flychrisfly
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Loving the thread! I truly hope this trip never ends!
Thanks Tony
Thanks Tony
A Return to J, QF MEL-LHR-MEL
- Thread starter TonyHancock
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Talk about value for money...great TR!
Does the upgrade get you all the way to LHR in F?
Does the upgrade get you all the way to LHR in F?
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Unfortunately only MEL-SIN. Took the shine of 12E on SIN-LHR!!!!..more on that to come!
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Great stuff Tony, you must have packed an accessory liver to deal with all the red
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The SIN F Lounge
As I strode, more wobbled really, from gate C23 to the QF/BA F lounge I wondered to myself what I was going to do with my newly acquired Minox NVD Mini, night vision device. To be a little bit more accurate I wondered what a Minox NVD Mini, night vision device actually was and why I thought it would be worth buying. :?:
I have been using the QF/BA F Lounge for more than 5 years now, and I wish I could find something positive, or for that matter something negative to say about it. In the world class airport that is Changi, the F lounge is average. :-|
There is nothing inherently wrong with the lounge, it is perfectly pleasant, but it just doesn’t quite make the grade. The food offering is sparse, although staff do come around with some local rice dishes and sometimes western dishes such as lasagne.
I have heard it described on this site as boring, and in a way it is. My own word of choice is bland. My biggest complaints are overcrowding and the appalling wifi speeds. (A common theme with QF)
Having managed to find my way to the lounge, a small miracle given my alcohol intake, I was pleasantly surprised by it’s near emptiness. I put this down to my early arrival and that QF31 hadn’t arrived, but the lounge didn’t actually fill up at all. Internet speed was, however, rubbish, as usual.
My favourite spot, at the back of the lounge, equidistant from the gents and the second bar, was free and I charged my new Minox NVD mini.
QF31 was running 20 mins late, so I settled down to get my photos sorted out and trip report, to date, uploaded to AFF. Being a responsible adult(ish) I decided against further alcohol intake and settled for a diet coke. In a previous post I reported the lounge as having Johnny Walker Red Label whisky, but it is actually Black Label - still rather unpleasant though.
As, I think, serfty reported in another thread the water feature at the back of the lounge has been removed and replaced with plants. A shame really, I quite liked it. Very soothing, it was!
Time flew by, In retrospect being half cut probably made things go a little faster, as I recounted my experiences to date and I left the lounge prior to the boarding call. An unwise move! Departure was clearly going to be greater than 20 mins late. The gate area was a mass of people, predominantly congregating around the gate entrance. It was like being in the deathstar departure lounge in MEL. :shock:
Boarding was a bit of a mess. Priority boarding was called, and enforced, but the gate area was just rammed with economy passengers blocking access. Once past the gate I was quickly aboard.
As I strode, more wobbled really, from gate C23 to the QF/BA F lounge I wondered to myself what I was going to do with my newly acquired Minox NVD Mini, night vision device. To be a little bit more accurate I wondered what a Minox NVD Mini, night vision device actually was and why I thought it would be worth buying. :?:
I have been using the QF/BA F Lounge for more than 5 years now, and I wish I could find something positive, or for that matter something negative to say about it. In the world class airport that is Changi, the F lounge is average. :-|
There is nothing inherently wrong with the lounge, it is perfectly pleasant, but it just doesn’t quite make the grade. The food offering is sparse, although staff do come around with some local rice dishes and sometimes western dishes such as lasagne.
I have heard it described on this site as boring, and in a way it is. My own word of choice is bland. My biggest complaints are overcrowding and the appalling wifi speeds. (A common theme with QF)
Having managed to find my way to the lounge, a small miracle given my alcohol intake, I was pleasantly surprised by it’s near emptiness. I put this down to my early arrival and that QF31 hadn’t arrived, but the lounge didn’t actually fill up at all. Internet speed was, however, rubbish, as usual.
My favourite spot, at the back of the lounge, equidistant from the gents and the second bar, was free and I charged my new Minox NVD mini.
QF31 was running 20 mins late, so I settled down to get my photos sorted out and trip report, to date, uploaded to AFF. Being a responsible adult(ish) I decided against further alcohol intake and settled for a diet coke. In a previous post I reported the lounge as having Johnny Walker Red Label whisky, but it is actually Black Label - still rather unpleasant though.
As, I think, serfty reported in another thread the water feature at the back of the lounge has been removed and replaced with plants. A shame really, I quite liked it. Very soothing, it was!
Time flew by, In retrospect being half cut probably made things go a little faster, as I recounted my experiences to date and I left the lounge prior to the boarding call. An unwise move! Departure was clearly going to be greater than 20 mins late. The gate area was a mass of people, predominantly congregating around the gate entrance. It was like being in the deathstar departure lounge in MEL. :shock:
Boarding was a bit of a mess. Priority boarding was called, and enforced, but the gate area was just rammed with economy passengers blocking access. Once past the gate I was quickly aboard.
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The Flight...SIN-LHR
I like all things French.....apart from the French, so I was filled with foreboding when I entered “Emerald City” to be greeted by a French flight attendant. My distaste for the French is founded upon, well.....very little really, it is innate though. The hundred years war was just not long enough, but once again I digress. (I'll probably be the first to have a post in his own trip report moved for being off topic!)
The SIN-LHR flight was always going to be a big let down after the taste of the F suite on MEL-SIN. As I found my way to 12E I noticed a couple of people looking over to the J & K seats. The name Richard Wilkins :?: was whispered. I have no idea who Richard Wilkins is so I focussed on my flight preparation.
iPad - check
Bose headphones - check
iPod - check
Sellotape - check
Minox NVD mini night vision device - err, err, check ?????
My first trip in “Emerald City” highlighted a couple of “housekeeping” issues. Firstly the overhead storage bins. If you have a rollaboard it really is best to try and get space in the bins over the E and F seats, they are quite a bit bigger. Secondly when the Skybed Mk II is fully extended it almost touches the seat in front, so if you are in a window seat there is an element of climbing over the person in the aisle. (I presume it is the same for all of J) It is not a huge problem but one will require a small degree of dexterity.
QF31 was more than an hour late getting out of Singapore, so it was about 5 AM Melbourne time when dinner was served. I politely declined, but did wonder if a red wine might serve as a nightcap. “Hancock” I said to myself, “show a little moral fibre.” So I did and settled for a gin and tonic instead. (There is only a little bit of alcohol, in fact hardly any with all that tonic water.)
I sellotaped my iPad to the pop out TV screen and settled into an episode of Top Gear. (Makes mental note to find out a bit more about Amber Heard, she would be more than welcome to drive my slightly overpriced car.)
By the time I finished my G & T I was tired, and drifted in and out of an uncomfortable sleep (stupor) for about three hours. I think the scrumptious cheese platter from MEL-SIN flight was beginning to have an impact as my dreams veered towards the bizarre. (How did the French CSA get that crossbow on board and why is he dressed like Napoleon? Freud would have a field day. :shock:)
Normally I get six or seven hours sleep on the SIN-LHR leg, but not this time. I just could not get comfortable. I was wide awake with 7 hours to arrival. Stone me, what a life!
Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored. I’m sitting in a J seat in “Emerald City” and this journey is still torture. The situation had worsened because I had to drive when I reached LHR. I couldn’t even have four or five single malts as a mild sedative. :shock:
“Would it were day” I found myself saying in a bid to quote whole passages from Shakespeare’s Henry V. I had not forgotten the French connection on this flight. I fear I may have misjudged our French FA though. He proved most agreeable in delivering freshly brewed tea.
Time was flying now, only 6 hours and 45 minutes to go. I had managed to eat up 15 minutes by having a cup of tea and in my wholly unsuccessful attempts to quote the bard.
Why was everyone else asleep?
I sighed a sigh of desperation. There really is no pleasure in long haul travel, just varying degrees of comfort. I’m pretty lucky on this flight, I am at least reasonably comfortable. :-|
More dozing, some music, and an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford later and it is four hours to go.
What is this I see? Movement in the galley? Breakfast preparations underway.
Three hours to go and breakfast is served. I’m not a huge fan of airline breakfasts, but this one was OK. Smoked Salmon, scrambled eggs on toast, some sort of relish, and spinach. Toast and Vegemite, and orange juice and tea. I remembered to take a photo half way through.
Two hours thirty minutes to go!
Will this flight ever end? Will this post ever end?
More TV on the iPad, more music on the iPod and we are on the final descent. We have made a bit of time up too. Only half an hour late.
Quite literally as the wheels are going to touch the ground there is a shout of “brace yourself” from an FA. I turn around to see a man attempting to enter the toilet. Bizarre!
The aerobridges are in place quickly and the disembarkation is quite efficient.
.....the arrival follows....
I like all things French.....apart from the French, so I was filled with foreboding when I entered “Emerald City” to be greeted by a French flight attendant. My distaste for the French is founded upon, well.....very little really, it is innate though. The hundred years war was just not long enough, but once again I digress. (I'll probably be the first to have a post in his own trip report moved for being off topic!)
The SIN-LHR flight was always going to be a big let down after the taste of the F suite on MEL-SIN. As I found my way to 12E I noticed a couple of people looking over to the J & K seats. The name Richard Wilkins :?: was whispered. I have no idea who Richard Wilkins is so I focussed on my flight preparation.
iPad - check
Bose headphones - check
iPod - check
Sellotape - check
Minox NVD mini night vision device - err, err, check ?????
My first trip in “Emerald City” highlighted a couple of “housekeeping” issues. Firstly the overhead storage bins. If you have a rollaboard it really is best to try and get space in the bins over the E and F seats, they are quite a bit bigger. Secondly when the Skybed Mk II is fully extended it almost touches the seat in front, so if you are in a window seat there is an element of climbing over the person in the aisle. (I presume it is the same for all of J) It is not a huge problem but one will require a small degree of dexterity.
QF31 was more than an hour late getting out of Singapore, so it was about 5 AM Melbourne time when dinner was served. I politely declined, but did wonder if a red wine might serve as a nightcap. “Hancock” I said to myself, “show a little moral fibre.” So I did and settled for a gin and tonic instead. (There is only a little bit of alcohol, in fact hardly any with all that tonic water.)
I sellotaped my iPad to the pop out TV screen and settled into an episode of Top Gear. (Makes mental note to find out a bit more about Amber Heard, she would be more than welcome to drive my slightly overpriced car.)
By the time I finished my G & T I was tired, and drifted in and out of an uncomfortable sleep (stupor) for about three hours. I think the scrumptious cheese platter from MEL-SIN flight was beginning to have an impact as my dreams veered towards the bizarre. (How did the French CSA get that crossbow on board and why is he dressed like Napoleon? Freud would have a field day. :shock:)
Normally I get six or seven hours sleep on the SIN-LHR leg, but not this time. I just could not get comfortable. I was wide awake with 7 hours to arrival. Stone me, what a life!
Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored. I’m sitting in a J seat in “Emerald City” and this journey is still torture. The situation had worsened because I had to drive when I reached LHR. I couldn’t even have four or five single malts as a mild sedative. :shock:
“Would it were day” I found myself saying in a bid to quote whole passages from Shakespeare’s Henry V. I had not forgotten the French connection on this flight. I fear I may have misjudged our French FA though. He proved most agreeable in delivering freshly brewed tea.
Time was flying now, only 6 hours and 45 minutes to go. I had managed to eat up 15 minutes by having a cup of tea and in my wholly unsuccessful attempts to quote the bard.
Why was everyone else asleep?
I sighed a sigh of desperation. There really is no pleasure in long haul travel, just varying degrees of comfort. I’m pretty lucky on this flight, I am at least reasonably comfortable. :-|
More dozing, some music, and an episode of Lark Rise to Candleford later and it is four hours to go.
What is this I see? Movement in the galley? Breakfast preparations underway.
Three hours to go and breakfast is served. I’m not a huge fan of airline breakfasts, but this one was OK. Smoked Salmon, scrambled eggs on toast, some sort of relish, and spinach. Toast and Vegemite, and orange juice and tea. I remembered to take a photo half way through.
Two hours thirty minutes to go!
Will this flight ever end? Will this post ever end?
More TV on the iPad, more music on the iPod and we are on the final descent. We have made a bit of time up too. Only half an hour late.
Quite literally as the wheels are going to touch the ground there is a shout of “brace yourself” from an FA. I turn around to see a man attempting to enter the toilet. Bizarre!
The aerobridges are in place quickly and the disembarkation is quite efficient.
.....the arrival follows....
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The Arrival and a spot of lounging
LHR is quite simply a nightmare, unless of course you enjoy crowds, dilapidation, slow service and rude officials. I don’t.
The stampede from aircraft to immigration is as undignified event as one could ever hope to witness. I’m surprised there aren’t multiple injuries every day. I managed to wing a couple of old ladies on my dash. Why bother spending money to go to Spain for the running of the bulls when you can see the dash for immigration at LHR?
This is no 100m dash either, it is a marathon. QF31 may have landed at LHR, but I swear the gate was at LGW. :shock:
I managed to pass over 50 people on my dash, the last two I just squeezed pass as I entered the immigration queue. Within 10 minutes I found myself on the way to the customs exit. (Oh what joy to be a dual national!)
My mind was troubled. I had decided it was time to try the AA arrivals lounge, the flight was 30 mins late and peak hour traffic was............at it’s peak.
As I nonchalantly ambled through customs, trying to look innocent, (why do I always feel like a smuggler when I go through customs?) I weighed up my options. The AA arrivals lounge, somewhere on level two, or the known Air Canada Lounge next to the rental car bus stop.
The chaos of the arrivals hall made the decision easy. Air Canada all the way. Out came the Priority Pass card and coupled with my BP I was soon in shower number two.
I have a real soft spot for the Air Canada Lounge. It is not fancy, but the showers have great water pressure and are a decent size. It felt particularly pleasant to be out of the clothes I had been wearing for the best part of 30 hours.
There is one thing that happens to me on every flight, where food is served, no matter whether it be in Y, Y+, J, or F. I always manage to spill food on my shirt. So if you see a stout fellow at the airport in a blue shirt with food stains all down the front of it, it is probably me. :shock:
By now it is just after 7:30 AM and I don’t fancy rush hour on the M25 so, and I hope you are sitting down, I settle down to do a bit of work!!! The cappuccino was very ordinary but was wet and warm. The wifi was OK.
...next up car rental cough up...
LHR is quite simply a nightmare, unless of course you enjoy crowds, dilapidation, slow service and rude officials. I don’t.
The stampede from aircraft to immigration is as undignified event as one could ever hope to witness. I’m surprised there aren’t multiple injuries every day. I managed to wing a couple of old ladies on my dash. Why bother spending money to go to Spain for the running of the bulls when you can see the dash for immigration at LHR?
This is no 100m dash either, it is a marathon. QF31 may have landed at LHR, but I swear the gate was at LGW. :shock:
I managed to pass over 50 people on my dash, the last two I just squeezed pass as I entered the immigration queue. Within 10 minutes I found myself on the way to the customs exit. (Oh what joy to be a dual national!)
My mind was troubled. I had decided it was time to try the AA arrivals lounge, the flight was 30 mins late and peak hour traffic was............at it’s peak.
As I nonchalantly ambled through customs, trying to look innocent, (why do I always feel like a smuggler when I go through customs?) I weighed up my options. The AA arrivals lounge, somewhere on level two, or the known Air Canada Lounge next to the rental car bus stop.
The chaos of the arrivals hall made the decision easy. Air Canada all the way. Out came the Priority Pass card and coupled with my BP I was soon in shower number two.
I have a real soft spot for the Air Canada Lounge. It is not fancy, but the showers have great water pressure and are a decent size. It felt particularly pleasant to be out of the clothes I had been wearing for the best part of 30 hours.
There is one thing that happens to me on every flight, where food is served, no matter whether it be in Y, Y+, J, or F. I always manage to spill food on my shirt. So if you see a stout fellow at the airport in a blue shirt with food stains all down the front of it, it is probably me. :shock:
By now it is just after 7:30 AM and I don’t fancy rush hour on the M25 so, and I hope you are sitting down, I settle down to do a bit of work!!! The cappuccino was very ordinary but was wet and warm. The wifi was OK.
...next up car rental cough up...
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Hey good stuff Mr Hancock.Agree with your comments re the F checkin in Mel, it has often been the best part if the journey!Most professional outfit down there.Look forward to more witty insights.
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The Car Rental
So far so good. Flights completed, I’m showered and changed and about to miss the great car park that is the M25 between the hours of 7 and 8:30 AM.
Uh oh, the AVIS bus leaves just as I walk out of the AC lounge...but what is this, another one right behind it. I can barely believe my luck.
Arriving at the AVIS rental office I scanned the electronic board for my name and the bay where my the carriage of my dreams awaited.
What? No name on the board. I stood and checked again. Nope not there! I’d have to go into the office....with all of the other people. ewwwwww! :shock:
Fortunately there was nobody in the “Preferred” Queue, and I marched to the desk. “My name doesn’t appear to be on the preferred board.” I said. “Last name” came the response. “Hancock, Tony” said I.
“Do you have your Avis Card?”
“Why yes, here is the requested card” I responded politely.
“mm I can see the booking, but it doesn’t seem to be registered on your account or card.”
“....but, but, here is the booking reference, it appears on my account page and updates my triptracker account.” I advised.
“We have a Megane Coupe available is that OK?” queried the AVIS rep.
“No, sorry I need a four door car. I booked an Insignia” I responded immediately, without resorting to my best Victor Meldrew impression. (I am very weary of doing impressions at the moment, especially having seen someone in the US charged with second degree impersonation!)
The AVIS rep scuttled off to see someone else. I hid my annoyance.
“Mr Hancock, if you can wait for 5 minutes we have a BMW 320 just being washed.”
“That’ll do nicely thank you!” Being polite, yet firm does pay off, I thought. Playing the DYKWIA card was never going to be successful, not least because after 30 hours of travel I wasn’t sure who I was myself.
Off to parking spot A1 to await my car, which duly arrived five minutes later.
Out came the camera and I photographed the car from all angles. (Tonys Tip: Photograph the car as back up to the signed damage report!) Whilst not quite as bad as some of the Hertz rentals I have had, it had a few chips and bumps.
So at 8:50 AM I was on my way, the sat nav chirping away at me inaccurately.......
Tune in next week for Wolverhampton - The hidden holiday treasure(ish)
So far so good. Flights completed, I’m showered and changed and about to miss the great car park that is the M25 between the hours of 7 and 8:30 AM.
Uh oh, the AVIS bus leaves just as I walk out of the AC lounge...but what is this, another one right behind it. I can barely believe my luck.
Arriving at the AVIS rental office I scanned the electronic board for my name and the bay where my the carriage of my dreams awaited.
What? No name on the board. I stood and checked again. Nope not there! I’d have to go into the office....with all of the other people. ewwwwww! :shock:
Fortunately there was nobody in the “Preferred” Queue, and I marched to the desk. “My name doesn’t appear to be on the preferred board.” I said. “Last name” came the response. “Hancock, Tony” said I.
“Do you have your Avis Card?”
“Why yes, here is the requested card” I responded politely.
“mm I can see the booking, but it doesn’t seem to be registered on your account or card.”
“....but, but, here is the booking reference, it appears on my account page and updates my triptracker account.” I advised.
“We have a Megane Coupe available is that OK?” queried the AVIS rep.
“No, sorry I need a four door car. I booked an Insignia” I responded immediately, without resorting to my best Victor Meldrew impression. (I am very weary of doing impressions at the moment, especially having seen someone in the US charged with second degree impersonation!
)The AVIS rep scuttled off to see someone else. I hid my annoyance.
“Mr Hancock, if you can wait for 5 minutes we have a BMW 320 just being washed.”
“That’ll do nicely thank you!” Being polite, yet firm does pay off, I thought. Playing the DYKWIA card was never going to be successful, not least because after 30 hours of travel I wasn’t sure who I was myself.
Off to parking spot A1 to await my car, which duly arrived five minutes later.
Out came the camera and I photographed the car from all angles. (Tonys Tip: Photograph the car as back up to the signed damage report!) Whilst not quite as bad as some of the Hertz rentals I have had, it had a few chips and bumps.
So at 8:50 AM I was on my way, the sat nav chirping away at me inaccurately.......
Tune in next week for Wolverhampton - The hidden holiday treasure(ish)
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Reggie
Established Member
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I love this, may I use your quote in future?
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I wish I could say I penned the phrase. I'm sure I picked it up from a UK sitcom.
I'm nothing if not highly unoriginal!
Cheers
TH
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The F Suite - Stuff What I Missed
I suffered a minor bout of short term memory loss shortly after my MEL-SIN flight. I guess short is a relative time....is three days short? Anyway I apparently took some further photographs on my iPhone.
Having travelled only in Bulkhead Y, Y+ and J I had not had the opportunity to view the take off and landing on the IFE screen, and oh boy it is a treat on the 17" screen in F, or was I sat on the tail at that stage, it is all such a blur.
The bigger picture.
The electronically controlled double blinds were immense fun.(Until the FA told me they were not part of the IFE.) I could have played with those for the the whole flight to SIN, although it may have got a little tiresome on the SIN-LHR leg....good job there was no upgrade really.
I actually got my MacBook Air out for the MEL-SIN leg....but don't worry I wasn't working, just writing up the trip report. The 17" IFE screen was a little far away to pop my iPad on so I had to settle for it on the table.
For the benefit of Princess Fiona "The M6" is up next......watch out for a major surprise!
I suffered a minor bout of short term memory loss shortly after my MEL-SIN flight. I guess short is a relative time....is three days short? Anyway I apparently took some further photographs on my iPhone.
Having travelled only in Bulkhead Y, Y+ and J I had not had the opportunity to view the take off and landing on the IFE screen, and oh boy it is a treat on the 17" screen in F, or was I sat on the tail at that stage, it is all such a blur.
The bigger picture.
The electronically controlled double blinds were immense fun.(Until the FA told me they were not part of the IFE.) I could have played with those for the the whole flight to SIN, although it may have got a little tiresome on the SIN-LHR leg....good job there was no upgrade really.
I actually got my MacBook Air out for the MEL-SIN leg....but don't worry I wasn't working, just writing up the trip report. The 17" IFE screen was a little far away to pop my iPad on so I had to settle for it on the table.
For the benefit of Princess Fiona "The M6" is up next......watch out for a major surprise!
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Flicking through the duty free magazine last night on QF005, (SYD-FRA) after having a couple of bottles of mini reds (flying -Y
) I saw the Minox NVD, immediately thought of TonyHancock and burst into laughter when I saw the price. It was fairly empty last night as well, and the food offerings were spring rolls or chicken or vego pies. It was my 3rd visit there (two guested and this one under my own WP status!
). Last time i was there in April we actually left the F Lounge and went to the Business lounge instead.
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The M6 Motorway
Over 230 miles of well worn concrete and tarmac between Rugby in the English Midlands and Gretna, just over the border in Scotland - The M6 Motorway.
I have been driving on the M6 since 1985, not the whole 230 miles, but mainly between Junction 2 and Junction 10 - about 30 miles. 30 glorious miles intersecting the West Midlands and packed with sights to behold. It is home to Spaghetti Junction, serving 18 routes across five levels.
In the 26 years I have been driving this route I cannot recall one single occasion when the M6 through Birmingham was not subject to road works and lane restrictions. Not one.
What larks I had driving through the contraflows, grinding to a complete halt at the M5 intersection, crawling 2 miles in 45 minutes and so it goes on. Did I say that I had not once driven the route without roadworks present?
That is........until today :shock:.................. I apologise to those of you have driven this route, this news has probably caused a bit of a shock. Some of you won't believe me.
I was armed with my camera in the knowledge that I would be grinding to a halt as I passed Fort Dunlop, and would be able to snap away at the glory of the industrial West Midlands.
Junction 3A
It was surreal, nay bizarre. The traffic flowed, not a cone to be seen in action. Through Corley services, on past Fort Dunlop, breezing through Spaghetti Junction, waving at the nice people in the RAC centre at the M5 interchange. The traffic barely slowed and junction after junction was left behind. It was like being part of an Italian Army retreat.
Fort Dunlop (Note the chimney for the combined cycle power station.)
I did not see a traffic cone until junction 8, and a whole row were pushed back on to the hard shoulder.
Breezing through Spaghetti Junction
Admittedly I was driving along at 6:30 AM but I was a part of a small miracle. The M6 through Birmingham is usually beyond terrible. It is so bad that it even has it’s own bypass. Yes you read correctly.
The M5 Interchange
In Australia it seems perfectly normal to build a motorway/tollway/freeway as a town or city bypass, but the M6 Tollway bypasses....well........the M6 motorway. :?: Just to reinforce the supposedly disappearing class system, if you are wealthy, for the princely sum of GBP5.70, you can drive down the empty M6 Tollway, whilst those that are not so wealthy, usually, spend hours sitting in traffic jams on The M6 proper.
All in all a surreal experience, capped by a visit to Bilston.................
Over 230 miles of well worn concrete and tarmac between Rugby in the English Midlands and Gretna, just over the border in Scotland - The M6 Motorway.
I have been driving on the M6 since 1985, not the whole 230 miles, but mainly between Junction 2 and Junction 10 - about 30 miles. 30 glorious miles intersecting the West Midlands and packed with sights to behold. It is home to Spaghetti Junction, serving 18 routes across five levels.
In the 26 years I have been driving this route I cannot recall one single occasion when the M6 through Birmingham was not subject to road works and lane restrictions. Not one.
What larks I had driving through the contraflows, grinding to a complete halt at the M5 intersection, crawling 2 miles in 45 minutes and so it goes on. Did I say that I had not once driven the route without roadworks present?
That is........until today :shock:.................. I apologise to those of you have driven this route, this news has probably caused a bit of a shock. Some of you won't believe me.
I was armed with my camera in the knowledge that I would be grinding to a halt as I passed Fort Dunlop, and would be able to snap away at the glory of the industrial West Midlands.
Junction 3A
It was surreal, nay bizarre. The traffic flowed, not a cone to be seen in action. Through Corley services, on past Fort Dunlop, breezing through Spaghetti Junction, waving at the nice people in the RAC centre at the M5 interchange. The traffic barely slowed and junction after junction was left behind. It was like being part of an Italian Army retreat.
Fort Dunlop (Note the chimney for the combined cycle power station.)
I did not see a traffic cone until junction 8, and a whole row were pushed back on to the hard shoulder.
Breezing through Spaghetti Junction
Admittedly I was driving along at 6:30 AM but I was a part of a small miracle. The M6 through Birmingham is usually beyond terrible. It is so bad that it even has it’s own bypass. Yes you read correctly.
The M5 Interchange
In Australia it seems perfectly normal to build a motorway/tollway/freeway as a town or city bypass, but the M6 Tollway bypasses....well........the M6 motorway. :?: Just to reinforce the supposedly disappearing class system, if you are wealthy, for the princely sum of GBP5.70, you can drive down the empty M6 Tollway, whilst those that are not so wealthy, usually, spend hours sitting in traffic jams on The M6 proper.
All in all a surreal experience, capped by a visit to Bilston.................
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The Bilston Experience
Isn't Wikipedia astonishing? One of the interweb's great wonders with all of that information freely available. I love the way that everyone and anyone can contribute, we are all encouraged. I have, however, noticed a flaw in Wikipedia. Sometimes, not all of the information is accurate, and as a business model it is susceptible to external commercial influences. (As usual I'm way off topic.......but more of that later.)
Three things led me to Bilston on a sunny Monday morning in July. (Incidentally I have yet to try out my Minox Mini NVD night division device - I have fallen asleep prior to 10:15PM and awoken after 4:15 AM so have only known daylight so far on my trip! Either that or global warming is somehow responsible for the UK being in constant daylight.)....ah yes three things.
1. I needed, ahem, cough, cough, a "rest" break on my journey. :shock:
2. Breakfast at McDonalds seemed oddly appealing. (I can't even begin to think why.)
3. I had remembered that Bilston was a regular gig for Half Man Half Biscuit.
Wikipedia painted a rosy picture of this historical town, in fact, given that it had been more than seven months since the last fatal shooting I felt quite (perhaps quite is an exaggeration, not very is probably more correct) safe having a look around there. The Wikipedia entry for Bilston could almost have been infiltrated by the Bilston Tourist Board - beautiful churches, quaint pubs, arts and culture, probably not so much involvement in writing the crime section though.
My first dilemma, after having been for a, cough, cough, "rest" was a choice from the menu. Apparently this McDonalds Restaurant was not serving alcohol so that was a little disappointing, and it seemed to lack a waiter service. I assumed that in both cases it was because I was dining quite early in the morning. (Having said that I saw no evidence of a wine list for evening dining, so beware!) I opted for something described as a Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal with hash brown and a cup of tea.
Oh yes, there was a fourth reason I needed to stop. I had to send the weekly sales figures off to head office. No wireless interweb thingy at this McDonalds restaurant though. :-| Fortunately I had my 3G router with me.
Work done, yes work, I headed out to the car park and my rental car, which, surprisingly, still had all four wheels intact, and onward into the centre of Bilston.
Spectacular isn't it? I was quite overcome and struggled to find words to describe it's charm. I love the way the shopkeepers have adopted a similar modern art approach to the fronts of their shop. The steel shutter look is apparently in this year.
Looking further down the street there is a marvellous view of Lidl, a purveyor of fine foods and household wares. McDonalds is just behind Lidl. The streets were being cleaned by a delightful little street cleaning machine too. (How I wished my car had metal mesh fencing around it's windows like the little street cleaner.)
I would love to have stopped a little longer, but my desire for self preservation got the better of me, and I finished up getting to work a full hour before I needed to. Another first for this trip.
Next up it is The Holiday Inn at Dunstall Park.......
Isn't Wikipedia astonishing? One of the interweb's great wonders with all of that information freely available. I love the way that everyone and anyone can contribute, we are all encouraged. I have, however, noticed a flaw in Wikipedia. Sometimes, not all of the information is accurate, and as a business model it is susceptible to external commercial influences. (As usual I'm way off topic.......but more of that later.)
Three things led me to Bilston on a sunny Monday morning in July. (Incidentally I have yet to try out my Minox Mini NVD night division device - I have fallen asleep prior to 10:15PM and awoken after 4:15 AM so have only known daylight so far on my trip! Either that or global warming is somehow responsible for the UK being in constant daylight.)....ah yes three things.
1. I needed, ahem, cough, cough, a "rest" break on my journey. :shock:
2. Breakfast at McDonalds seemed oddly appealing. (I can't even begin to think why.)
3. I had remembered that Bilston was a regular gig for Half Man Half Biscuit.
Wikipedia painted a rosy picture of this historical town, in fact, given that it had been more than seven months since the last fatal shooting I felt quite (perhaps quite is an exaggeration, not very is probably more correct) safe having a look around there. The Wikipedia entry for Bilston could almost have been infiltrated by the Bilston Tourist Board - beautiful churches, quaint pubs, arts and culture, probably not so much involvement in writing the crime section though.
My first dilemma, after having been for a, cough, cough, "rest" was a choice from the menu. Apparently this McDonalds Restaurant was not serving alcohol so that was a little disappointing, and it seemed to lack a waiter service. I assumed that in both cases it was because I was dining quite early in the morning. (Having said that I saw no evidence of a wine list for evening dining, so beware!) I opted for something described as a Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal with hash brown and a cup of tea.
Oh yes, there was a fourth reason I needed to stop. I had to send the weekly sales figures off to head office. No wireless interweb thingy at this McDonalds restaurant though. :-| Fortunately I had my 3G router with me.
Work done, yes work, I headed out to the car park and my rental car, which, surprisingly, still had all four wheels intact, and onward into the centre of Bilston.
Spectacular isn't it? I was quite overcome and struggled to find words to describe it's charm. I love the way the shopkeepers have adopted a similar modern art approach to the fronts of their shop. The steel shutter look is apparently in this year.
Looking further down the street there is a marvellous view of Lidl, a purveyor of fine foods and household wares. McDonalds is just behind Lidl. The streets were being cleaned by a delightful little street cleaning machine too. (How I wished my car had metal mesh fencing around it's windows like the little street cleaner.)
I would love to have stopped a little longer, but my desire for self preservation got the better of me, and I finished up getting to work a full hour before I needed to. Another first for this trip.
Next up it is The Holiday Inn at Dunstall Park.......
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