Friday, 28 June 2019
Nottinghamshire, UK
I’d like to say I had a good night’s sleep.
But no.
What with a twitching left leg. My neighbour repeatedly breaking wind. What you would call in the school playground an ‘SBD’. Silent. But. Deadly. And being quite a hot cabin. Sleep is not forthcoming.
Actually land at 0430hrs body clock time. 1230hrs UK time. Probably an hour’s light sleep at most. Wake (and I use the term loosely) about 40 minutes from landing. Over Manchester. The UK looks hot.
Fly over Windsor Castle on final approach. Looks magnificent.
Ah yes.
This is England.
Land on time. Given my grumpy ogre state, you can imagine how much I’m looking forward to Heathrow Hell.
Last time I flew into Heathrow, took one hour to get into my own country. Such were the long queues at passport control. Don’t even get me started about border control officers.
When I’m dictator.
Disembark aircraft. Psyching myself up for another sodding hour of queuing.
Well, dear reader, you can imagine my absolute delight when it takes, literally, one minute to go through passport control.
The reason.
E-gates.
Lots of them.
Welcome to the future.
Scan passport.
Look at camera.
Open sesame.
Welcome to the UK.
15 whole minutes from stepping off aircraft and stepping onto the Heathrow Express to London.
A record.
Previous record was twenty minutes from stepping off aircraft and in a taxi at Newark Airport in New York. I know. Surprising isn’t it.
Bliss.
This isn’t Heathrow Hell.
No.
This is Heathrow Heaven.
Further fifteen minutes into Paddington. Short walk to taxi. Jump in waiting taxi.
Glorious blue sky day. London looks fantastic.
Taxi makes it to Kings Cross in time for a 1406hrs train to Newark.
Train is the brand new Azuma. 21st century carriages rather than the usual 1970s rolling stock I’ve suffered in the past.
English countryside looks awesome.
A very green and pleasant land.
Taxi waiting at Newark.
Straight home.
Everything has gone super smoothly. Swimmingly. In fact. Most unusual.
When I normally land in the UK after a great trip, it’s usually cold, wet and generally dreadful. And I get exceedingly grumpy.
But not this time.
England is looking good. Travel and transportation are on the up. Weather is stunning.
Who needs Europe.
Meet my house sitter. Early 50s but as she’s very young looking keep telling her she looks like an 18 year old.
From behind.
It’s a running joke we have. One that’s been going nearly twenty years.
Only four things I have to do now.
Much needed shower, Chinese take away, beer and an evening watching Glastonbury.
Great end to a long day.
Not the final blog post though…
One response to “188. Heathrow heaven”
Iain, I have read your blogs avidly. I shall miss them. Not just informative (Yes, I learnt a lot) but often made me LoL. Count me in, as a blogee(?) on your next expedition.
Hope the return to England is not too traumatic. The news is much the same as when you left!
Perhaps see you up a ladder at LMT at some stage. Stepping Out is the end of season offering and inevitably it’s almost sold out.
Happy landings and all good wishes and thanks for your blogs. Marcus