One Hancock, One Harridan and too much Habromania

[love_the_life]

Good to have the pleasure of reading your 'dulcet tones' again TH or should I say Professor H? Looking forward to reading many more martini reviews.

 

[JessicaTam]

Goodness me. I have received no notification that this thread has started.

Herr Professor Hancock, please advise that malcontent Griselda that this is unacceptable if you are to receive the attention you so richly deserve.

 

[TonyHancock]

“Premium What?” I heard myself say.

“Premium Economy Mr Hancock” Griselda sighed. “You will have a seat that is a little larger than economy and a better meal than economy.”

Economy was not a word I liked to hear whether it had “Premium” associated with it or not. I barely like to hear the work business when class of travel is referred to in my plans. This was the second time this year.

This would not end well, I couldn’t bring myself to examine, in any detail, the rather tedious document Griselda was thrusting under my nose. I reached for the gin and poured myself a rather large errr……errrrr……..errrrr……well…..gin.

An early morning flight, 07:45, meant that it was necessary to stay at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. I could barely contain myself at the prospect of the glamour and luxury I would be subjected to.

After my previous experience of the newly refurbished room at the Holiday Inn I was somewhat shocked to find myself in the bog standard “Executive” King room on the top floor. I still have no idea what the Executive bit is all about.

“Eggs benedict, with smoked salmon, with two grilled tomatoes, oh and a pot of Ridgways Imperial and an Orange Juice please” I said before even sitting down in the café of the Qantas [-]RSL[/-] First class Lounge. As much as I tried I was really struggling with the whole Qantas Platinum Type dress code and behaviour and had reverted back to my BOAC persona.

“Ridgways?” questioned the child serving me

“Yes Ridgways Imperial Blend” I was at my superior best.

“I don’t know what that is.” Came the response.

I sighed and explained about Sir Thomas Ridgway and several generations of the royal family but all to no avail and found myself presented with something called English Breakfast Tea made by Mr Dilmah.

After several introductions by staff in different coloured clothing, I settled into my Premium Economy seat, declining breakfast, and partaking of a stiff G&T. Time flew by, actually quite literally, and it was not long before we were approaching Hong Kong Airport.


Premium Economy wouldn't be so bad if it stayed like this, but others flood the cabin.

We were, however late, and I would have only an hour to pass through security and get to my flight to Shanghai……or so I thought.

“Griselda there is a four hour delay” I was on a reverse charge call to Griselda’s mobile, which, also, fortunately I wasn’t paying for.

“There is nothing I can do” She sighed. Words I seemed to hear all too often from her.

“….but…but I don’t mind a couple of hours so that I can grab a decent dinner and the odd Martini.” I wasn’t giving up.

“Mr Hancock, I called Cathay Pacific, or The Swire Group as you call them, and they were adamant it was all out of their control”

that is the problem with modern society, nobody wants to take responsibility. I resigned myself to the four-hour delay. It was never like this in the good old days. Dinner was acceptable, and the dry martini most welcome. Four hours turned into five and then six and finally we departed for Shanghai almost seven hours late, although multiple dry martinis had mellowed me a little. (hic!)

This lateness malarkey is all rather inconvenient, it meant we required a bus to get to the terminal at Shanghai, there was no driver waiting and I had to catch something called a taxi, and finally the Executive check in at the Hilton was closed and I had to use the reception desk in the main lobby. This was already the trip from hell. :shock:

A quick jaunt to Beijing had been organised so that I could dine with a chap who was quite important. This was not as bad as I thought it would be and I rather enjoyed the Chinese wine or whisky or whatever else it is called. I appeared to fare better than the important man and his entourage who struggled to stand at the end of the dinner when I insisted that we all sing the national anthem. (Yes the one about the Queen, not the one about the quaint village on the coast..................... although I have yet to find Girt on the map of Australia. )


hic!


An improvement with the MU loung PEK

The Hilton at Nanjing knew exactly who I was and had prepared the Ambassador Suite for me.


mmm....now who will I invite over for dinner?

Before I knew it I was back in shanghai and preparing to head for Hong Kong. It was at this point I glanced at the itinerary Griselda had printed and stuffed into my polished leather Gladstone Bag.

“Ms Pugh” I was exasperated. “I can’t possible be expected to land at Melbourne from Hong Kong and then fly straight back four hour later” :?:

“It was the only way I could schedule both trips into your diary” She replied with a foreboding sense of calm.



I had lost the will to argue and fight, and probably the will to live, but the prospect of a dry martini in Hong Kong kept me going. So, I was to land at Melbourne, find security, transfer back to International, and have a spot of breakfast in the Qantas [-]RSL[/-] First class Lounge. I might even take a shower. This was not what important people like me did. I shook my head slowly.

I wondered how I had come to sink so low?

To be continued………..

 

[drron]

One of your best ever Mr.Hancock Esq.

 

[love_the_life]

And Griselda is still on the payroll? :shock:

 

[TonyHancock]

Well this was all a bit confusing. I disembarked CX135 just after 6:00AM and had to find my way back to the Qantas [-]RSL[/-] First Lounge for breakfast before catching QF29 back to Hong Kong. :shock:

Once I woke staff up at the security area it became a little clearer. I had spent quite some time at the Qantas Lounge in Hong Kong the previous evening attempting to obtain a boarding pass for my immediate return but to no avail. I thought the burly security chap would dispatch me back to immigration tout suite. Instead he demonstrated a strong desire to discuss the intricacies of Association Football with me. This would have been a pleasant few seconds as I endured the security check if he had known who Sir Stanley Matthews was, but he only appeared to want to talk about some German sounding fellow called Klopp…whoever he is. :?:

It all went rather well and I was soon in possession of the relevant boarding passes for the rest of my journey, well the bit through to some far off place in Norway anyway.

A quick shower and change of clothes and I was soon ordering eggs benedict with smoked salmon and two grilled tomatoes with a pot of Ridgways Imperial and an orange juice. I was then able to conduct the same conversation about Ridgways with the same child as last week and then have a pot of English Breakfast Tea made by Mr Dilmah delivered to my table. #sigh#

The flight back to Hong Kong was uneventful, well apart from the severe turbulence, still under investigation by the ASTB, as we approached Hong Kong causing thirteen injuries in the rear of the aeroplane. Fortunately there was no turbulence in and around seat 5B and I was able to complete the bottle of Penfolds Bin28 in comfort.

Luckily the emergency services were not in a position to board the aeroplane as we arrived at the gate and business class passengers were allowed to disembark which was all rather fortunate. It was quite a delay for the Premium Economy and Economy passengers apparently.


Fortunately Business Class passengers were aloud to disembark before the paramedics boarded.

As usual the Cathay Pacific Pier First Class lounge was nothing short of heavenly. I made a note for Griselda to contact that Joyce fellow and Qantas and have him visit so that he could see what a first class lounge should look like.


The heavenly Cathay Pacific Pier first class Lounge.

I was on the top deck, at the rear of the small cabin, of BA’s big aeroplane for my flight to Blighty, so after my second dinner of the evening I nursed my red wine glass all the way to London. One wonders why the stewards or stewardesses (one has to be politically correct these days!) cannot be bothered to collect glasses but then again nothing surprises me in this dreadful modern world.

After a hearty traditional English breakfast in the Concorde Room I found myself a quiet corner to relax before the completely unnecessary flight to far off Norway. As I looked around I noticed a change.

“Miss Pugh you will need to draft another letter of complaint to the Walsh chap” I was livid.

“Why Mr Hancock, what has happened? She responded with an air of ennui.

“They are “upgrading” the furniture in the Concorde Room and those high backed armchairs and sofas will not do.”


This new furniture will not do at all.

“I’ll add it to the list Mr Hancock.”

It was 5:30 in the afternoon when I finally reached The Hilton Hotel at Heathrow Terminal 4, which was rather fortunate because after a quick shower and change of clothes I was able to spend a not unpleasant two hours having a dart at the gin in The Executive Lounge.


Blighty......well to be precise London.

It was a strange week ahead that included some time spent hosting a colleague on a trip to Edinburgh and Edinburgh Castle in particular, and that involved flying there from Heathrow again. British airways had at least created something called the First Class Wing which made the security process a little more bearable, but it did make the walk to the Concorde Room longer.

The trip to Scotland was nowhere near as bad as I thought it was going to be, although the Executive Lounge at The Carlton Hilton was about as big as a Junior Managers office in a medium sized insurance company. At least I was not subjected to that dreadful woman with red hair whose name escapes me. She looks like Jimmy Krankie and runs some sort of minor political party. I must get Griselda to look it up.

It had been a long time since I had visited Edinburgh Castle and I noticed that there was now a new display - The Scottish Crown Jewels. My colleague and I queued patiently to see this glorious collection that consisted of a less than splendid crown, and old sword, some sort of dagger, and a bit of rock. The latter had been sent up to Scotland from Westminster Abbey presumably to stop Alex Salmond whingeing.

I would show you photographs of these “magnificent” items but one is not allowed to use a camera in the display room, so I had to pop my old Box Brownie away. I didn’t ask but my assumption was that if the general public, who had not visited the display, actually saw this tat in advance they probably wouldn’t bother to visit Edinburgh Castle.

Unusually British Airways had managed to create a joint Gold/[-]RiffRaff[/-]Silver lounge that QF could learn a lot from. Not a thong or singlet to be seen, carpet and comfortable chairs. Very nice.


BA's Edinburgh Lounge - not at all bad.

It has been another difficult week and at least I would get a few days off before heading to San Diego.

TTFN

 

[love_the_life]

It always amazes me, good sir, how you manage to rise above adversity in your travels and continue to write such lyrical and lucid reports of your experiences. I, a poor mortal back in the capital of this colonial outpost, look on in awe.
(Either that or you are so sloshed with the martinis and gins and in fact Griselda writes your reports :shock

 

[TomVexille]

It always amazes me, good sir, how you manage to rise above adversity in your travels and continue to write such lyrical and lucid reports of your experiences. I, a poor mortal back in the capital of this colonial outpost look on in awe.
(Either that or you are so sloshed with the martinis and gins and in fact Griselda writes your reports :shock

That's why he's now a Professor

 

[OATEK]

Sir, one can only applaud not only your courage as you persist in the face of seemingly endless adversity, but also for your selfless proclivity for sharing your experiences so that we might avoid similar travails. Chin chin!

 

[TheRealTMA]

That's why he's now a Professor

If only more professors could this and not be so an***retentive about travel and expenditures.

 

[TonyHancock]

It had been a good 20 years since I had visited San Diego, I try to stay away from the old colonies where I can. San Diego never seemed very British, unlike Boston and was also a 10+ hour flight away from Blighty.

Griselda had arranged for me to fly with British Airways on a direct flight from Heathrow to San Diego in Business Class or what was also known as Club World. After a spot of lunch and the odd glass of Red I settled down, nursing my glass for the remainder of the flight. I was in seat 16A so the prospect of ever having my glass retrieved by the crew was slim.

Apparently, according to Griselda, the close proximity of one of the San Diego Hiltons to the airport made it the ideal choice, for whom I have no idea but it certainly would not be my ideal choice. The rooms were of that certain 1970’s vintage, in decoration, colours and fittings. I almost felt as if I was starring in an episode of Starsky and Hutch. The bar menu presented a particular delight – Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Thai Chilli which one rather had to order given the absurdity of such a thing. Yes it was mildly awful.
I spent the evening looking for the Spanish Armada


Brussels Sprouts

Trying to get a decent cup of tea was nothing short of impossible, why oh why had Griselda not reminded me and packed some loose leaf Ridgways Imperial Blend and a teapot?

I slept surprisingly well before partaking of a “sausage gravy and biscuits” breakfast, which is not as bad as it sounds. I was introduced to the concept in Kentucky in the 1990’s and am quite amenable to the Cracker Barrel version in particular, although at The Hilton the seagull the size of an ostrich eying my plate up was rather off putting.

The next four nights would be spent at a Hyatt hotel out of town and Griselda had organised somebody called Mr Uber to collect me and deliver me there. Whilst not what I am accustomed to the new Honda Accord proved an acceptable mode of transport for the relatively short journey.

The hotel staff clearly knew who I was and my room was prepared for an early check in, unlike the Hilton this was modern, and spacious, befitting someone of my importance.


This was a bit more like it.

The week rattled on by, I managed to avoid any strenuous work, and even managed to visit the local equivalent of Skegness, although there was a bit more in the way of sand and a bit less in the way of mud flats there.



Whilst not overdoing it on the old work front I was tired enough, after several G&T’s to sleep for a good 7 hours on the overnight return flight to London. As I was once again sitting in seat 16A I was able to hand my G&T glass to the steward on the breakfast run.

The early afternoon arrival meant that Griselda had booked me into the Heathrow Hilton Garden Inn yet again. No lounge and an underground train journey to get there was nothing short of purgatory for a man of my standing.

“Mr Hancock I have some good news for you.” Griselda blurted out

“Yes Miss Pugh?” I queried

“Your upgrade to first Class has been approved you will be in seat 2A for your journey to Hong Kong.” She was obviously quite pleased with herself.

“Well at least one thing has gone right for me on this trip.” I thought but daren’t say.

So I was to be in First Class, this required a different strategy. If London to Hong Kong flight was in Business Class there was a definite need to drink five dry martinis in The Concorde Room, this would ensure I was suitably anesthetized in order to best deal with Club World. Flying First opened new possibilities though, the onboard wine selection wasn’t bad at all. I would abstain on the London to Norway flight, knock back one or two reds on the way back and then partake of a couple of dry martinis in the Concorde Room. (hic!!)



Griselda had at least followed my instructions and booked me onto a Swire Group flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne so I managed to avoid the quite dreadful Fred Perry supper menu forced upon poor flyers by Qantas.

My return to Melbourne would be short lived I was returning to Blighty within the week.


TTFN

 

[love_the_life]

Ah yes, you do well to miss the so called supper menu Professor Hancock. It is far beneath your elevated taste buds.

 

[andye]

The brussels with chilli thing must have been a dish on the US version of Masterchef-they had it in the LAS Centurion Lounge when I was there too

 

[TonyHancock]

I had been back in Australia less than a week and I found myself on a Virgin Australia flight to Sydney and then having to take a train to the International Terminal. On balance this was about the same as taking a Qantas flight and then catching the livestock truck to the International Terminal.

Apparently Griselda was able to book Premium Economy to Blighty and use some sort of voucher to ensure I flew business class. It all seemed awfully complicated so I just let her get on with it and hope she gets it right. :shock:

I was on my way back to Blighty and then to Germany where I had a meeting. British Airways Club World is not too bad, Griselda always gets me a seat facing the Premium Economy cabin* and I don’t have to climb over anybody, it is also handily placed for the water closet on the smaller British Airways plane. When laid flat the British Airways Club World seat is a comfortable as any in the sky and enables me to sleep for several hours. Over the last two years I have also become quite an aficionado of the British airways Club World wine glass, primarily because it never seems to be collected from me when empty.


Onboard medication

We were 15 minutes or so late into that rather marvellous colonial outpost of Singapore and I barely had time to poor myself a G&T in the Concorde Room Bar before I was being hustled back through security to board for Blighty.

“Griselda I don’t have my boarding pass for the Norway flight.” I was quite flustered.

“You aren’t going to Norway Mr Hancock.” She was addressing me as if I were a small child.

“I’m not?” I replied rather meekly.

“No, don’t you remember, we booked this from Sydney to London.” I sensed a tone of superiority in her voice.

I can’t remember “we” booking anything but a let that go and wondered what to do next. Immigration, customs, oh and yes the British airways Arrivals Lounge. It is a mixed lounge, people who are not important can also use it if they have flown in Club World or even infrequent travellers like those that only have a Gold Card. Fortunately someone at British Airways had the foresight to add a nice little room for important people like me to have breakfast. It always cheers me up when staff in The Concorde Breakfast Room send interlopers away.


Breakfast in the Concorde Breakfast room in the arrivals lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5

“Miss Pugh, what do you mean cancelled?” I realised as I said this it was quite obvious what cancelled meant.

“The meeting in Germany has been cancelled and will now be a webinar” Griselda replied

“A what?” Was all I could manage.

“It is a meeting where you use your computer and have a teleconference and share screens.”

This seemed complicated and annoying, I was rather looking forward to sausages and beer in the Black Forest. I had flown all the way to Blighty for nothing. If I actually paid Griselda I would be deducting this from her wages. To make matters worse the weather was quite awful, as was the view from my temporary office.


Oh dear

Griselda insist upon booking me into a hotel called the Hilton Garden Inn, it has not Executive Lounge, there appear to be no suites and I am required to take an underground train to it. I will have to have some harsh words with her about this.



With no trip to Norway I needed to recalibrate my strategy for Club World survival. So I chose to arrive nice and early at Heathrow Terminal 5, and breeze through the rather lovely First class Wing security area. I need to tell you a little about this new feature.

British Airways has created dual security inspection lines in an area behind its First class check in suite. It is spacious, calm and almost relaxing in its styling. It is only available for those with Gold Cards and above, and first class passengers. It is absolutely marvellous………but once through security it opens up into the First Class Lounge. Getting to the Concorde Room requires a trudge through the First Class lounge, Griselda will be writing to that Walsh chap about this.

I opted for lunch and dinner in the Concorde room and worked my way through the reds before switching to Dry Martinis a couple of hours prior to boarding.

The lack of a beep at the gate meant another 13 hours or so in Club World. I showed my boarding pass to the stewardess at the door and headed off to my seat where I began the process of moving all of the bags of headsets out of the overhead locker above my seat. I was quite grumpy now.

“Mr Hancock, I wonder if you would like to join us in our First Class cabin?” A rather charming voice from behind uttered to me.

“Not half……..err…errr yes that would be most delightful.” I responded.

Whilst seat 2E would not have been my first choice I grudgingly accepted it and prepared myself for the orgy of food and drink that was to follow. I must have overdone it a little because I did not wake up in time for breakfast.


A bit more like it!!

Once again there was no beep at the gate as I boarded for the leg to Sydney. I stood patiently near my seat waiting for the cabin service director to invite me to First Class but all to no avail and I was consigned to my allotted Club World seat. By this stage the travel was impacting me and I had quite a headache. Fortunately the Tylenol PM tablets Griselda had packed for me sent me to sleep.

We landed at 5:05 AM and at precisely 5:45 I boarded the 6:00 AM flight to Melbourne. For once Griselda had actually done her job properly and managed to get the stars to align. I was through immigration and customs quickly and took the train to the domestic terminal where a lovely Qantas lady in the Business Class lounge changed my flight.

At least I had Sunday and Monday in Australia before heading off to an important meeting in Qingdao…wherever that was.


*Fortunately there is a wall so I don’t actually have to look at the poor people in Premium Economy.

 

[TonyHancock]

“Premium Economy again?” I yelled inwardly but spoke softly – Griselda had the bread knife in her hand. :shock:

“I am afraid so Mr Hancock, there isn’t much I can do I’m afraid.” Griselda responded coldly.

She didn’t appear overly concerned about my well being.

I arrived back home on Sunday Morning and by Monday night I was once again in an “Executive” Room at The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. I was heading back up to China and flying with The Swire Group in Premium Economy…….or was I?

“Griselda?” I was at my authoritative best. “I am looking at my trip plans and appear to be in economy for my flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai, that can’t be correct can it?” :shock:

“Oh, mmmm, we had a few problems with this one and the Cathay Dragon flight was the only one that worked, it is only a short flight Mr Hancock.”

I cried inwardly, my world was collapsing around me.

I did not sleep soundly, the prospect of a small seat, limited legroom, and dire food weighed heavily on my mind. I took comfort in the knowledge that a stewardess might take my empty plastic drinking glass though.

Eggs Benedict, two grilled tomatoes…blah….blah etc you know the rest….and yes I finished up with a pot of Mr Dilmah’s tea.



The one thing The Swire Group does well is priority boarding, ensuring important people can get settled in their seats ahead of the crowd.

We were, of course, late arriving into Hong Kong, but as usual flights to shanghai were delayed so at least I had time for a spot of dinner in the Pier First Class Lounge and I took the opportunity to have some rather tasty cheesecake in the Qantas lounge, which I noted still had an unfinished floor. Surely this should have been sorted out by now.

After two nights at the Hongqiao Hilton, in a splendid Executive room, it was time for yet another economy flight. This time to Qingdao and with China Eastern Airlines, I had remembered just how bad the lounge was at Hongqiao so headed to the gate.

Fortunately staff at the Hilton at Qingdao knew exactly who I was and I was soon ensconced in a Junior Suite with an ocean view. Most pleasing. The Executive Lounge food offerings weren’t great but at least there was gin.




mmmm purple food!

What I did not realise is that Qingdao was famed for its seafood and not just its beer. As the large dish of shellfish was placed in the middle of the table all I could think about was being air ambulanced out of Qingdao with some sort of stomach infection. Then I drew inspiration from my previous visits to China and ordered the strongest Chinese Whisky the restaurant had. There was no way any bugs/bacteria/viruses could possibly survive when washed down with that stuff. The only problem was that it came in small bottles so I had to order several of them.


Now where is the Chinese whisky?


That'll be the way to go then.

The next morning I awoke with a headache, which I attributed to the odd dodgy oyster.

By the time I reached the Pier First Class Lounge at Hong Kong a couple of days later I was ready for the Burger and chips, and with a four hour layover I made the most of my time by also consuming a martini or two.

“Mr Hancock, it is exciting news.” Griselda was breathless. “You will be travelling back to Melbourne on a new Airbus A350.”

“Oh” I said

I had no idea why she needed to impart this information to me and continued with my martini.

The flight back to Melbourne was one of those that I thought would never end. Fortunately I had an empty seat next to me but alas Premium Economy is a long, long way from pleasant. The nice lady in charge of the cabin informed me that I had access to something called WiFi but I had no idea what she was talking about.

Upon arrival I headed over to The Holiday Inn at the airport and readied myself to fly back to Hong Kong the next day and then on to Blighty yet again. :shock:

TTFN

 

[TonyHancock]

“err….errrr Griselda has reorganised my flights and apparently I am now flying from Sydney,”

I awoke at the Holiday Inn, Melbourne Airport and prepared myself for the long day ahead. I was flying on a Qantas flight to Hong Kong in Business Class and then on British Airways flight BA28 in First Class. In the greater scheme of things this was not a bad day. Decent food, a fabulous lounge in Hong Kong and a pleasant snooze in First Class after demolishing the odd red or two. There was still the trauma of a trip to some far off part of Norway bit that was over 24 hours away.

Eggs Benedict, two grilled tomatoes……..etc etc

As I sat at my table in the café in the Qantas [-]RSL[/-] First Class Lounge watching the many Qantas Platinum types swilling Bingtang in their singlets and thongs readying them selves for QF93 Griselda called.

“Mr Hancock” she was almost breathless “There is a major problem with the flight from Hong Kong.” :shock:

From her tone I knew this must be serious. There was only one thing it could be, my ultimate nightmare, I was to be downgraded.

“What is it Miss Pugh” I tried to remain calm but I knew disaster was imminent.

“British Airways has changed the aeroplane and the new one doesn’t have First Class.”

“Presumably they have moved me to the other British Airways flight or perhaps to Cathay Pacific? I ventured. This was indeed the worst possible thing that can happen when travelling.

“They say they are all full Mr Hancock?” She said with an air of agitation.

I couldn’t face Club World from Hong Kong and implored Griselda to continue her discussions with BA.

The whole affair had ruined what up to then had been a not wholly unpleasant breakfast experience.

After almost an hour Griselda called back to tell me British Airways had managed to find a First Class seat for me…..but on BA16 out of Sydney. She had organised a flight to Sydney with Virgin Australia and I would have to be escorted somewhere called landside by a Qantas member of staff. :shock:

It was all rather rushed at first but I managed to get to the BA check in desk at Sydney with a couple of hours to spare. I had time for a spot of Lunch in the Qantas [-]school cafeteria[/-]First Class Lounge so had managed meals in both the Melbourne and Sydney Lounges on the same day. According to a chap in the lounge this used to be quite popular some time ago on Jetstar flights whatever they are.

The important thing was that I was to fly all the way to London in First Class, and Griselda had even managed to snag my second favourite seat for the first leg.



I had a rather decent steak, a cheeky claret or two and prepared myself for an hour in The Concorde Room Bar in Singapore. This is my favourite lounge of all. OK so it is small, badly lit, some might say dingy, has a relatively poor food selection and is not particularly well furnished but, and this is a big but, a code is required to enter. The entry is in full view of the rest of the lounge. I will typically enter and exit about 10 times per visit just so that everyone in the mixed lounge can see just how important I am.



An early arrival into London can only mean one thing for me – breakfast in the Concorde Room.




A busy day at Heathrow.

The trip to Norway was not without it’s difficulties on this occasion. Upon arrival the aerobridge stopped working and the only solution was to disembark from the rear and then reverse the process to depart. All rather unpleasant.



..and so to another week in blighty. #sigh#

TTFN

To be continued.

 

[andye]

Black pudding makes any breakfast special

 

[love_the_life]

A man (well professor) of infinite je ne sais quoi (actually if the truth be known, after a few red wines the actual term eludes me }

 

[JessicaTam]

Dare I ask Herr Professor if you are starting to eye off Life Time Gold with BA? Of course BA may be so pleased to have a regular guest contributing to the ongoing financial security of the airline that yo may already have it.

Forgive my impertinence if the question is beneath you to answer. Perhaps forward it to Griselda to answer if she is not too busy writing letters to that Walsh chappie.

 

[TonyHancock]

Dare I ask Herr Professor if you are starting to eye off Life Time Gold with BA? Of course BA may be so pleased to have a regular guest contributing to the ongoing financial security of the airline that yo may already have it.

Forgive my impertinence if the question is beneath you to answer. Perhaps forward it to Griselda to answer if she is not too busy writing letters to that Walsh chappie.

Griselda has checked my account and informs me that I have accumulated 17,895 of something she calls Tier Points. Apparently one needs 35,000 to achieve Lifetime Gold. She also informs me I collected my first Tier Point in December 2014. I have no idea what all of that means of course.