdown 0712 local, at gate A10 at 0718. I did get a little snooze, but really not long enough, as I'm on my way to SIN, but did obviously sleep through the "cafe style" b/f.

 

[JessicaTam]

Am I the only person who likes the schnitzel sandwich? Hmmm.

Are the BA F showers that bad that it is worth lounge hopping?

 

[Dalek]

So, first stop after clearing security through fast- track is to defeat man's greatest enemy with the aid of a beanie. For some reason it had made its home in T3 departures.

View attachment 18038View attachment 18039

Steve, I must condemn your use of a Dalek as a hat rack.

Don't you ever get challenged by security in that outfit?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Steve, I must condemn your use of a Dalek as a hat rack.

Don't you ever get challenged by security in that outfit?

Well how else to defeat a Dalek but to cover its eye stalk so it can't see? But in deference to your namesakes, I should add that no Daleks were really harmed in the making of these pics.

A friend asked me that. I told them that it's not me wearing the hat, it's someone else.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Are the BA F showers that bad that it is worth lounge hopping?

Yes. You have to move the bin to close the door. Hardly any room for hand luggage (awkward if actually trying to get toiletries or a change of clothes out). Tiny.

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for that.

BTW, has beanie found a friend?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

So, I'd arrived in DXB terminal A. I wandered up to First lounge, who suggest I go over immediately to lounge in other terminal as that's where I'm leaving from. I wander into lounge in B, and ask for boarding pass to be re-printed because the one'd been issued in LHR had become a little tattered and torn on the way over. And lo and behold, the economy seat (S class) I had had morphed into a business class seat for the DXB-SIN leg on QF8404. As above, pretty happy with that.

But I wander further to the lounge by gate C23. Yes it took about 20-25mins to get from A10.

I decide not to eat too much, hoping to enjoy better the fine food on EK metal, so juts choose some sushi which I arranged.

View attachment 18059View attachment 18060

A fairly quiet lounge, with upstairs lounge (smoking, and alcohol), and sleeping area. Downstairs is seating and food. At that time, on offer was cooked breakfast items, fruit, baked breakfast croissant etc, as well as the sushi.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Finally board QF8404 (EK operated) DXB-SIN.

This is my first trip in EK J. Welcomed aboard after seating by Captain (Australian) and FO (Austrian). Both he and the CSM make a point of the international crew, with the latter listing about 10 languages spoken by the cabin crew. I got a welcome form CSM.

Pushback was 0945, and off the ground by 1002.

Some warmed nuts with drinks, then I chose mezze dish, then prawns.


I take a rest then enjoy a nice lamb pie. Then sleep some more until just before landing in SIN




We arrived SIN 2107, and at gate C20 at 2112.

They are modifying immigration point, so for the first time ever at SIN, there's a queue. Took best part of 30 mins to clear immigration, then a taxi to Furama Waterfront. I had pre-booked through Wotif, an am happy to be advised of an upgrade to a suite, with late checkout (to 4pm) which suited me well. I had thought this was a new one for m, but on arrival realise I stayed there on my first visit to Sing for a conference in 2004.