A different view from my window today...
Big Ben at just after 8:30 this morning.
We got to the airport at about 3:30 pm which gave me plenty of time to say a quick and tearless goodbye outside the airport and get settled in the departure lounge. Only after the plane was airborne did I shed a farewell tear or two, and I’m sure my sister did the same in the car leaving the airport. By the way I couldn't believe my luck, the seat next to me was not occupied so I could lie down across 2 seats, which is a first for me. The 6 hour flight across the Atlantic seemed shorter because they woke us up at about 4 am GMT for breakfast, so I only got about 2 hours of dozing, but better than nothing.
I arrived at Heathrow, London at about 6:25 am local time, checked one of my bags in for safe keeping and took the tube into the centre of London. I emerged at Westminster Pier to rain and temp of about 10°C. I took some pics of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, bought a ham roll and some coffee at a shop opposite the clock tower and stood out of the rain to eat it. It was too warm inside to sit there!
Because of the rain I felt there was no point in hanging around or going anywhere, so I caught the tube back to the airport. I read in one of the papers left on the tube that a British Airways aircraft had crashed at Heathrow last night. A Boeing 777 was on final approach and lost power about 500 feet above the ground. The plane crashed 16 metres inside the airport perimeter fence, ripping the underbelly open, damaging both wings and 2 wheel units were ripped off. None of the 136 passengers were seriously injured. Officials aren’t sure what caused the loss of power.
I’m sitting at the airport now entering this log. After lunch I found a place I could have 40 winks and now feel quite refreshed and ready for the next 12 hour flight to Joburg.
Not holding my breath about vacant seats though!
I arrived at Heathrow, London at about 6:25 am local time, checked one of my bags in for safe keeping and took the tube into the centre of London. I emerged at Westminster Pier to rain and temp of about 10°C. I took some pics of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, bought a ham roll and some coffee at a shop opposite the clock tower and stood out of the rain to eat it. It was too warm inside to sit there!
Because of the rain I felt there was no point in hanging around or going anywhere, so I caught the tube back to the airport. I read in one of the papers left on the tube that a British Airways aircraft had crashed at Heathrow last night. A Boeing 777 was on final approach and lost power about 500 feet above the ground. The plane crashed 16 metres inside the airport perimeter fence, ripping the underbelly open, damaging both wings and 2 wheel units were ripped off. None of the 136 passengers were seriously injured. Officials aren’t sure what caused the loss of power.
I’m sitting at the airport now entering this log. After lunch I found a place I could have 40 winks and now feel quite refreshed and ready for the next 12 hour flight to Joburg.
Not holding my breath about vacant seats though!
I don’t think there’s anything more to add here for the time being except to say thank you to my sister, her husband and two delightful boys for the wonderful time I spent with you. I love you all very much.XXXX
2 comments:
I missed your blog, you not being on m web anymore. And I don;t get notified when you answer. I'll keep popping in here tho.
Sound like your holidays were great if not extra short as always!
But it no doubt will stay with you a long time...
Travel safe back to SA, power load shedding all over the place, driving everyone crazy.
Do you work when you return or still a few days off?
lg, I'm also sorry I'm not on M-web anymore too, but they couldn't provide me with the service I required. Glad you'll visit from time to time. Power shedding? See post on Sunday. Still off for a while. Yippee.
Come on M-Web, make it possible to edit archived posts and maybe I'll come back.
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