Up, up and away!

Composing this in the hotel's Concierge Lounge. Looking out through the large

 windows at Heathrow's runways at the landing and taking off of planes.

From all corners of the world, displaying their colorful painted tails, we can

 name them being this close.

They are different from this hilarious illustration of 'flying machines' 

I found in a corridor downstairs when searching for the gym - not to exercise

 just for something to pass the time!

We're stuck at the airport hotel today.

This day, of all days, brought the greater London transportation strike.

There are no trains or subway, the busses are limited and being

monopolized by commuters requiring an alternate way to work, so our

 planned day into the city for a look about, and perhaps a bit of shopping, has

not materialized.  

You win some, you lose some!

The old plan for this day included keeping a costly pre-paid appointment

 for the required COVID test to return to the US. Thankfully that regulation

was lifted a week ago and we are hoping to have the fees refunded.

Instead, what was going to be a free day, has turned into a minor lockdown

day. We had breakfast here. We took a walk around the large hotel property,

 and will walk again later as it's a beautiful sunny day. 

Now I'm sipping Britvic Spicy Ginger Ale - "Lifting Spirits since 1938" it says

 on the bottle, it works! I'm nibbling Brontë biscuits, "Great British Biscuit

 Bakers since 1895".

Silly as it sounds, it's little things such as this that make me feel I'm really

 at home again.

Traveling to London yesterday via the National Express coach, the

 green, grass of home flew past the windows. . . . . 5 hours of great

scenery in sunshine and blue skies.

Supper last night was at the nearby Pheasant Inn pub. 

We've eaten here for many years when flying out of Heathrow as it's

just a 15 minute walk from the hotel.

This time tomorrow we should be back in Raleigh following the long

eight hour direct flight.  

I'll be back here once settled and caught up with the most

important tasks awaiting at the house. . . . . and definitely 

the garden.

It has been a wonderful trip home and I'm already planning the next one!

Raleigh to London to Dublin. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . really was a long journey, about 23 hours door to door.

Smooth flight but oh those main cabin seats - they get more uncomfortable 

every time we fly. Needless to say, little or no sleep during the 7.5 hours

aloft all night. 

But we made it and are now unpacked and comfortable in our 

bright and spacious Dublin hotel room overlooking the 

River Liffey.

At Heathrow during our layover I looked but didn't buy! 

Leaving very busy Heathrow and heading West across the Irish Sea.

Coming in for our landing in Dublin - what a perfect day for flying.

Almost too exhausted to take photos, but snapped the river outside the hotel

 before coming in to unpack and have a short little rest. . . . .lying flat rather than

 scrunched up in an uncomfortable plane seat. We'll pop out early evening for a look

 around and a light meal. The weather is absolutely fabulous - and it should remain

 this way for our entire five days here in the city. Then we'll be touring around the

 beautiful countryside south and west of Ireland. . . . . .more likely in rain.

My first Irish experience has been very nice - the welcome at the hotel was

wonderful, and a sweet Irish lass just delivered chocolates to our door.

What more can one hope for!