Japan and a Windy trip around the British Isles.

[drron]

I don’t understand @drron. If you are meant to be on the BA aircraft that took off in the pics, how did you take a pic from the outside of the aircraft?

I have some amazing super powers!

 

[drron]

How did you get from airport to Rydges?

From the domestic terminals just take the free T bus to the International terminal.It stops just across the road from Rydges.

 

[drron]

0501 and our plane has arrived ready tospeed us off to SIN this afternoon.
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[drron]

Grey skies early this morning but has cleared to a mostly sunny sky.An everchanging array of tails.
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Several planes are unloaded at remote stands including a VA and 2 QF planes at the cargo terminal.
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[mrs.dr.ron]

On the Tbus

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

How did you get from airport to Rydges?

On the free T bus

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

On board BA16

 

[Julesmac]

Looks like the makings of another epic report. Looking forward to your photos of the wisteria-have a bit of a fascination with them-Dads family house was a Cobb & Co stop & this wisteria dates from those times
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Me too on the wisteria pics. This 'little' one is stunning

 

[Julesmac]

Yes that indeed was the drama.After getting the pics of the Xiamen plane taking off up on the bed went the case which had stuff for the family inside.Mrsdrron tries to find the keys without luck.So down to the front desk I go-yes this happens from time to time so we have bolt cutters.They do have master keys at the airport but most people have no luck getting anywhere with them.So down to the lobby I go with the cases.Naturally when I get back a long line of people checking in or out.

Turned into great people watching.Amazing what people think they can get away with.For example the people who were checking out at 1330.they started off talking down to the agent who then informed them there would be a $X fee for late check out.That triggered a torrent of abuse including but we checked in after 5pm so should be able to check out later.The agent handled it well explaining that one or two hours late was acceptable if they had been advised beforehand.The couple then demanded their parking ticket was validated.Quick thinking from the agent-"only if you pay the late departure fee"Gotcha.

So out came the bolt cutters and a couple of minutes later back to the room with unlocked bags.By this time the weather looked threatening.
View attachment 162228.View attachment 162229.
But I was able to get a photo that really amazed me having grown up with the 747.I thought it was a very big plane.
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The rain hits but operations just go on.
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Landings threw up a little water.
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As you say people will act terribly to checkin staff. In 1998 w e arrived at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC for 3 day stay on an amazing deal arranged by a friend on that internet-web-thingy (thought our money might have gone into the ether but all good) I might have been just a wee bit excited -New York, the Waldorf, we'd been to our nieces graduation from Boston Uni & I told this to the check in girl. She was so impressed we'd come from Australia for the ceremony...long and short was she gave us a freshly updated room, only been open a week, plus a free upgrade, plus she gave us the same amazing deal for the other 5 days of our stay. Said the Waldorf was a MUCH better hotel than the Sheraton where we'd booked. Meanwhile my SIL was a few stops down and was employing her very cutting tongue to good effect. They got an old tired room next to the elevator.Aint karma a cough

 

[drron]

Now there is always a little tussle as to how early we get to the airport.Seeing we were just acroos the road I negotiated leaving the hotel at 1100 for our 1450 flight with mrsdrron.As usual about 1015 she was agitating for us to leave.so ended up leaving at 1030.BA did open checkin a little earlier than last time at 1120so after buying some new locks it was still twiddling our thumbs for a while before checkin.
With the new machines in place at Immigration there was no Express path or premium screening.Fortunately very few people leaving so basically straight through.I selected the body scanner as that is much easier for those of us with metal joints.

Next was to the TRS to get the GST back on my camera.3 agents but only one with a customer.Not a single Chinese tourist in sight!So very quickly the money is back in my bank account so no loss of MR points.
Then straight to the Flounge.
The Autumn menu.
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I had the ginger and tamari chicken and mrsdrron the squid.
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The chicken was excellent.Mrsdrron asked for the squid without the chilli dipping sauce.It still came with a few pieces of chilli thrown on top which were easily removed but it was still quite spicy-I tried it and definitel spicy so she left it.
She then had the beef brisket with kipfler potatoes and I the coughin lamb noodles.
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The beef was brilliant but the spuds could have done with a bit more cooking time.I loved the lamb noodles.
Then desserts.
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Mrsdrron still loved the signature pavlova but noted how it has grown smaller.I had the mochi butter cake with coconut sorbet and pineapple.I don't think I would have it again.

 

[Quickstatus]

SYD closed departure Express Path about a week ago? so some construction works could occur. Glad to see it didn’t interfere with proceedings.

Due to the Auto passport machines, I think the Departure Express Path might become irrelevant

 

[drron]

I was sitting doing some sudoku and mrsdrron was collecting some nougat when amaroo spied her.So we had a little chat and they went off to lunch.We left the lounge when the Go to Gate display came up.The gate was the furthest from the lounge so we ended up virtually the last to board but still had time for a champagne.

BA16. SYD-SIN. ETD-1450. ETA-2105. Seats 2D,F. 773.
PB-1441. TO-1449 Landed 2041, At gate 2046.
The menu.
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[drron]

The drinks.
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After take off mrsdron had the Sav Blanc naturally.I had the Argy Malbec.Even since that globe trotting JohnM started raving about them I have always gone for the Argy Malbec if it is on the list trying desperately to find a terrible one so I can have a go at him.Sadly this one was just perfect for an airline meal so I kept having the glass refilled.Though when the cheese plate came I did change to the Hungarian Tokaj which was delightful.

 

[drron]

So to the actual food.Canapes were reasonable.
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Starters were good.Mrsdrron had the snow crab and I the quail and duck terrine with pickled veggies.
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The mains though was disappointing.They had run out of prawns which mrsdrron wanted to order so she had the pasta dish which was totally boring.I had the pork belly with cremated bacon.The pork belly looked really overdone but in fact wasn't too bad but hardly an F dish.
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They had forgotten the sauce and veggies for my pork.
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The potatoes were OK but the radish and kale were tasteless.
I then had a cheese plate-the blue and cheddar.
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After the meal I watched The Mule with Clint Eastwood.Really enjoyed it especially his little digs at PC speech.
Then Stan and Ollie.I grew up with Laurel and Hardy.This was a little sad.But good acting from Steve Coogan.
A little shut eye before having a Devonshire tea.Well BA knows I live in Devon.
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I'm afraid the malbec was having an effect when I took this pic!.
Have to say the crew were very good especially the young fellow looking after mrsdrron.

 

[drron]

We arrived into SIN a little early.We were first to Immigration and no one else there.
At the carousel not a long wait.Crew bags came out first then about 6 with QF priority tags-?transfers at SYD.Then our bags.Over to T3 on the skytrain and soon in our room at the CP-just under 40 minutes from arriving at the gate.A good upgrade to a premium King airport view but it was dark when we arrived and dark when we left in the morning.
The room.
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Unfortunately mrsdrron was on Sunshine Coast time and awoke a little after 0300.Checked out just before 0600.Easy back to checkin though JAL was the furthest from the Skytrain.They use the Dnata lounge in the morning.An interesting pic as you approach the Dnata lounge.
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The lounge is OK but not great.A japanese woman with 2 year old twins sat right behind us.Boy could they make a noise so we left the lounge early and slowly made our way to the gate.Fortunately no one else going through security when we arrived there.
OWE are called before J pax.Only 3 of us.So plenty of time for a champagne.Flight to NRT next.

 

[Quickstatus]

How long did it take you from the BA arrival gate T1 to CP including luggage and formalities?

 

[drron]

About 30 minutes.From Gate C26 to the CP.

 

[Quickstatus]

@drron,
Was the room at CP Changi aircraft noise free and drapes heavy enough to block out outside light?

 

[Matt_01]

How did you get from airport to Rydges?

From the domestic terminals just take the free T bus to the International terminal.It stops just across the road from Rydges.

Or you can take the train (1stop) but buy the ticket from the machine to avoid airport surcharges or depending on time use the Rydges bus shuttle. Apologies for the interjection.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thx I’m aware of the various alternatives, just wanted to know which method the drRons used