Maiden DONE4

[Stoopidsteve]

On the way back (at about 9.30pm), I spotted this lonely lady...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Went out for dinner last night to Nikolaushof restaurant. Nikolaushof Pleasant food, great service, and a great view of Wuerzburg

 

[Stoopidsteve]

and here's dessert sampler...


Mini-creme brulee, apple sorbet, strawberry sorbet, chocolate mousse, mini chocolate cake.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And to while away those long hours, here's a game for you. First person to correctly identify where the travelling stripy beanie is in each of these four pics is the winner.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Thursday night is conference dinner at the Residenz. Having dragged the Black tie half way round the world for last week's activities, I thought it could get another airing...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

then we sat in the grand, echoing halls, stone angels and statues adoring the pillars. And if you're a fan of Dr Who you'd have already realised just how unsettling it was to have that many stone statues watching us eat...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

as the night wore on, the hat decided to join in the festivities and went for a dance on its own.



and unfortunately I must confess that protocol was breached and the jacket came off

 

[Stoopidsteve]

and later in the revelries and in the pub later, others were sucked into the madness that is beaniness...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

A few short hours later, awake for the final few talks of the conference. A reasonable venue (internet was lousy, but I guess that encouraged me to actually engage with the presented material!).
Final goodbyes to old and new friends, then to the train station to head back to UK.

This time took the option of additional 4EU charge to reserve a seat... but got on the train at the wrong end so had to wander the full length with bags bumping into people "Entschuldigung Sie, bitte" all the way. Finally found the seat, and on the non-sun side, and in a non- table side it was much more comfortable than the reverse trip earlier in the week.

Visited the JAL lounges in terminal 2 by gate D4-ish, quite pleasant, but not huge food choice. That's OK, my eating habits have been rather porcine all week, not the healthiest diet. Looked like the BA 909 at 1715 is full of suits heading to (or back to) UK. The first lounge next door is not so busy, nice and quiet. pleasant enough place to sit at. I did note on the way through the terminal that there are a couple of spaces with many comfortable looking seats, so without lounge access would still have been no great hardship. The terminal seemed very quiet at that time.



business lounge



first lounge

everyone through baggage screening (called about 1635) and then board buses to the tarmac.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Captain Nick Sutton, Purser Phillipa, took off at 1810 (local) versus scheduled 1715...

Caught sight of the manifest in passing: almost everyone in business are emerald or sapphire.

Minor drama just as we left the ground when one of the food trolleys decided to go walk about with purser jumping out of her seat to heroically save our meals..

Smoked ham/bacon with mousse, nice late afternoon plate.



And a nice cup of green tea to finish with

 

[Stoopidsteve]

This week's award for co-operation beyond the call of duty goes to our Purser who offered to join in the fun....

 

[Jacques Vert]

after I'd changed into my QF 1st PJs (did someone say DYKWIA?)

Steve; where's the picture of you in the QF1st PJs with the beanie and fluro vest?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Steve; where's the picture of you in the QF1st PJs with the beanie and fluro vest?

Here's the post referred to but doesn't have the vest. Here's one that does, ad here's one from CX257 HKG-LHR ...

 

[Jacques Vert]

Here's the post referred to but doesn't have the vest. Here's one that does, ad here's one from CX257 HKG-LHR ...

View attachment 9500

Very cute

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Friday drove to Oxford again, after picking up hire car. Astounded. The weather remains fine!
After a night's sleep, went for a wander around Oxford, took a few snaps of the old place..

What does red and white make?


Here's Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College


High St from Carfax... they have fire engines



Turl St looking East...they have bikes

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Then went to one of my fave places there...

The Pitt Rivers Museum, contains lots of natural history exhibits, plus the very eclectic mix of anthropology items first gathered by a bloke called Pitt Rivers in 19th Century.

Never let it be said that AFF is not educational. Here's some examples of comparative anatomy. First, let's compare the size of horns between Triceratops and that of the the Bison (largest horned animal now living). I have of course included something so objective size comparisons can be made:





I think it can be concluded the Triceratops was a big bugger.



Next let us consider the African elephant. We all know THEY are big, but how does its foot compare with, for example, that of a Tyrannosaurus rex?



well, I think we can conclude that head being stood on by either creature would lead to squished person. In the meantime, I think Mr Rex was getting annoyed by this silly person with hat...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

And of course a view of home...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

for those of you a bit squeamish, you probably won't like the larger than life models of coughroaches and ants...




AN this lovely quote from JBS Haldane who was asked what could be inferred about the mind of the creator by studying nature..

"An inordinate fondness for beetles" (because there are so many coleopterans)

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Then for a drive around country pubs, met a little ladybird.



Then on to Brill.

There's a windmill...



By now, starting to feel a bit under the weather (migraine). It got fairly uncomfortable, so headed back to Oxford.

Got to Terminal 3 (after dropping car) about 8.20pm.Easy check-in, and just enough time for a quick drink in BA First galleries ( no pics, felt rotten).
Boarded QF2 shortly before 9pm and settled into 11K.

more to follow...

 

[SeatBackForward]

Keep it coming Steve.