Sunday, October 21, 2007

Fall trip - Glasgow Days 1 & 2

A lot of the enjoyment for me is in the whole process of research, planning, booking and finally in the shoot. (shute?)

I knew I wanted to go back to Scotland but was not sure when I could. Danielle's wedding on October 13th gave me the date to leave after. Leaving the next day, a Sunday? Yuck. As it was I slept until 10:30 that morning! So, because I wanted the cheaper morning flight, I picked the 9AM flight on Monday. Intensive Internet research, booking on line, phone calls, and I had it set up.

I still had my packing list from the previous trip, so wasn't worried about what to bring. Staying in a flat with washer-dryer makes things so easy. Also, I decided that khaki trousers and a cashmere sweater would suffice for any dressy occasion.

The wedding was great fun! I wore my silk dress (sleeveless white with black flowers, long) and my feathered hat. I looked marvelous - and I brought the rhinestone shoes. So Fab!

Next day the DeLs came over and we all were pretty tired, except Chet, who was his charming self. Cute as a button! After they left, I took a nap - evidentally not too stressed about packing. In order to motivate myself, I threw everything on the bed, so I had to finish before getting any sleep. Bing bang, done with room to spare.

I packed 4 books to read in the leftover area of my carry-on bag. I hate to haul heavy stuff and over the years have spent many GBP sending accumulated things home so I wouldn't have to lug them. Now I travel with 1 carry-on bag with wheels and a knapsack - the laptop is in a neoprene pouch in the bag.

Bed late, but after all, I was going on a plane trip - not much to do there but sit/lie down/sleep all day.

6:45AM the taxi arrived. No traffic and I was there by 7:20. Whisked to the lounge and ate a nice breakfast, made some phone calls to people's voicemails to say goodbye, then on the plane.

I started sneezing when I got on and used about 10 tissues before the flight was over. Turned down the offer of 'entertainment module', slept, woke for a truly awful Kosher breakfast (my fault, should have stuck to the regular menu) and slept. And drank lots of water, used the lav. and slept. Arrived in Stansted about 9:15pm and was in the hotel by 9:40. Ordered room service - smoked salmon salad and a beer, then a bath and sleep. My alarm went off before the wake up call, so I was awake. Shower, fresh clothes, tissues stored in pocket and down to breakfast. I only remember the coffee, oh, and yogurt and a banana and a roll and butter. Then back to room, storing more tissues strategically in knapsack, check out and a 2 minute walk to the airport. I'd done the boarding pass at home, so had time to wander after going through SECURITY. Last year it was a nightmare as every electronic device I had set off the sniffer and I had to wait 25 minutes for the supervisor to 'pass' on my stuff, and I was patted down, too. (and not by some cute guy, either).

Looking for something to dry my nose! The mini-drugstore advised some multi-flu cold product which did zilch. Glad I had the tissues. EasyJet was about 40 minutes late, but it didn't bother me. Flight was fine, landed in a blue and sunny Glasgow and hopped on the local bus which let me off about a block from the flat.

I was looking forward to Flat 12, but am in Flat 5. No big deal except that in the middle flat the bedroom is on the front and there is no cross ventilation. I may move when Christine (the Apartment Manager returns from her holiday). The flat wasn't ready so I went grocery shopping, stocking up on the necessities of life - coffee, yogurt, cheese, crackers, breakfast rolls and real butter.

I have been here since Tuesday afternoon, but feel like I never left in May. Odd, or not.

No more for now. Stay tuned!

Oh yes, my nose stopped running when I got here. Hmmmm. Very strange.

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