Erk's Northern Hemiwanderer, June 2014

[erkpod]

Now I'm waiting in the line to enter the UK. It's been 30 minutes now & the sign I'm passing now says 15 minutes from this point. It has taken 30 minutes to move from the previous 20 minute sign.



Here's why I didn't get wifi on the flight. But VA would be better borrowing EY's IFE content.

Good to see EY recognise & promote partners including VA & AB. For the VA part, they played the commericial they filmed in the WA desert.

 

[erkpod]

Flight Report
Thursday 5 June 2014
EY 17 AUH - LHR

Plane: White. Big.

Seat: 22A on a 330. A lot smaller than 5K on a 777!

Not even going to try & spell the pilot & CSM names. One of the lounge angels was called Princess.

Check in: No need for priority. Had to tell the guy 5 times to turn my VA VFF GW over to get the VFF details.

Passport Control/Security - No issues. Really quick.

Lounge: EY Flounge was awesome (see above). Not really full.

Boarding: Staff did not come around to me like they did in SYD or were doing to other people in AUH. Left when I saw final call on the screen. No need for PB at that time but I joined a queue of people on the aerobridge.

OTR: About 30 minutes late departure due to needing to wait for connecting pax. Made up time, LHR on or close to time.

IFE: Excellent. VA should "borrow" EY's content. Cameras for take off/landing were a bonus.

Staff: Overall pretty good. I get the feeling they are used to handling difficult people.

Safety Demo: Never heard a safety demo starting with a prayer before. Pretty standard animated drawings ala VA.

Announcements: Arabic first then English.

Interesting incident: Elderly lady bought duty free lipstick on the plane, using cash (AED). Later, she couldn't find one of her credit/debit cards. She accused the staff in not so many words of keeping her card. I told the FA & the CSM (and the CSM in private while deplaning at his insistance) that cash was used.

UK Border Security: 57 minutes from entering the queue (at a sign marked 20 minutes from here!) to passing immigration. No issues in green customs channel.

Bags were waiting for me. No idea how long they were there for.

 

[erkpod]

Going to the Underground on level -1.







The Tube - we meet again!

 

[erkpod]

Unlike coughburn Central in my previous report (Erk To WPerth), coughfosters is said how you'd think it is.





A Tube train at my new local station.

 

[erkpod]

My nearest Tube station. Close to my accommodation *cough cough*



But what if I don't want to keep Brent tidy?



The receptionist is Canadian & then I spot a Canadian flag in the dining hall/bar.



Wet Welsh floor in London?

 

[Flashback]

You're not at Palmers Lodge are you (actually I think the other one is called Hillspring?)

 

[erkpod]

You're not at Palmers Lodge are you (actually I think the other one is called Hillspring?)

I'm at Hillspring at Willesdean Green which is part of Palmers.

 

[Flashback]

I'm at Hillspring at Willesdean Green which is part of Palmers.

Knew it!

 

[erkpod]

Knew it!

What gave it away?

 

[Flashback]

What gave it away?

Willesden Green

I stayed at Palmers Lodge in Swiss Cottage for a while when I first moved over while I was trying to get accommodation sorted. Some people alternated between the two as Swiss Cottage often filled up. I never made it out there but hear it's a bit more chilled.

 

[erkpod]

Willesden Green

I stayed at Palmers Lodge in Swiss Cottage for a while when I first moved over while I was trying to get accommodation sorted. Some people alternated between the two as Swiss Cottage often filled up. I never made it out there but hear it's a bit more chilled.

I might have to go down to Swiss Cottage as all the rooms are full tonight - hoping on a last night cancellation.



I found out that my Oyster card doesn't open the room door.



After breakfast & a shower, I'll find out where I'm sleeping tonight. Then I'll start my day.

 

[Flashback]

I might have to go down to Swiss Cottage as all the rooms are full tonight - hoping on a last night cancellation.

View attachment 29161

I found out that my Oyster card doesn't open the room door.

View attachment 29162

After breakfast & a shower, I'll find out where I'm sleeping tonight. Then I'll start my day.

If you get really stuck, let me know - might be able to sort something for you.

 

[erkpod]

If you get really stuck, let me know - might be able to sort something for you.

Thanks, mate.

Went online before going to reception & found a room here. All good.

 

[Paddy55]

Loving the TR, including the photos, so far.
Trust all goes well.

Must say have never encountered such a long wait to get thru UK Immigration

 

[erkpod]

Loving the TR, including the photos, so far.
Trust all goes well.

Must say have never encountered such a long wait to get thru UK Immigration

I didn't even think LHR was that busy traffic wise around 1800 - 1900 in T4 except for the queues.

They could learn something from US CBP at TBIT for line management & that's saying something.

 

[erkpod]

Day 4, Friday 6 June
London, England

I was typing a summary of the day, got distracted, went away from the app, summary gone.

Pics now...







Should have worn flippers in the shower this morning...



So true...



English football humour, eh?

 

[erkpod]

I'm on the route of the 98 bus but it does not directly serve the nearby Tube station.



While waiting for the bus, I heard the distinctive sound of a British emergency siren. Paramedics running hot or to use some local slang, running with the blues & twos.



Skipping forward a lot, yet someone else running hot, the Old Bill. Do they still call them Panda cars or have I watched too many episodes of The Bill (I do miss that show...)



The 98 bus came. I had a perfect shot lined up & there was shutter lag so I cut the top off of a London double decker. Better me than a low bridge, I guess!



Spotted this guy whose job seemingly is riding around London cleaning ATMs. Either that or they ran out of plain yellow safety vests.

 

[erkpod]

Continuing with the coughfosters theme from yesterday (#erkisa13yearoldboy), I spotted The cough Tavern downtown. I could have filled my phone with strange pub names.



The end of the line for the 98.



Maybe "reading ticket machine screens properly" should be a thing. I tried to tap on at Holborn & found my so called 7 Day Travelcard didn't include trains apart from one trip ex LHR I did yesterday. It's unlimited bus/tram but not train. Added zone 1/2 for trains thanks to the guy at Holbourn & no more issue. He says it is a common issue at LHR stations, especially because the card taps on ok at LHR.



I wanted to see an International train so I went to Kings Cross/St Pancras.

 

[erkpod]

While talking this pic, I got heckled by teenage girls for taking a selfie. There's some irony...





When I arrived on the Eurostar from Paris in 2011, I saw this sign saying "No Information" - says the same thing in 2014. At this time, the Met was part suspended. In addition, the Glammersmith & City, Circle lines were having severe delays - all information this sign doesn't show. Has it ever shown anything useful?





Coke are selling named bottles again.

 

[erkpod]

I could hear piano music on the way to the Eurostar section.



This guy had a play before taking his bag & heading off to the train.





This guy had a go but was rubbish.



This guy a little further on had a play & was much better than that bearded guy in the red shirt.



Most places with a piano have a sookylala if you touch their piano. All they are worried about here are people stealing the stool.