A quick trip to the UK May 2019

VPS · May 13, 2020

This is a belated TR for a quick trip to the UK exactly one year ago today.

In early 2019 I decided to sell my house and was getting everything prepared. I had already organised to rent from some friends so there was no pressure to do anything. In late March I heard that a close friend in England had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and probably had until Christmas so I said I would get the house sorted and then come over and spend a some time with her. The house went on the market and we’d organised the first open inspection when I got the news at the end of April that she had died. I got a good offer on the house in the first week so made the decision to try and get to the UK for the funeral. Luckily, the English tend to take their time over there before they bury someone. In the meantime, I had a family wedding to attend before I went and wanted to be back for another family 0 birthday to celebrate.

I spent hours looking at frequent flyer flights and quickly found a Qatar flight from LGW to DOH then ADL. Getting over was a lot harder and I had almost convinced myself that I may have to slum it in Y but finally found a ADL BNE SIN DBX BHX all in J so although it was horrendous connections I bit the bullet and booked it.

I kept looking to see if there was anything else and one day, I clicked on a flight that said it was Y but nothing in J. When I clicked on it the flight from ADL to PER was in Y but the PER DBX BHX were all in J which meant that I had one less stop and much better times. I rang Qantas and they were great about changing the flights and didn’t charge me any points when I told them why.

I got to ADL airport and asked if there were any J seats on the PER flight and there was so a very unhelpful lady gave me the upgrade for 26,000 points. At this stage I wasn’t feeling great so didn’t argue (when I got home I contacted Qantas and after a bit of toing and froing they refunded my points because I’d already used paid the points for J all the way.

Anyway - this is all just background to how quickly you can get yourself organised if you must. Even though it was a sad reason to go I am so glad I made it. She had no immediate family but with a couple of other close friend I was able to help organise the service and participate. I also got the opportunity to visit some sights and see a few friends.

Hauling out of Adelaide

VPS · May 13, 2020

QF ADL to Perth which left on time in 2F.

PTD offered water or sparkling guava juice. Offered drink before dinner with smoked almonds

I had the roast vegetable salad but it was cold and dressing very sharp.

The guy next to me was quite chatty but incredibly terse to staff which I really don’t like.

Interesting to see a polling booth at Perth Airport ready for the election that weekend.

At PER and found the transfer to T1 not very clear. In the International terminal the lounges aren’t open until 3 hours before flight and I had several hours to wait but when I went to the Qantas lounge and said I wasn’t feeling great the hostess and let me sit in the corner and gave me a rug.

A couple of hours snoozing in the lounge and felt much better so off I trotted to the Emirates lounge.

As usual the food was good and well presented and the lounge was quite full.

VPS · May 13, 2020

EK421 On the PER DXB leg I had 6D which wouldn’t have been my first choice because there are always lights above with signs to toilets and light through curtain and get swished by curtain when people coming through. I didn’t have much choice because the plan was chockers.

Champagne or juice PTD

I slept most of the way and didn’t even have any dinner because I was still feeling a little ordinary .

Paddington was already to party

VPS · May 13, 2020

Breakfast – the French toast ok but the sauce way too sweet.

The FA were mainly women and were attentive and professional

In DBX had to wait about 10 minutes to have a shower and then had a wander around lounge and boarded straight from gate.

Dubai lounge

Pushka · May 13, 2020

Oh, I didn't realise we left for Overseas on the same day! We left during the day going east and you were headed west!

VPS · May 14, 2020

EK 39 Dubai to Birmingham J was quite empty. Large section of Y was empty too.
The FA were again good but not as nice as previous.

They put window shades down straight after take off even though it was 7.30 am but you could open them if you want.

VPS · May 14, 2020

The rest of the menu and a couple of meals - I haven't written anything about what they were like sorry

And the amenity kit - I really like the little brushes

VPS · May 14, 2020

Flying into England's Green and Pleasant land

I had booked a hire car in Birmingham and the cheapest they had was a 7 seater which I booked for two weeks. When I got there someone said I’ll go and get your car. He came back and said do you realise what you’ve booked and I said yes and he said do you really want a 7 seater and I said no but it was the cheapest. Off he went and came back and said there isn’t anything else but if you call on Friday we can see about swapping it over.

I was going to my friend’s house near Banbury so off I went in my big van and small suitcase. In fact this did come in very handy when we clearing stuff out of the house and heading into the charity shops.

craven morehead · May 14, 2020

Righto, just caught up

VPS · May 14, 2020

So off to my friend's house. Small village but beautiful countryside. Typical old house on the edge of the village next to the church and looking out over beautiful countryside .

VPS · May 15, 2020

So a few days organising the service and cleaning out the house to ready for sale - just what I needed after cleaning out my own house but it's a lot easier to be ruthless when it's not your own stuff.

I had rang Hertz and they said I could swap the car out for something smaller and I had a week before the funeral so decided to head off to visit some friends near Cambridge. I had given my friend this large bear and decided to give it to friend's kids so it had a good home so popped the bear into the back of the van and put the seat belt on it and headed off to Hertz. As I was dropping it off someone was walking past the van and did a double take of this big bear sitting up the back of the van.

My first visit was to friends near Cambridge. They are very close to the IWM Duxford so next trip (if ever I get there) will be a visit there.

A more manageable size car

Wandering around and loving the wisteria

Next day a trip in Saffron Walden a market town in Essex - lovely little town and I do love English markets

Typical English day - bright sunshine and black clouds

Very striking sculpture ‘A New Perspective on The Children of Calais’

VPS · May 15, 2020

More of Saffron Walden

St Mary's church and a few old buildings

I hope someone did eventually buy this place and restore it - lovely old building

VPS · May 15, 2020

Someone I had worked with in NZ had worked for Adnams gin and had raved about so I had bought a bottle which I really didn't like so wandering around Saffron Walden lo and behold Adnams so in we went to do a bit of tasting and I decided I didn't really like anything they had much. I ended up leaving the gin at some friends and bought something better

But just around the corner was a chocolate shop and there was a lady sitting outside eating an ice cream and she said you must have a salted caramel because it's superb so of course I did. Molten chocolate for the hot chocolate as well but couldn't do ice cream and hot chocolate at once!!

The beginnings of a beautiful sunset

and it didn't disappoint

VPS · May 15, 2020

Next day a trip to Cambridge.

We were wandering around and I wanted to get closer to the Bridge of Sighs but there was a locked gate. I did my poor Australian bit and one of the students let us through to take a photo. By the time we had come back they had locked the gate so we couldn't get out so were stuck in St John's College so had to wander through the whole college to get back onto the street (with the group of us that just saved us about 30 quid in entrance fees and we got to see most of it)

St John's College

The Bridge of Sighs

VPS · May 15, 2020

More of St John's College

Inside the Bridge of Sighs

VPS · May 15, 2020

And then a few more from just wandering around Cambridge. I hadn't been there since 1983 when I stayed in a youth hostel and a cat got into the power station and blacked out the whole city. It's odd the things you remember.

Kings College

VPS · May 16, 2020

Next day I didn't have too many plans except spending the night somewhere in the Peak District so headed off in the general direction. After about an hours drive I saw the sign to Burghley House that I'd always wanted to visit so in I went and very glad that I did.