Outbound journey

Blog day 1

Friday 8th April 2022.

Our son, Steve, picked us up at the allotted time and drove us to Thorne Hill park and ride from where we were to catch the Airline coach to Gatwick. It arrived a little bit late but we were in plenty of time then we noticed it was going to Heathrow then onto Gatwick. As we had pre booked tickets we assumed we were ok, then the driver announced he only had room for one passenger. So much for pre-booking. The driver contacted his base then informed us that we were to take the next Heathrow bus and he would arrange with National Express to take us onwards to Gatwick. Whilst this was our only option we weren’t very happy as we had an appointment with the Covid test centre and I was meeting someone for the first time in almost sixty years. The Heathrow bus arrived and we boarded. We arrived at the airport’s bus station but no sign of the 210 National Express to Gatwick. We spoke to a member of staff and explained our situation and she said to leave it with her. Meanwhile I phoned the Oxford Bus company and they told us if all else fails to get a taxi and charge them, however the Heathrow lady returned to say there was a bus for Gatwick about to leave so we found it and boarded it. We made reasonable progress on the M25 bearing in mind it was the first weekend of the Easter holidays. Our hotel was at south terminal, the Covid test centre was at north. Plan A was to booking in at the hotel, dump the luggage then take the monorail to the north for the test but as we were running very late and the bus’ first stop was at the North terminal we put plan B into operation and alighted there, took the test then took the monorail to South terminal. Waited 40 mins to be then told we were fit to fly, the test was negative. At the south terminal we found the hotel and checked in. We were given our key pass and we went to our room on the fourth floor only to discover the key didn’t operate. I returned to reception collected another key and that didn’t work either. Third time lucky and we gained access. We freshened up and went to the restaurant where we waited for my friend Jan. Wow talk about memory lane. After a lovely evening we returned to our room and went straight to sleep.

Saturday 9th April 2022.

We checked out of the hotel and walked across the bridge to the South Terminal where we found the BA hub, it was heaving. We queued behind a family and when it became our turn the lady behind the counter saw Val’s stick and asked if we were “special assistance.” We replied yes so we’re told to go to the far end and register there. We walked across the concourse and discovered no one there. We were beginning to get angry again and the check in queue wasn’t getting any shorter so it was decided Bill would join the queue and Val would remain at the Special Assistance desk. After about fifteen minutes a member of BA staff came and collected Bill took him back to Val and the Special Assistance kicked in. We were taken through security then deposited in the departure lounge where we managed a snack. We were then called to be driven to the gate. Here we bypassed the queue and found our lovely seats on the plane. It took off more or less on schedule and about half an hour into the flight a Flight attendant came to us with a glass of champagne each for she told us she’d been made aware it was our belated Golden Wedding trip. It was a good flight so we we thought our woes were over, not so. We alighted the aircraft and we were quickly through passport control then we went to baggage reclaim collected our bags and cleared customs we then had to go to the main  part of the airport to exit the place. As we were making our way a friendly official suggested we sent our bags on a conveyor and he told us where to collect it. We made our way there and there was no sign of our bags nor was there anyone to speak to. After 45 minutes we were getting worried. Bill went off to find someone meanwhile it arrived. Then we had to find the transportation hub for the ride to the hotel yet another wait. We finally arrived at the resort and in the best traditions of Disney we were greeted with kindness and a smile. We deposited our luggage with the bell boys and had something to eat before being transported to our billet. It’s been a long day with plenty of trials and tribulations but now it all starts.