October 23 - flight from YVR to LHR
Lindsay drove me to the airport. I was terrified and had taken some meds to calm me down - I'll be honest in this blog about things like that! As I got ready for security, Lindsay took my face
and said “I am SO proud of you” and we hugged “I Love you”
I went through security without any problems - unloading my laptop, phone, rucksack and jacket into the plastic bins for x-ray. Cleared without problems and then went through all the shops on that side to pass the time. Got 2 litres of water as planes are very dehydrating. Then I couldn't avoid the inevitable any longer and off I headed to the gate!
I went to the Gate D64 for AC854 to LHR and
waited about an hour.
Boarded the plane and the flight was over ½
empty. I was so nervous –
terrified. Had a couple more good meds!!
I had the whole row to myself – wonderful. The couple behind me across the aisle had a
toddler – 15 months – who cried and I chatted with them saying it must be so
hard for them. They were so relieved
that I was friendly and compassionate and we had a nice chat and
connection. Their daughter was beautiful
and so entrancing. She finally fell
asleep. It’s so hard to travel with a
child and I thought it would be so refreshing for them, and for me, to be warm
and friendly and share in their distress and worry that they’d be disturbing
others.
Got ready for take off - "flight attendants take your seats" and the flight is hurtling down the runway
and as I’ve seen on TV show, Mayday. I can imagine them say “V1 – Rotate” which means they’re
reached take off speed, can’t abort for any reason now and rotate is to pull
the nose of the aircraft into the air and up we went - without incident. I heard the landing gear close into place as I was seated over the wing and landing gear there.
After dinner, which was uninspiring but I ate it (chick peas in curry, rice, fruit salad - the tea was surprisingly good), I lay out across the seats and
managed to sleep awhile. There was a
screen in the seat back where I could watch movies or TV or the progress of the
flight. I walked around sometimes, went
back to sleep. I awoke about 2 hrs out of
London and it was light outside. We
circled awhile over LHR and landed – bumpy landing too. The flight was 1 hr ahead of schedule because of
a good tailwind. The screen showed us coming into LHR.
Walked a long way through Terminal 2 "The Queen's Terminal" through to Customs – LOOOOOONG line. Thenk it took at least 1 hr to get to the desk! We'd all had to fill out a Landing Card – various questions – Name, nationality, how long are you staying, where are you staying for contact details etc.
I went to the Customs Gent and he looked at my card – “purpose of your visit” “Pleasure” “Four ½ months – that’s a long time – what are you planning to do here?” “I’m visiting friends, taking photographs, exploring the country. I need a break from the past 3 years which have been difficult”. When’s your return flight? “March 8” “You have it booked” “Yes”. He eyed me and closed my passport and said “Well, welcome and have a good 4 ½ months”. I felt like he wasn't exactly convinced but that’s what I’m doing and I had no guilt on my face as I was honest and they’re trained to read people. So off I went to get my luggage. Grabbed that and out to arrivals where I met Harriet’s husband, Nicholas and her daughter Emily who’d kindly come to pick me up.
England greeted me with light drizzle - seemed appropriate!! Nicolas is an interesting fellow and we drove to New Malden along the Thames and through Kingston by Hampton Court and the park. It was very English and picturesque and I just LOVED it. Arrived at their home in New Malden and it was lovely to see Harriet and daughter, Abigail when we arrived at their house. Had lunch and then went for a walk with their golden Labrador, Fudge, who's lovely. Very nice evening, chatting and catching up over 25 yrs since the last time I saw Harriet. I’m sleeping in the living room on a cot and air mattress – very comfy actually.
(Sorry for the change in font - I'll have to work that out later!)
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