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!
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