The Rovers Return - 20 years and counting - Part 2

BONZO

<font color=660066>Has been known to go off topic!
Joined
Feb 16, 2001
Messages
2,100
Thursday 7th August

Airport and flight to Orlando

Cast List

Me: No introduction required, I suspect most of you know me by now!
DW: Long suffering DW of the above
Alex: 15 - Coaster and Disney freak
Laura: 13 - Style queen


After a reasonable night’s sleep for all of us, despite the tremendous storm raging all around overnight, we awoke early to shower, get dressed and check out. There was a slight delay with the shuttle (it turned out that they had loads of people for 7.30 so the first lot went on the hotel shuttle, and the rest of us (9 I think) went in a large people mover booked from the local taxi firm.

We were dropped off at the North Terminal first and into the airport proper. We went straight to the First Choice check in which was all very quick and easy, there wasn’t much of a queue at all – for either class. We were assigned seats 1A and B and 2A and B. Never had first row before! Anyway onto far more important things – breakfast! :d:

We thought we’d check the list of places to eat but SHOCK! HORROR! – there were no leaflets (to show food options landside and airside). :nonono:

We definitely picked these up before so we accosted one of the greeters who told us to speak to airport information down stairs. After a brief chat that went the lines of “yeah well, there’s the Bush Pub that’s closed, then there’s the continental sandwich bar, but Health and Safety shut that down, then McDonalds used to be there but that’s gone now too…..and so it went on until he said, “Your best bet is airside mate..” :confused2

So, we took his advice and went through passport control only dispatching Laura’s eye make up remover in a 150ml bottle as the only casualty. (Quite why she needed this in her hand luggage I’m not sure…but never mind).

And so to breakfast, always a disappointing part of the day at Gatwick in my book, either sub-standard food, poor service, high prices or a combination of all three. Sure enough, this year didn’t fail to live down to my expected standards! ;)

For a change we ate at Yo Sushi! which was slightly bizarre – ok, we didn’t have all the cold fish and rice but they’d jumped on the breakfast bandwagon and had what seemed like a fair selection of stuff and there was no queue here as opposed to the heaving masses at Garfunkles. I must have been the unlucky one as my offering was lukewarm and tough as boots! Ho hum – I may as well stick to tea and toast next time.

Everyone else enjoyed their breakfast though, and it was quite bizarre sitting watching the plates of raw fish going round while we tucked into eggs, bacon, sausage etc.

Me – Full English, tea
Alison – Scrambled eggs and toast, coffee
Alexandra – Full English, OJ
Laura – Full English, water

Total cost £26

We met up with some friends of ours (yes we do have some you know!), not really by choice but more by “happy coincidence” as they were on the same flight but only going for a week.

I moseyed over to the duty free booze area (as you do) and low and behold my guardian angel was looking over me as the Pimms and single malt sampling stands were being assembled.

Seemed rude not to indulge really after all the trouble they’d gone to ;)

Spent a while chatting to the malt whisky lady who was a spitting image of the South African perfume woman from The Fast Show complete with foundation chinstrap!

One of our friends decided to get a sample of the Pimms and give it to his 16 year old daughter on the quiet. Shortly afterwards, Mrs Malt whisky comes over and demands to know the age of his daughter. Sheepishly he said 18 but I think all concerned knew the real answer much to everyone’s embarrassment.

So, the moral of the story is don’t waste good booze on kids when there are perfectly good adults around! :thumbs-up

We pottered about shopping etc – the girls bumped into a friend from the swimming club so they had a chat for a while, but we were really just marking time until we could get on the plane.

Boarding etc was very smooth and we enjoyed turning left into the Star Class premier area of the plane and into seats 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B – right up the pointy end and in the back pocket of the pilot!

Alison and I sat in front of the girls and the extra leg room in the front row was lovely, and we finally took off about 20 minutes late at 11.50.

P1010389.jpg


Cheeky girls take to the plane

The flight was smooth and uneventful. I didn’t watch any films or any of the TV but Alison and the girls did, on and off. We also spent a bit of time chatting to our friends who were sat not far from us. We all really enjoy the games on the FC flights especially when you play against other passengers and challenge people at battleships! It passes the time so quickly.

Onboard menu

Starters:

Smoked salmon and cheese pinwheel with mixed salad

Mains:

Beef, roast potatoes, broccoli, and carrots
Chicken breast in a tomato sauce, sugar snap peas and courgettes
Herb filled raviloli (with a vegetarian starter)

Extras:

Fresh bread and butter, cheese and crackers, Lily O’Brien’s chocolates

The food was excellent (for aeroplane food)

The plane landed at the appointed time (4.10pm) having made up a little bit of time on the inbound journey.


There will be lots of pics as the reports go on, to be honest I've enough shots of airport lounges, aircarft cabins etc to last me a lifetime!
 
Great Start :)

I didn't know Yo Sushi did breakfast!

Looking forward to more!
 

Great start, looking forward to more. :)
 
love reading your report it is so descriptive.


susan
 
Excellent Shaun-you have me laughing at your witty remarks :thumbsup2 .Food sounded quite nice.x.
 
Lovely start. Those seats looked nice in the plane. Breakfasts at the airport are horribly expensive for what you get.
 












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