2013 stoopidity: here, there, everywhere.. incl around the world (twice). .

[Skyring]

Some of those inflight meals look very familiar! And some of the lounge tucker - those pavs in glasses are just temptation on a stick.

Had to laugh at the notion that you were a little early in the Flounge. Gotta have time to sample all the good things in life. Including the massage, I see.

And count me in with those wondering about the reactions of bystanders as you set up your shots! Wondering about some of the selfies - is there any visibility through the beanie or do you just take a dozen or so until it comes out right-ish?

Looking forward to more.

 

[Major]

I was also wondering about the reaction after a "where's Wally" beanie suddenly appears

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Hmm, have you considered cutting a few eye holes in that beanie or would that unravel the whole thing???

Funny you should say that...watch out for return trip with new upgraded beanie... courtesy of wife's knitting skills

Nice report as well...

Thanks to all for appreciative comments.

When I say it's to amuse my kids, there's bemusement but haven't encountered any hostility yet. You can get away with all sorts of stoopidity if it's "for the children".

Right now am glad I have a beanie, it's FREEZING here in England. Or feels like it when SE Queensland is home

 

[casanovawa]

Good stuff... No need for hostility, each to their own what they like to do....

When i have travelled in the past i have taken a green frog called Roger and posed him in some of my photos in locations around the world, don't think i did it last year but will probably bring him again this year, can add a bit of extra interest to photos, others do Where's Wally and other little tricks they like...

I think the holes will help you see and line up etc, so good on ya, and your wife...

And yes, beanies do help when its gold... But its flippin' May and nearly summer over there isn't it?!?!?!

 

[JohnK]

Very nice trip report.

Love the knitted cover for the leads.

 

[JessicaTam]

Great to see another Beenie trip report. I will be following your travels with interest.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

A very successful series of meetings Mon-Wed, but the weather has been appalling! Freezing cold, windy, raining, except for Wed afternoon from about 4pm onwards, just when I'm thinking of heading to Heathrow. And not helped by the breakdown in my host's hot water system...thank goodness for the local gym that saw me clean-ish. Looking forward to the luxury of unlimited high pressure hot water at LHR T3.
Tuesday night saw Stoopid and his host at a local club on Goth and Industrial night. Not really my scene, but not too offensive either...even I didn't dare take the beanie and hi-vis to that venue!

Even with the cloud and rain, there's something very special about Spring in England. The greens of the freshly fledged trees are clean and bright, the apple and pear trees in bloom, with all the flowering cherries still out. The petals fly free in the high winds, enhancing the feel of winter's grip not loosening with the false impression of snow blowing around. Yet the heart soars with the sight of all the kites effortlessly coasting in even the strongest wind along the motorway. 30 years ago none around, since reintroduced very successfully to the Downs.

So return the car to Avis, (and see an interesting variation on travel promises on the back end of a bus)



and in time for some lounge hopping and hopefully try the BA first lounge spa.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Check in at QF First desk, and up the escalator to Security. No priority card offered...would I be refused priority security screen? At first "Not sure if QF allow you , Sir", until I point to the very clear inclusion of QF WP/ OWE on the card on her desk.

And then the ignominy, nay shame, of having bag rescreened. "No, I'm sure there's no liquids in there....oh, apart from that bottle of ink you just found. Oops. sorry."

After that a traipse through T3. Not the nicest, probably because a) it's busy and b) low ceilings (at least relative to other terminals).

First stop, AA to use the shower. Quick check of my BP, and "I'll show you to the Flagship, Sir". The wifi is BT Open for those interested.
Those of a delicate disposition look away now as Stoopid takes a shower...



You may look back now.

A quick mosey around confirms there's not much point hanging around there after shower (one hot dish, a few sandwiches), so over to BA First.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

For those interested, bubblies were Bolly Rose, Tatt2005, and new one on me, Castelnau Reserve.
Extensive spirits too, but for me disappointingly no Coke zero




Red Roo take note, 23 computers available:



Massage in chair, 15 minutes, pleasant without being outstanding. (not even sure if WP should have been eligible, not travelling F or J, nor CL, but “Sam” seemed happy to book me in once I showed my boarding card, unlike last year when in J on CX). But Saturday's Mel Flounge massage wins this one.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

BA first dining of course off limits, but menu to order from:

Hot sandwiches
-salt beef,re cabbage and dill pickle baguette
-roasted Mediterranean vegetables with fresh basil and mozzarella in viabatta

Classic Caesar salad
BA burger with sea salt and cracked pepper wedges
Poached salmon, crushed new potatoes with horseradish and sorrel cream sauce
Szechuan chicken with wok fried vegetables

Elderflower panacotta, berry compote
Delice Chocolate Opera: chocolate and almond opera with a passion fruit sorbet
British Cheeseboard: applewood, Long Clawson Stilton, Denhay Cheddar, Bath Oliver biscuits with chutney, quince jelly

I had the Burger, which came with Stoopid-appropriate sour cream and tomato sauce condiments to decorate wedges with. Service seemed very slow, and it didn’t seem that busy. MEL Flounge wins again.



Burger patty was tasty, as were wedges, but latter were warm at best. I overheard an Indian gentleman say the chicken was tasty, but not Szechuan at all, merely some Indian curry spices.

...and the panacotta. I adore the subtle favour of elderflower, and it was there in the panacotta, but was smashed by the sledgehammer of the tart berry compote. Either alone (or the compote on a more robust cheesecake) would have been fine, but the poor elderflower didn’t stand a chance.






So I ordered the Chocolate Opera (not that I’m being greedy here…!). Oh no, how can I possibly eat THAT??? There’s no red and white stripes in that dish…but the choc and almond layers will have to suffice to satisfy stoopidity.



That's better. Robustness of the passionfruit sorbet just about held off by the intense dark choc of the opera thingy.

And just to prove there are less unhealthy eating options in BA 1st T3...

 

[Inver]

Steve your TR just keeps on getting better!

 

[markis10]

If he is on QF10 at present he has a fellow AFF traveller on board.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

If he is on QF10 at present he has a fellow AFF traveller on board.

nah, just got off QF2, couple hours now at DXB, then onto 8434 DXB-BNE

 

[markis10]

nah, just got off QF2, couple hours now at DXB, then onto 8434 DXB-BNE

Enjoy the lounge, and try a couple of the different dining rooms!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Now sitting in DXB 1st, and LHR seems a world away.

QF02, VH-OQH, Robert (Bob) Lumbsteen flying, Brett Fuller 1st Officer, Roberto CSM with Matthew in Y, and "Katy" in PE.

32K for this one with 32J empty. I like it. Storage bin good for all the junk I seem to have out on a flight. Room to stretch, with slightly more leg room to the bulkhead than 32D-G, and has been mentioned before the capacity to use side storage bins as foot rest.



Only downside is no video screen from sit down. And if you're not on early the bin above doesn't take larger hand luggage. The benefit was I got to listen to a couple of my favourite pieces, Bruch's Violin concerto #1 and Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.

Katy was on DXB-LHR on Saturday, so chatted to her for a bit, apparently she's a CSM ("I'm usually the voice you hear, but I have a day off today"). Asked if I wanted a drink before dinner, declined, but did ask for "one of the white pillows from PE please" and got the blanket too. After take off, had a bit of dinner: chicken wasn't too dry and veg surprisingly NOT mushy. KT obliged with the obligatory pic, showing off my wife's other addition to the Stoopid wardrobe...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Enjoy the lounge, and try a couple of the different dining rooms!

what, MORE food? Oh, go on then.

One thing that surprises me is the boarding announcements, many of them, and loud.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

We landed, I was too busy looking out of window to check time of arrival. Impressive looking facilities, but v hazy day so not so many good pics of landing (I usually have aisle, but am now a convert to 32K, have 32A for a flight later in the year)

 

[Stoopidsteve]

As previously reported, made my way to the F lounge floor in terminal A. According to interview i heard later on EK flight, first lounge floor can seat 900pax, and business lounge floor 2200.



To give a sense of scale, this pic shows a quarter of the main walkway in Flounge floor...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

I had some breakfast. Salmon and fishcakes were a little dry and not that exciting, but the eggs were great (needed salt, not withstanding the addition of bacon), and mushrooms were very well cooked.



I had some emails needing my attention so I didn't do any further exploring. Front desk had advised I needed to leave A terminal about 10 to get to my 10:40 departure from terminal B. I left about 0945



and wandered through the vast duty free area, down to the train transfer, via train to B (2 mins), more duty free areas (another lounge to explore next time I'm there), and get to gate about 1005, to the surprise of staff. Plane had boarded completely, I was last one on. Note to self, perhaps leave a bit sooner next time!

 

[Stoopidsteve]

SO I took my seat on QF8434 (EK434). As previously mentioned, this is 777.

I'm in 20C, 20 B empty, one pax in 20A. First impressions not unfavourable, except for horrid pillows. 20C is in front section of economy. Oooooooh, they still hand out hot towels!!! Luxury!!!!!!!!

No OWE recognition on this flight (not bothered by this, just another datum). Can't report on quality of headphone (had my own of course). Y amenity packing more impressive than the QF, and toothbrush a bit more substantial. Socks, eyeshade, and toothbrush.

Pushback was 1038 (on schedule), take off 1104

But after 32K, 20C on a 777 feels a bit tight. Never mind, I'm tired.

Time for dinner, rather uninspiring tuna on tinned sweetcorn, ginger beef noodles (noodles dried out, beef OK, veg mushy of course).




then time to sleep a few hours. And of course to sleep, one needs (old) QF 1st PJs.