Un voyage rapide Franglais

[andye]

In my rugby-playing youth, I've had some evenings derailed after a couple of Guinnesses but we now come to the big Travel Mistake.

Train to the airport twice as slow as this morning's and it's a bit of a hike to the terminal.

Arrived only 35 minutes before departure but had checked in and had no baggage.

Looked at our phones for boarding passes or link to print but unable to retrieve from confirmatory emails or ba.com

Go round to the checkin desks which are empty as last BA flight of the day. And what kind of airline takes away the ability to print a boarding pass at a kiosk

Hands up, we were far too late but could easily have made the gate with a little assistance

 

[andye]

Went though all the options:

Book another ticket: no flights into LHR until the morning
Train: 5+ hours and baggage still in the Sofitel
Another airport: no more flights from LBA or LPL either
Taxi: GBP500+
Car hire: fortunately brother2 (unlike me) still had his driver's license on him. So off on an interminably long shuttle bus to Budget to pay the special "We've stuffed up" rate

And I've almost certainly lost a BA squiggle

 

[andye]

Surprisingly only a 3 hour drive from MAN to LHR which brother2 managed well despite his own jet lag and the morning's 5am start. Filled up, picked up the bags from Sofitel and then did a switch of cars at Budget and I drove us into London
We were staying at The LaLit between London and Tower Bridge in the shadow of City Hall and The Shard.
It's an Indian owned and themed hotel but is of significance to us as its in the buildings of the old St Olave's Grammar School.

This was where my uncle and late father attended. Clever sons of a printer, who moved to the terraces of South London after a work accident left him completely blind, both benefited from the then 11+ system (similar to the selective school entry in NSW and VIC) to go onto graduate from Cambridge.
The rooms are named after Classrooms
(I doubt any had a heated toilet seat back in the day)

the bar the Teachers Room
and the sitting room the Headmaster's Room.

But the highlight is the Great Hall with gallery where breakfast is served and has an Indian restaurant in the evening

The Indian theme is undoubtedly quirky but sympathetic and done well I thought

 

[andye]

Met up with mum who'd got an uber from Camberwell (under protest-she wanted to go by bus)
Our late arrival meant that our planned meal in the restaurant turned into Maccas in her room. Paired with G&T's

 

[andye]

Popped up into the City on the double-decker bus to pick up some bits from M&S with mum. Then back to check out and we all drove up to Cambridge for lunch with my uncle, aunt and cousin. Nearly 90, my uncle is starting to become unwell but he appreciated the photographs of his old school and in fact was in better shape than I'd feared when he couldn't make the wedding last December
Had to leave relatively early to get back to LHR for the next flight.

 

[andye]

Budget drop-off went smoothly and I was the only one in the shuttle so straight to T3 for the flight to MRS.
But why MRS if the conference was in Lyon?
Well BA had cancelled my evening flight to LYS, offering a morning flight instead. Hadn't wanted to miss the Cambridge lunch so looked for other destinations.
BA to MRS was good for timing, being on Oneworld and more importantly leaving from T3

 

[tgh]

You must still be a youngster andye
I am having trouble keeping up vicariously.. let alone in reality....fast lane on steroi_s...

 

[I love to travel]

Budget drop-off went smoothly and I was the only one in the shuttle so straight to T3 for the flight to MRS.
But why MRS if the conference was in Lyon?
Well BA had cancelled my evening flight to LYS, offering a morning flight instead. Hadn't wanted to miss the Cambridge lunch so looked for other destinations.
BA to MRS was good for timing, being on Oneworld and more importantly leaving from T3

Well played. Did you visit CX or QF?

 

[andye]

You must still be a youngster andye
I am having trouble keeping up vicariously.. let alone in reality....fast lane on steroi_s...

Kind of you to say...but I wish

 

[andye]

My OWE is a status-match from VA. I don't know when I will next fly enough to regain that status. So @I love to travel, I didn't want to miss out on anything!

BA check-in was quick, asked if I had proof of vaccination for France but not verified.

Quick trip to WHSmith for UK chocs for nurses, then off to the QF Lounge.

The dragon was welcoming and talked me through the facilities. Only boarding pass was scanned, not my QR card suggesting BA is wearing the cost.

The left-end of the gin bar was busy with staff-apparently they are introducing a new lounge menu

Upstairs has another bar, spacious and comfortable seating and a buffet.

Drinks list below. I didn't get a dining one

Quick No3 G&T before leaving

 

[zig]

You must still be a youngster andye
I am having trouble keeping up vicariously.. let alone in reality....fast lane on steroi_s...

My thoughts exactly... I'm exhausted just reading this

 

[RooFlyer]

Ah! Neil Perry woz here Signature picnic cutlery?

 

[andye]

Off to BA Galleries F. Internet wisdom seems to be to give this one a miss.

It's a large lounge with a number of zones. A bit dark but very peaceful when I visited.




Champagne was Canard-Duchenne Charles VIi BdB which tasted fine.

Decent variety of Reds and Whites


Disappointing gin options of Beefeater and Gordon's (I like both but hardly premium).

Food could be be ordered via QR code. I didn't eat but menu not super-exciting

So..Internet wisdom probably a fair call

 

[andye]

So saving the best till last, I popped up in the lift to CX F. And yes I think it does deserve its reputation as the best OW lounge in LHR (though not sure how Concorde Room holds up).
Not particularly big but very bright with fabulous tarmac views.
Good selection of wines and spirits

and well-chosen dining options


I went for the Dim Sum and the Dan Dan noodles and wasn't disappointed

 

[andye]

My flight was leaving from (the furthest) gate 34. The signs say the walk is 20 minutes but more like 10 at a brisk pace.

I was in 30A which is regarded as a duffer as it has no window or recline. Good banter about thus with cabin crew. But on a pretty busy flight, no-one else wanted 30B or C; I had the row to myself and slept the whole journey

 

[Anna]

Funny that they don't have to count the calories in the drinks as well as in the food. Kind of defeats the purpose of the rules, to make people more aware of the calories they consume.

 

[andye]

Went through passport control in MRS. No checks except passport
Really nice taxi driver, though his height meant his seat was so far back, it must limit his capacity. He said I should travel in the passenger side of the back

 

[andye]

Staying at The Intercontental on an Amex FHR rate. Booked base and received Port view. This is a truly magnificent hotel beautiful inside and out with splendid service. Fruit platter and waters in room

 

[andye]

The restaurant was closing soon at 10.30 so I went through to the bar to enjoy my FHR credit on meats, cheeses and wines.

I have been trying to use my very rusty schoolboy French-I seem to be able to make myself understood but always get a reply in perfect English


A brief walk down the hill to the port

A sculpture commemorating those who suffered in the Resistance

 

[kelvedon]

Is the Elizabeth Line fully operational yet?

May 24th

Crossrail: Elizabeth line due to open on 24 May

The over-budget project was meant to open in December 2018 but will now begin running on 24 May.

www.bbc.com