2012UKandUKRAINE: Home to UK, First few days

1 October 2012; Monday.

Taxi to the airport at 5pm, bit of a fright – tarrif was $20.20 – highest it has ever been, two years ago was $13! Got away from PN Airport a little late – the plane arrived late. Neil, Megan, Darius and Erin came to see us off. First day of the removal of the PN Airport departure levy. Checked out the free wifi. Pleasant flight to Auckland on the ATR-72.

Off from Palmerston north on the little ATR-72 puddle jumper.

Walk from Domestic to International – cool weather and some wind-driven light rain, but still very nice. Had some time to kill, so looked through some shops. Leisurely dinner snack at Subway. No longer have to pay the international departure levy – a woman at the Information Desk said it was phased out in 2007, yet I recall paying it in 2010. Must have been a donation!

No problems with checking in or security as our bags were checked through from Palmerston North. No free wifi at Auckland Airport but I was able to post some updates using my cell phone.

Tuesday 2nd October.

The 11:59pm flight was about 10 minutes late leaving. B777-200 NZ39 to Hong Kong and London. Seats 41A/B, seated next to a nice German lass Jeannie on her way home after a year in NZ.. An hour into the flight we were served dinner – we both had the beef casserole. Plenty of water and drinks. Smooth ride except for some lumpy air over Indonesia or New Guinea, and over the southern Phillipines. Before landing in HK (11 hour flight, arr 6:30am local) we had scrambled eggs, beans and sausage; also fruit and yoghurt. Lots of recent movies and TV. I watched Johnny English Reborn, MIB3 and some Top Gear, and amused myself with the on board GPS updates. And still managed to get in about 5 hours sleep despite the old duck in front of me reclining her seat in my face pretty well the whole trip.

Hong Kong was fine but heavy smog and/or fog. Unfortunately we were sitting in the seaward side so didn't get the view of the mountain as we landed. A very big airport. 3.5 hr wait, walking around the various shopping areas which were all open by 8am. Fout $HK is about 15c, though the pricing for items despite the 1000s of $ on stickers, as about the same for most thinks as DF in NZ. Excellent free wifi, and kiosks with charging stations also available free. Did some FB stuff, and email.

Not many folk at the terminal in Hong Kong yet - a bit early. In two hours this will be packed with the seething masses!

Early morning smog in Hong Kong.

Rosemary

Howard

Our 777-200 plane being fueled and fed for the next leg to Heathrow.

The plane was serviced and we were off again at 10:00am. 13 hour flight to LHR over Asia and the Stans. Some turbulence over the northern Himalaya region..Served lunch (I risked the chicken cannaloni and found it very good. Rose had beef stir fry with rice.) Afternoon tea was a ham cheese and tomato sandwich, and ice cream – I scored an extra after the stewardess dropped one under my seat.

I'm typing this after watching a Sherlock Holmes movie, and downloading the first batch of photos on to my laptop.

Swung in south of Moscow, crossed over Minsk, and then a quick final leg over Europe, over the Firth of Thames, up the river to Heathrow. Touched down a little late at about 4:30pm, and a very long walk from the gate to Terminal 1. Customs and entry were a breeze, no stops or questions. Rob met us. Rush hour on the M25 which has been widened since our last visit, Rob was able to maintain a good speed in the traffic.

Lovely dinner with Rob and Cathy. Packed it in about 9:00 pm and slept like a top. The travel compression knee high socks we wore coming over were very comfortable and did the job. I had no swelling which is a first! Before turning in we all had a Skype chat with Steve, Elena and Dimitri, who had earlier called Rob and Cathy a couple of times to check on our arrival.

Gramps Rob lighting up for the candle-lit soiree

3rd October; Wednesday.

Slept through till 7:00 am and woke to a fine, breezy morning.

Nice day today, slept well both of us up and about, rested and no jetlag. Amused by a couple of grey squirrels in the garden before breakfast. Visited Winmpole Hall, near Cambridge - National Trust estate once owned by Champagne Charlie, and in last private ownership the daughter of Rudyard Kipling.

Rob Cathy and Rose out front of Wimpole Hall

Rose and Howard

A view in the great hall

One of the drawing rooms

The nice gardens were out back

Cathy and Rose

The back view of the hall

Outside the walled garden

The wall was about 12 feet high, but I reckon the bunnies still get in there!

There is a working fafrm associated with the hall, with exotic animal breeds

Back home, spent a brief time with Vaan, Richard and Issie, then us oldies went out to a nice Bangladeshi Restaurant in Abootts Langley village. The meal beat us all. Confirmed our arrangements for the city tomorrow, and now off to bed at 10:30pm. Maybe I'll start the blog tomorrow?

4th October; Thursday.

The view from our bedroom window. Idyllic!

Rob dropped us of at Kings Langley station, bought day trip rail passes – Midland overland train to London Euston then to underground – Northern (black) line to Charing Cross.

Our Midland Rail train pulling into Kings Langley Station for the run to London Euston

Rose had arranged to meet Dave at Trafalgar Square at 11:30am – we were there at about 11:15.

No visit to the square complete without a pic of Nelson's Column

Coffee in Covent Garden, listening to the opera singer busker

Chatting in the sunshine. Walkabout to Covent Garden, had a coffee. More walkabouts, then tube to Knightsbridge so Rose could experience Harrods. Looked for an eating place, but couldn't find one (in the budget in Knightsbridge!) so took train back to Picadilly Circus, walked to Soho and had late lunch in a vegetarian buffet called Beatroot. Walked through Chinatown. Had a look through the National Portrait Gallery.

A couple of sweet cakes or creme puffs in ChinaTown (Rose and Dave)

David decided it was time for a beer so we wandered aimlessly looking for a suitable pub. We ended up crossing the river at the Embankment, and getting drinks at Los Iguana, a South Bank bar and restaurant – under the umbrellas outside. Natalia arrived after work. We stayed there till quarter past seven, then walked back to the station, and took the tube back to Euston where we went our separate ways.