Tuesday 2 July 2024
This is a rather longish post, as I had nothing else to distract me, on my way to Edinburgh. I doubt that any others will be this long. :)
I was awake at 4am and after tossing & turning until 6am, decided to get up. Shower etc and have breakfast.
Bill was up about an hour later and rather than hang around the house, I asked him to take me out to the Airport around 7:40. My booked flight, QF1434, was due for departure at 10:30am.
When I checked in I asked if there were any earlier flights to Sydney and could I be booked onto one of them. Yes there was and it was a jet, not a dash8, so I was booked onto QF1504 which was departing at 08:40. Lift off was at 08:56 ish. Around 09:15 the pilot made the announcement that because of the weather in Sydney, we were put in a holding pattern which meant that our flight won’t be landing until 10ish. I’m fine with that and am even more glad that I managed to get on an earlier flight out of Canberra because I’m assuming that later flights would also be delayed. Some photos that I won't be putting on Flickr.
We landed at 10am. I was off the plane and on a bus to the international terminal in about 10/15 minutes. Arrived there and was through security etc and in Aspire’s “The House” lounge by about 10:50.
Plenty of time before my next flight at 2:40 pm
Had a small bite to eat around midday and a glass of bubbly with the food.
I then just people and plane watched. Just before 1pm a BA plane was pulled to, what I assume is gate 53, which is where my flight is departing from.
Once I saw that the gate had opened, I left the lounge and walked to the gate. After about a 5 to 10 minute or so wait they started calling people forward to board the plane in various order. Families & less mobile people first. Then group 1, group 2 etc. I was in group 2 and once we entered the hallways leading to the plane, the previous groups were waiting. After about 2 or 3 minutes, the doors were opened and we all then proceeded to board.
My seat 6K is a backwards facing seat. I’ve sat in these before and it doesn’t worry me at all. There was a young woman, Clair, sitting in the seat next to me (forward facing) who offered to swap, if my seat made me feel funny. Apparently some people have a problem with the backwards seats.
Pushback was at 2:50. Lift off just before 3pm.
A snack & drink were delivered around 3:45 pm
and the flight attendants have also taken the orders for a light meal.
I opted for the Smoked Salmon starter
and the Pan Fried Gnocchi for the main.
Drink & snack finished by 4:15 Sydney time, just as our pre-ordered meal arrived.
That was finished by 5pm and I opted not to have dessert or cheese and bickies, as I was feeling very full.
5:10pm and we are flying over the Simpson Desert.
I have the screen on flight mode at that moment.
I decided to watch a movie. Wicked Little Letters. It was really enjoyable.
It’s now 7:15pm Sydney time and still 3.5hrs until we get to Singapore. I’m back watching the flight path. Just about to fly over Mt Lyell on the WA coast.
Around 9:15 the seat belt signs came on because of turbulence then I noticed that the plane had climbed from 38,000 ft to 40,000. Signs stayed on but the ride was much smoother.
I didn’t note the time when we landed, but I did have time to walk to the general area near the next departure gate, find my passport & boarding pass for the next flight & join the queue to head back to the same plane, which departed at 22:35 Singapore time.
I’m not having any supper & once we are airborne I plan on going to sleep. Airborne at 22:50. Didn't check my steps on my pedometer.
Wednesday July 3 2024
The flight to London is around 13 hours. As soon as the lights were dimmed I tried to sleep. I’m sure that I did get some but tossed and turned a fair bit. The first time I checked, there was still 8 hours until landing. Have been resting my eyes with the seat reclined and now only 3 hours to go.
The plane finally landed around 4:34am UK time. I made my way to the correct departure point. The gate for the flight to Edinburgh won’t be listed until about 7:45am, for an 8:35am departure, so I found my way to the BA lounge and sat watching the activities down on the ground.
Around 7:45 the departure time came up, so I started walking to the gate. A18, at the far end of Terminal 5. I had a leisurly stroll to the gate and they started boarding about 5 minutes later. 3A was the seat. The flight eventually departed at 8:57 and landed at 10:04am The pilot announced during the flight that it was cloudy, windy and showery in Edinburgh, with an expected max temp of 12c. Sounds like Canberra. :)
Luggage was on carousel 10 but just before the bags came out, it stopped. Seems that they had a mechanical problem and eventually the bags started coming out after about 20 minutes.
Grabbed my suitcase and exited, heading for the taxi stands. The first guys takes your details, as in where are you going to, how many of you, your name and the approx cost. You then walk along where the taxi's are parked and whoever wants the job, calls out your name and Bob's your uncle. My driver was a chatty Scot, who has friends in Australia. He had trouble hearing me and I had trouble hearing him, so when we came to a standstill at light, he suggested that I nip into the front passenger seat and I did. He has a grand-daughter who lives in Sydney and he's planning on visiting her next year some time. We had a pleasant chat on the way to the hotel. £38.00 and he was happy to break a £50.00.
I arrived at the hotel shortly before midday and they had a room ready for me, so I was really pleased about that. Unpacked a couple of things, had a shower and then went walking to see where I have to meet the guide for my The Dark Side Walking Tour. I eventually found it and I'm glad that I went looking during the day, as I would have missed getting there on time, if I hadn't.
At the moment, my pedometer is sitting 0n 20,683 steps. I'll update this post tonight after I've finished the walk,
Met the guide about 6:15pm and there was a group of about 20 of us. The Dark Side tour is all about the 16th century and the murderous, nasty things that went on in Edinburgh during that time. It was quite enjoyable. Had a rain shower when we were in one of the cemeteries and a very small sprinkling when we were on Calton Hill and then rain solidly for about 4 or 5 minutes after the tour was finished.
Some photos from tonight.
In the High Street
A view from Calton Hill
The Dugald Stewart Monument on top of Calton Hill.
That's it for today. Pedometer now reading 28,957 steps.
Hopefully I'll sleep like a baby tonight.
