Safe and Sound!

Checking in online was both the smartest and dumbest thing I did. It was great because when I got to YVR, I could walk right past the queue at the British Airways desk directly to the “Fast Drop.” That being said, I showed up for my flight 3 hours before. My baggage was checked in 1 minute. What to do with the other 2 hours and 59 minutes. I ate and by the time I made it to security there was still 90 minutes to go. There was NO ONE in line at security. I just breezed through and headed to the gate.

Nine hours and ten minutes after taking off from Vancouver, I landed at Heathrow Airport. The flight was non-eventful and I don’t know why I was whining about being able to use my iPod and laptop. I didn’t need them! British Airways had 18 TV channels on the plane, plus another 18 audio channels. Not to mention the handy little navy blue socks, toothbrush, toothpaste and eyeshades they give you when you sit down.

After landing at Heathrow, the first thing I noticed was the continuous flow of jets that land every 90 seconds or so. I have never seen so much air traffic in one place in my life; and I have never seen so many Boeing 747s lined up in one place either.

Heathrow Terminal 4 is probably the most gloomy airport I have ever seen. It’s like a concrete bunker with flashy advertising on the walls. Just before Passport control, I noticed a sign that said “Refugees seeking asylum must go directly to...” I was tempted. Passport control and Customs were a breeze...I stepped out into the main part of the terminal where hundreds of people holding signs with names on them waited in anticipation.

My friend Bill picked me up at the airport. I didn’t spot him right away because I hardly recognized him. He shaved his hair off!

At the car, I made that mistake that almost every North American probably makes when he first goes to the UK...I mistook the drivers side for the passengers’ side. We left the airport and Bill proceeded to weave in and out of traffic down narrow streets (at 80 in a 50 zone) on the wrong side of the road. That’s going to take some getting used to.

He took me on a quick little tour of his neighbourhood (pictured above; the street that shall be my home for 10 days) and drove me to Richmond to show me where the tube station is and so I could get a SIM card for the cheap cell phone I bought on eBay. A wonderous thing those SIM cards. For £5 they give you a local pay-as-you-go phone number. It took 2 minutes.

After that, a little trip to Sainsbury’s for some groceries. Bill insisted on cooking some Thai Curry for dinner (after a 2 hour nap) and that was pretty much my day.

Nothing hugely exciting yet. I was too jetlagged to take the train into Central London today. Not even a few pints for that matter. (Sorry Jono) All that’s the big plan for tomorrow.


(Photo: My Victorian home away from home in the Southwest Suburbs of London. Quite a young building for this city!)