Egg tarts and Flowers. Portugal plus Chelsea.

[drron]

For dinner we finished off our food in the apartment. Slept in but not for long as we had to check out at 1100. No real point staying in london as we didn't want to aggravate Mrsdrron's back so booked a transfer to LHR through Taxicode for 1100. I only looked at the reviews on Trip Advisor later. I had read the Trust Pilot reviews and 76% positive. But on TA 401 out of 408 reviews were 1 star. however soon after booking we got an email from Umbrella transfers saying they would be doing the transfer and even gave us the drivers name -Alexandr D. Their TA reviews were 95% positive.

When we went outside even though it was just before 1100 there were many people off to the Flower Show.



Whilst mrsdrron waited patiently.


The E type Mercedes turned up at right on 1100 and a really good driver. Plus the cost was only 64 GBP which was cheaper than a London cab.

Here are the websites. first the cosolidator Taxicode.

Taxicode • Book and Compare Taxi, Minibus and Coach Hire Prices

Compare And Find The Best Price On Taxi, Minibus and Coach Hire Fares, Choose from Minicab, Executive or Chauffeur driven VIP car services. Book Online Today.

www.taxicode.com

But if going back we would probably go with Umbrella direct although a bit more expensive.

London Airport Transfers Specialists - Umbrella Transfers

London Airport Transfers, Cities Connections, Events, Chauffeur Service - for Business and Pleasure. Private Car Hire Service - 24/7 Support.

umbrellatransfers.com

Of course that meant we were at LHR a bit after midday and our flight was at 2215 so check in would open ~ 1815. So after a walk around T2 to see where check in would be we decided on having lunch at the Queens Arms. Mrsdrron had a club sandwich and I had a steak and mushroom pie.



Both were quite nice. I washed mine down with an amber ale.

We then went down to the arrivals hall to wait as there were plenty of real seats there but very few in the Departures hall.
At 1600 we went back to the Departures Hall as there was an SQ flight leaving 2 hours before ours - an A380 which I would have preferred but there was no award availability on that even in J. It's check in was due to open at 1615 but at 1600 when we got there checkin was open with no passengers there. They allowed us to checkin for our later flight.
Then came the long walk to the SQ lounge.

 

[Quickstatus]

Whilst mrsdrron waited patiently.

I'm going to show Mrs QS the difference in luggage for a 2 month trip Vs 2week trip.

 

[Pushka]

For dinner we finished off our food in the apartment. Slept in but not for long as we had to check out at 1100. No real point staying in london as we didn't want to aggravate Mrsdrron's back so booked a transfer to LHR through Taxicode for 1100. I only looked at the reviews on Trip Advisor later. I had read the Trust Pilot reviews and 76% positive. But on TA 401 out of 408 reviews were 1 star. however soon after booking we got an email from Umbrella transfers saying they would be doing the transfer and even gave us the drivers name -Alexandr D. Their TA reviews were 95% positive.

When we went outside even though it was just before 1100 there were many people off to the Flower Show.
View attachment 331851
View attachment 331852

Whilst mrsdrron waited patiently.
View attachment 331853

The E type Mercedes turned up at right on 1100 and a really good driver. Plus the cost was only 64 GBP which was cheaper than a London cab.

Here are the websites. first the cosolidator Taxicode.

Taxicode • Book and Compare Taxi, Minibus and Coach Hire Prices

Compare And Find The Best Price On Taxi, Minibus and Coach Hire Fares, Choose from Minicab, Executive or Chauffeur driven VIP car services. Book Online Today.

www.taxicode.com

But if going back we would probably go with Umbrella direct although a bit more expensive.

London Airport Transfers Specialists - Umbrella Transfers

London Airport Transfers, Cities Connections, Events, Chauffeur Service - for Business and Pleasure. Private Car Hire Service - 24/7 Support.

umbrellatransfers.com

Of course that meant we were at LHR a bit after midday and our flight was at 2215 so check in would open ~ 1815. So after a walk around T2 to see where check in would be we decided on having lunch at the Queens Arms. Mrsdrron had a club sandwich and I had a steak and mushroom pie.
View attachment 331855
View attachment 331856

Both were quite nice. I washed mine down with an amber ale.
View attachment 331854
We then went down to the arrivals hall to wait as there were plenty of real seats there but very few in the Departures hall.
At 1600 we went back to the Departures Hall as there was an SQ flight leaving 2 hours before ours - an A380 which I would have preferred but there was no award availability on that even in J. It's check in was due to open at 1615 but at 1600 when we got there checkin was open with no passengers there. They allowed us to checkin for our later flight.
Then came the long walk to the SQ lounge.

Thanks. I'll need transport in December.

 

[drron]

I'm going to show Mrs QS the difference in luggage for a 2 month trip Vs 2week trip.

Yes just one large suitcase (though not as large as many you see being checked in ) and 2 carryons. Mrsdrron has become a champion packer.
And we were away for 10 weeks.

 

[drron]

So to the lounge. Was already pretty full.



Interesting sign on the bar.


Those botanicals sounded good so a G&T it was.


Boy it was good. As the barman upped the pour every time I went back for another I was feeling very good by the time we boarded.
So to the food offerings. Quite extensive.




Bowls of potato. There were 4 bowls when I first looked and the same 4 when I last looked.

 

[drron]

And the hot stuff. In more ways than one.







And it appears I left one sign out but this was a vegetarian curry.

 

[drron]

They had 2 soups. i had the Tom yum which was excellent.




And for completeness sake.



I'd had a fair bit of gin by the time those last photos were taken.
As the sun was going down i couldn't get a shot from the lounge so took a bit of a walk in the terminal but unfortunately by the time i got there the sun had disappeared and LHR don't arrange their airbridges with sunsets in mind.


So a couple of shots as I was down there anyway.


And the Previous SQ flight was still at the gate an hour after official departure time.

 

[drron]

Champagne was served soon after we got to our seats. I took pictures of the menu and then fell asleep. so missed takeoff and the second glass of champagne after tak off. Aoke just in time for the meal service but after taking a picture of the starter I forgot to take a picture of the mains, Neither of us had desserts.







As I said the only picture of the meal was the starter. fairly ordinary.


I had the cod which was OK and Mrsdrron had the pork belly which she found too fatty.
Then i went to sleep again.

 

[drron]

I didn't sleep for long. When I woke I watched the 4 episodes of a series on Hokkaido. convinced me to plan a trip in July 2024.

A door to Hokkaido still unseen | Japan Program Catalog

A door to Hokkaido still unseen | Japan Program Catalog

japan-programcatalog.com

By the time I watched that it was time to eat gain. I had the fruit plate and the baked egg.



The baked egg wasn't nice and looked a bit iffy. the rest of the dish was good.


By the time I had finished the meal there wasn't long to go until landing so I just watched the flight path,



Arrived on time at SIM but at terminal 1. We went through the automated gates and Mrsdrron had no problem but it wouldn't recognise my face so taken aside and just a short delay.
Off to the baggage carousel and a bit of a wait. Our bag was the last of the priority tgs to arrive. Then the train to T3 and the Crowne Plaza. once again upgraded to a pool view room.


Set our alarms to 0630 and also booked a wake up call as our flight was just before 1000.

 

[drron]

Awoke and off to checkin at 0630. No need for breakfast at the CP. We had had drinks as my diamond amenity. Both at the automatic gate on arrival and on departure my photo wasn't accepted so I had to go and be processed by an agent. There my photo came up with a green light. just annoying.
Began my breakfast with a bowl of Laksa. Really good taste.


Wasn't too hard to find a seat.


As usual I went back and selected some Asian delights. Going back to my seat I bumped into someone famous -another AFFer. @Quickstatus who was on his way into the City.
Boarding was to start at 0930. however they had changed the terminal from T3 to T1 so at 0900 made the trek to T!. At the gate greeted by a very long line at security. No premium entrance. As usual I tell the operator I had a metal knee so just tells me to go through the xray. but the operator on the other side insists I take off my belt and shoes and put them through the security scene. Then she calls another guy over to wand me.

At least not quite as bad as at T3 lhr when in the premium line it was take of my shoes and belt. go through the Xray. Beeps so through the body scanner. All clear but still get wanded and a full pat down.
As we finally got through security they had just preboarded a wheelchair pax and some not so small children so we kept walking to the gate and as we got there business class boarding was called. That meant we were first in line. Final flight home next.

 

[drron]

So to the menu for the flight to BNE.








So exactly the same wine menu as the previous flight. So for meals we both had the same wine on both flights. Mrsdrron had the Pikes and I the Chateau Pay La Tour.
Naturally even in the morning you just must have a champagne. now i have a severe familial tremor so holding a glass of champagne in one hand with the iPhone in the other is always going to come out blurred.

 

[drron]

We boarded and at each J seat was this collection. Haven't had that happen post covid.


Offered juices but asked for champagne and received it and a second glass when we were in the air. Soon after the satays were served,


Then a bit of a break until the lunch service. The starter duck breast.


Mrsdrron had the grilled pork loin with natural jus. Again a tad fatty but nice. I had a BTC meal -rumah makan mimang nasi pandang. in other words a chicken curry with rice. It was excellent.


I then had the cheese plate. OK.


For the refreshment Mrsdrron had the chicken meatballs which she liked and I had a very tasty Tom Yum vermicelli with prawns.


The wifi on this flight was much better than the previous day's 777 flight so I caught up with lots of emails. Also listened to a bit of Abba.

The flight had left a little late and arrived a little early but as usual waited a while until the airbridge was in place. Bags out reasonably quickly and premium tagged bags came out first. Can't remember the last time that happened at the International terminal. Ours was one of the last of the premium tags.
Quickly through Immigration as the Auussie smart gates now recognise me and then straight through customs.

Then the last problem. Our booked limo was not there. The service telephone just had a message that it is not service ours so email your request. So we rang the driver who had taken us most times but had retired. Fortunately he knew who to contact but a bit of a wait for a replacement ride.

Next big trip is in September. A few days in Bangkok and Tokyo before boarding the Silver Muse in Tokyo and cruising via HKG and SIN back to Cairns.