London Bound

Greetings Blog Pickers,
Well, It’s Tuesday morning (8.55am) and we have just arrived. As I type we are sitting on the Gatwick Express train whizzing our way toward downtown London. The train takes about 30 minutes, so I thought I would take the time to dash off a quick post.

We left Cincinnati bang on time last night at 8pm. The taxi ride was a little alarming as the driver was texting constantly, AND talking on his phone, AND using his two way radio to communicate back to base. Consequently, after whizzing through check-in we headed straight to the bar…where else! After the taxi-ride from hell, a beer was definitely in order. One thing that surprised me was how quiet the airport was. Back in my corporate days, 6.30pm would have been a very busy time with people heading back from meetings etc. I know that when I was travelling around, I would always try to be on the flights that would get me back into CVG at around 6pm or so. Not now though it seems. The airport was a shadow of its former self. Could it be a mixture of the recession and also the fact that people have wised up to the shitty service that the airlines are dishing out? After having been told that if we wanted a once free plastic bag for our checked rucksacs we would have to pay $5 each, it seems that there is no end to the nickel and diming on the skyways. Ah well….bitch bitch bitch.

Finally on board, we settled in for an uneventful flight. The flight attendant sitting opposite me was a dental hygienist by night and a trolley dolly for Delta by day. “In the event of an emergency landing follow the gleaming white teeth to the exit doors please…” After dinner and a drink, I shut my eyes for a sleep. Normally I am not able to sleep for more than 2 hours on airplanes (no idea why that time seems to be my limit), but this time, after waking up after my two, I feel back asleep again for another 3 hours. Quite a record! Arriving at London Gatwick was uneventful, and in full possession of our bags, if not our faculties, we headed out through customs after dashing through immigration. Just think, next time we do this will likely be when James has his marriage visa for when we get hitched in the UK next year. What fun! After a quick stop at the Marks and Spencer “Simply Food” for some water and chocolate biscuits (cookies in American…Chocolate biscuits? ick…..) we headed for the train.

So here we are. James has just leapt out of his skin as a train going the other way passed on the next door track. The dour lady sitting next to me just laughed at him. Perhaps I will smack her in the back of the legs as we get off the train. For those of you who love to know these things, we will be staying at the Hilton Euston, which is on Upper Woburn Place I think. I am sure you can find it online if you must. Once we get to London Victoria on this train, a quick change onto the tube will see us on our merry way. Perhaps a nap and then out into the big city! I’ll write later!

Big love to all!
D&J

PS, we just woke up from our nap, showered and are off to find some lunch. I’ll write soon!