We decided then to go down to the Lounge for a cuppa and sit in the sunshine for a couple of hours, Kyle planned to stay another hour or so then head down to his car and get home, unfortunately he had to drive through rush hour, but once he left the Manchester area it wouldn`t be too bad.
The Executive Lounge used to have it`s own dedicated check in up here on the 9th floor, but after Covid that disappeared and everyone checks in and out in the main lobby. They do have a little sitting area now and you sometimes see folks sitting there now and again, better than laying empty I guess.
As with most lounges you need a room key to access the lounge and in recent years they have added the signs explaining that children under 12 are not permitted after 4pm, it`s amazing how many we have seen over the years try to get around that very simple explanation!
The lounge at this time of day is always deserted or very, very quiet and today there was no-one else in with us which is nice to be fair, Tom makes himself a coffee and Kyle gets a hot chocolate which he said was quite nice, I`d make a tea with the dreaded teabags when I had taken some pictures.
The seats aren`t the most comfortable to be honest, but take away the back cushions and it`s better, but they`re not awful.
During the day teas, coffee and cold non alcoholic drinks are available along with some snacks, I do like a little Tonic Water so it`s nice to be able to help yourself.
It is lovely sitting with the sun blazing in on afternoon`s like these, it does get a little too hot later, they could be doing with blinds for that afternoon sun, but that lizard in me loves soaking up that heat, yes the family and friends really do call me the lizard as I adore the heat but hate cold! I thank my friend for this meme!!!
Around 3pm Kyle said he was going to head home, we had huge hugs and said we`d facetime at some point while we were away, he headed downstairs to get his parking validated and we watched as he drove off somewhat sad he wasn`t with us but time`s change and he has a fabulous life going on, albeit still just 20 minutes away from us which is perfect and we still see him a fair bit every week.
It had just been so lovely to see him today and hear everything about yesterday fresh and not a week or so later, we are so proud of him in everything he does 
He gave us a huge wave from the car park and off he went and he made it home in just over 3 hours which was ok for the time of day.
I checked my emails and saw we both had one to say online check in was available so I did mine first and it went through fine, I did Tom`s and he got a note saying it couldn`t be completed, so I had a little panic as I was worried that these flights had been messed up somehow, but this happens sometimes and it just means you`ve been chosen for an extra check tomorrow, so I stopped worrying at that point, especially since he had received the email to order his meal last week!!!! Yep, I`m a worrier.
At that we saw one of the late Virgin flights heading off, I think it was the New York flight, but nice to see their planes.
Manchester Airport has reintroduced over the last couple of years, Twilight bag drop and check in between 4pm and 8pm, but we decided not to bother with it, I like having all our luggage with us in case we need something in the cases and a couple of times we said did we think we should do it, but to be honest check in and bag drop in the morning isn`t too bad now, so we made ourselves comfy and stayed where we were.
Around 4.20 we were surprised when they put out the cold appetisers and said we could have a drink too, that was early, not that we were complaining of course and again, there were only a few of us in at this time.
It`s always a no to Blue Cheese!!!
Between us we had some olives and some of the continental meats, the proscuitto was particularly nice so I did eat a little of that over the couple of hours.
We used to always go down to the Collage Restaurant for dinner for many years, but this was plenty for us being honest as we always have a good lunch, snacking suits us better the night before our flight.
We were glad to see they were still doing Prosecco, although we do like red and white wines, the red can be heavy and the white is not very nice, so this is a nice choice. We don`t drink hard liquor the night before as the last thing we want is a bad head!!! Prosecco is perfect.
Did I just say I don`t drink hard liquor before a flight?????
They used to offer a cocktail tree, but now they come around and ask if you`d like one their offerings, I think they have three to choose from and this was something fruity, I forget what it was and it certainly wasn`t strong which was nice, and I had one and went back to the Prosecco.
Passing the time in here is just nice and relaxing, the young man looking after us was lovely and we got chatting and I mentioned a man who used to work as the restaurant manager who we had known for years then he left to go work at the City Centre hotel and we did miss him and someone told us he might be coming back, his name was Ibrahim. Gowtham smiled and said he had heard of him from a lot of people, I did wish he would come back here as he was just the nicest man, we ask every time we visit if he`s back, but sadly no.
Around 5pm they put out the hot appetisers, I admit they`re not the most flavoursome of food. The little mini pies are supposed to be beef and something but they are bland as are the samosa`s and the mozarella sticks are not something we like, so we stick to the cold offerings.
The desserts vary each time and tonight both Tom and I were happy as they had a dense chocolate cake and a lemon tart which was surprisingly nice, so we had one of each and that was enough for us to be honest.
I don`t think we take full advantage of the lounge as we don`t drink a huge amount when we`re here again, no one wants to feel bad when you`re flying but we like it and it`s a comfortable space to spend some time in rather than sitting in the room watching tv. Some do take full advantage for sure, but for the most part no one seems to ever be innebriated, they do watch what people are taking too.
It was just starting to get a little dusky outside now and I was daydreaming and staring out the window when I heard a voice say "Well hello" I looked up and there was the much missed Ibrahim!!!! He was back!
Oh my goodness, it was like seeing an old friend again and I couldn`t quite believe he was here, he said he had to go see a guest and would be back over in a minute, we were so thrilled to see him again and completely surprised!!!
The young man in the lounge had called him down and said there was a couple asking after him and could he pop up, but what he told us later was he had seen Kyle in the lobby getting his parking validated and remembered him, asked him if we were all here, Kyle explained he wasn`t staying but his mum and dad were in the lounge and we`d love to see him, so as soon as he had a chance he planned to pop up!!
We had such a good catch up and things had been so good for him over the last few years but he had always wanted to come back to this hotel and we were glad he did. I laughed and said I didn`t want to sound like a stalker but we had asked every trip about him, he laughed and said he knew what I meant.
After about 20 minutes he had to go back downstairs but we said we`d be back in September and he said he`d be here unless his day off changed, but it was so good to see him.
I thanked Gowtham too for letting him know someone was asking after him.
We sat back and I was answering some emails, one from A at the hotel saying they were looking forward to seeing us tomorrow, always ramps up that excitement!!!
We sat a little longer but a couple of the ladies were getting a bit lively, so as I got up to pick up my bag another lady spilled some red wine over me, she could not have been more apologetic as she wasn`t one of the lively ones, they had bumped her and chain reaction happens. I told her it was fine and not to worry, it would come out, I hoped, but not her fault at all.
Gowtham said if I wanted to go change he`d get it laundered and sent to our room by morning if not later tonight, so I hustled back to the room, got changed into jammies and Tom took the dress down and they said it would be back by 11pm or it could be delivered at a time of our choosing in the morning, wow, good service indeed.
He said 11 would be fine, we`d be awake but if it wasn`t ready then anytime after 5.30am would be good.
Back in the room we ordered a pot of tea, better than smashing a tea bag in a cup with the fake milk they offer in rooms and it arrived within 15 minutes, so we sat back with a proper cuppa and watched something or other on tv while on our devices at the same time, nice relaxing evening.
At 10.45 we did think of putting the light out, and just at that the door was knocked and it was my dress, cleaned and ironed too and I was happy the red wine stain came out. I asked if the cost would be put on the room or did I pay it seperately, they said no charge which was darn decent of them so the lady got a good tip for her trouble.
I decided as it was sparkling clean I`d wear it tomorrow, save me rustling through deciding what to wear for the flight, sorted!!
We then brushed our teeth and put the light off hoping we`d sleep, but at this point, we weren`t convinced that would happen, we had set every alarm possible, just in case!!! But, the night before we fly is never the easiest night to fall asleep......
Flight day up next 
but, anyway I was talking about how the dressing I had made didn’t have enough garlic and too much lemon juice, anyway, I leaned my elbow on the table for a minute and fell asleep mid sentence for about 15 seconds!!
actually not too bad, we have 52F right now but a massive high of 60F this afternoon……we’re being spoiled 
This camera moved around rather than being set like last year, so if they zoomed in or moved the camera away, we could have missed him, but we got lucky. 
Carol’s fabulous trip report has begun! 
Brenda
