We left Sydney on the 2010hrs Emirates flight to Heathrow vias Dubai. I was surprised to find we were on a B777 rather than the A380 that we are used to.
The B777 is becoming popular but the Emirates Business Class configuration is not as good as the A380.
The major problems are the seats are noticeably narrower, there is very limited space to put ones glasses, hearing aids earphones etc. The seating layout is 2*3*2 . While we had the two seats by the window being allocated the middle seat wouldn't be much fun. the video screen is out of reach which means you have to use the controller which isn't as convenient.
However we did have a A380 on the Dubai - Heathrow leg
The B777 is becoming popular but the Emirates Business Class configuration is not as good as the A380.
The major problems are the seats are noticeably narrower, there is very limited space to put ones glasses, hearing aids earphones etc. The seating layout is 2*3*2 . While we had the two seats by the window being allocated the middle seat wouldn't be much fun. the video screen is out of reach which means you have to use the controller which isn't as convenient.
However we did have a A380 on the Dubai - Heathrow leg
It turned out that these days Emirates have on some days two evening flights out of Sydney the earlier one being a B777.
As usual I examined the available films, not such a good selection but I did see 'In Bruges' again.
The actress Penelope Cruz was featured twice, in that about 6 of her films were available and also there was a selection of her favorite films not starring her.
The actress Penelope Cruz was featured twice, in that about 6 of her films were available and also there was a selection of her favorite films not starring her.
Arrived in Dubai pre dawn local time so heard the call for prayer broadcast through the terminal. I didn't see anyone actually on their knees.
Had about a 2 hr stopover before continuing to Heathrow arriving about 2pm. Had a slight delay in getting our luggage since a number of suitcases had been taken off the carousal and ours were at the bottom of the heap.
A lovely sunny day about 20C,
Found a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner through the recommendation of the concierge.
Had about a 2 hr stopover before continuing to Heathrow arriving about 2pm. Had a slight delay in getting our luggage since a number of suitcases had been taken off the carousal and ours were at the bottom of the heap.
A lovely sunny day about 20C,
Found a nearby Italian restaurant for dinner through the recommendation of the concierge.
Next day we spent it having a leisurely walk around Berkley Square, Burlington Arcade and the Royal Academy. Places we have been to many times nice to see the familiar haunts. Hot day for London 38C.
Found a nice dining room for dinner. This was off a laneway which turned out to be part of a new hotel, 1 Hotel Mayfair (The old Holiday Inn), Very posh but dining room had a more casual air.
Despite the weather they had a gas fire going, luckily we were not sitting near it.
Found a nice dining room for dinner. This was off a laneway which turned out to be part of a new hotel, 1 Hotel Mayfair (The old Holiday Inn), Very posh but dining room had a more casual air.
Despite the weather they had a gas fire going, luckily we were not sitting near it.
This day was our visit to Wallington to see our dear friend Margaret. You may remember we visit her every time we are in London. It is about 40 mins by train from Victoria Station.
She looks much better than she did last year but now has 24hr care and is in bed most of the time. We only stayed about an hour. Pleasant walk back to the station in 37C heat.
The Club has an outdoor courtyard which is very pleasant on a hot evening to have a bite to eat.
She looks much better than she did last year but now has 24hr care and is in bed most of the time. We only stayed about an hour. Pleasant walk back to the station in 37C heat.
The Club has an outdoor courtyard which is very pleasant on a hot evening to have a bite to eat.
So the next day was a visit to my old friend Wendy who I met when I worked in the UK in the mid '60's, She lives in the village of Marlow Bottom which of course is near Marlow. Twice now she has come up to London to have lunch with us so this time we decided to go down to her neck of the woods. This time we had to get ourselves to Marylebone Station, which was the last mainline station to be built in 1899. Very picturesque although a couple of hundred yard to get to actual carriage. We were being picked up at High Wycombe (I wonder if there is a Low Wycombe) which has a better train service than Marlow. About an hours run on the Oxford line passing Wembley Stadium.
We had lunch in the oldest pub in Marlow. Another hot day
We are now up to Wednesday which was day a spent with some SJR friends Pat & Neil who live near London. They are great art lovers so Pat had organised a visit to Tate Modern specifically to see the exhibition by Yayoi Kusama: Infinity Mirror Rooms not to mention having lunch. To get there we caught a ferry up the Thames, not your ordinary ferry but a Uber ferry, I wonder what the difference is.
The Mirror Rooms turned out to be two separate rooms each filled with mirrors and lights through which you walked. This You tube video gives you an idea
Afterwards a taxi ride to The Ivy restaurant for an early dinner.
For our final day in London what better thing to do on another hot day was to explore the new Elisabeth Line (formerly called the Crossrail), this is now open and goes across London west (Reading) to east (Shenfield). The Queen opened it in May 2022.
Initially we tried to buy a day ticket but it turned out that we could use our credit card to tap on/off. This made it very easy to get off the train and explore a number of stations. All very new looking and airy with long escalator's. We had lunch at Canary Wharf which has now been massively developed.. There is even a roof garden on top of the station complex.
A key issue occupying my mind was how to get from our Club to the port at Southampton.
I did investigate going by train (A$37 train plus taxi each end say A$40 for both) however we went the easy option a Blacklane Chauffeur car for about 5 times more, ah but much less walking, we had luggage and it was a comfortable seat!
I did investigate going by train (A$37 train plus taxi each end say A$40 for both) however we went the easy option a Blacklane Chauffeur car for about 5 times more, ah but much less walking, we had luggage and it was a comfortable seat!
In fact we got to the ship before the official loading time but they had already started to let people aboard. We had a late lunch on board.
More in the next blog
2025-02-13