The trip home started very early on the Thursday morning.
Etihad Chauffeur had called on Wednesday and I had missed the call. Our flight was at 9:15am, and the pick-up from Islington was to be 5:15. Contrast this to Sydney where the 2:50pm flight had a 1pm pick-up! I did think about suggesting a later time, as Mr Google suggested only 45 mins to Heathrow, but I decided to live with it: it would give us more time in the Lounge!
Despite the early pick-up we had enough time to organise things and at least leave the house in some sort of order. With the brand new wheelie we now had 7 pieces of luggage: three check-in and 4 cabin bound. I was hoping I wouldn't have to wheel it too much. After a very quick journey to Heathrow to Terminal 4 (haven't used it for years!) we were met at the drop-off point by Porter and guide. A massive contrast to Sydney where we were left at the kerbside to fend for ourselves! Our guide walked us into the terminal and straight to the counter to check-in. We said bye-be to the cases and, with our guide, headed to the express lane for security. This took a while; Dr Tooner had bought my mother a watch which was gift-wrapped and couldn't be scanned so had to be unpacked (he had also failed to pack liquids in the plastic bag I gave him, but anyway!). Eventually we were on our way and straight to the lounge, which is where the Concorde Lounge used to be when it was the BA terminal. We got there around 6:30am, so had plenty of time to call home on Skype (it was Mrs Dr Tooner's birthday), have some breakfast in the restaurant section and also a shoulder massage (well worth booking!) Service was very attentive and the food delicious. If you crave bacon, however, this is not the place for you unless you are able to accept Turkey Bacon as a substitute (not my cup of tea, though). After a pleasant time trying to get my work email to work (epic fail), our flight was called in the usual
Etihad manner; One of the Lounge Angels comes around to personally let you know. Dr Tooner had wandered off to go gift-buying and was nowhere to be seen, so eventually I headed off with 4 cases in search of him. He wasn't far away, purchasing tacky gifts for grandchildren!
After a brisk walk and provision of passports etc, we were on board. This flight was in a 777-300 rather than A340 for both legs, first to Abu Dhabi and then on to Sydney. While the suites in First are pretty much the same and we were used to the mini-bar and coat cupboard etc, but the smaller cabin (4 fewer seats in F) had a different layout for galley and toilets. While the A340 has the main F toilet on the RHS, meaning the passengers on the LHS have to walk through the galley, on the 777 the main toilet is behind the bulkhead in front of Row 1 and the galley is avoided. A much better arrangement in my view. Another aspect which is pleasing is the lack of overhead compartments. All luggage is designed to go under the mini seat at the other end of the suite. That means the roof can be lit with little stars (I have a photo I'll post later).
It turns out we were the only passengers in F for this leg, so the Chef and 2 FAs were literally begging us to have something to eat! We did relent and have some lunch, and in my case I accepted the Chef's recommendation to have rack of lamb, which was sensational! Coupled with some fine French wine it was a lovely lunch.
This would otherwise have been a quiet and quick sector to Abu Dhabi, but things got interesting (in a not good way) when the announcement was made: "Is there a doctor or other medical staff on board to deal with a medical emergency?". Given Dr Tooner really is a doctor and had his cards with him, we mentioned this to the FA. Fortunately there was a Doctor in another cabin who was assisting, but the crew now had something to do! As one of them said, they train for these sort of situations and they were keen to put the training to use. Unfortunately things did not turn out well. Not long after, with apologies, the in-flight entertainment system was shut down, presumably to devote all power to the defibrillator. After a while the IFE was restored and we heard that the poor man had died. What they did with him we don't know, but when we landed in Abu-Dhabi, paramedics, doctors and police were on board and interviewing a young family who clearly had been travelling with the dead man. Very hard on them, and they looked very pale and worn-out.
After that excitement, a slightly shorter walk to the interim security check and then into the First lounge, again!