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Published: August 31st 2014
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Sandown Pier
Lovely sunny day! Hi everyone from deepest darkest Southampton, famous for the Titanic and Jane Austen!
To tell the truth, it’s very sunny and bright-the British summer is still in full swing. Not to mention that we are still wearing warm jackets!
The flight from Singapore to Heathrow was unpleasant which was to be expected.
We had a 5 hour layover at Changi and spent that in the Skyview Lounge similar to QANTAS club. . On this trip I have discovered the world of pay per use airport lounges. The only requirement is that you have to have an onward flight. So for $85, we spent 5 hours in a quiet place with comfy chairs, showers, nice food and pleasant wine. It was well worth the money.
So after having been on the move for 15 hours without sleeping, we wandered off to board our flight and yet another security check. Somehow, I’m not sure how I drifted over to the other side of the security conveyor belt to make sure we got our stuff organised properly. Things were a bit shambolic as we were so tired. So there I was merrily pushing stuff down the conveyor belt when I
Lunch at the beach
Jetlag for lunch! looked up and found myself shoulder to shoulder with the security guard!
Fortunately he was tolerant of silly Australian passengers and I heard him say something amusing as I ran around to the right side. Peter reckoned I looked like something out of Benny Hill as I scurried away. Fortunately everyone was laughing uproariously including the security guard. Peter and I nearly wet ourselves laughing. So in a jolly mood, or perhaps it was sleep induced hysteria we boarded the plan.
The flight was packed and for the first time on my travels, I had an attack of claustrophobia. I managed to escape my seat and sit in the jump seat at the back of the plane. I wanted to stay there the whole flight but they kicked me back to my seat and fortunately the Valium kicked in. I don’t remember much until I was served a science experiment disguised as breakfast. I spent several minutes wondering about how cabin pressure turns eggs into indescribable yellow stuff. I’m sure you've all had that inner dialogue.
We travelled by National Coach from the airport to Southampton and it was more comfortable and cheaper than the train. British
trains can be lucky dip from awesome to awful so we were very glad to have avoided the gamble.
I have finally emerged (this morning) from a bad bout of jet lag. Peter was in much better shape than me fortunately. Despite feeling like a dead dog, we went to the Isle of Wight yesterday. We caught the Red jet across (25 minutes) and travelling everywhere by bus, spent a pleasant day looking at the sights and shops of the island.
Stupidly, Peter and I had imagined a quiet relatively uninhabited island. Dead wrong, it is highly built up and very busy place. Home to the poets Swinburne and Tennyson and to Queen Victoria, who had a summer residence at East Cowes, the island has a strong maritime tradition including boat building, the manufacture of flying boats, the world's first hovercraft, and the testing and development of Britain's space rockets.
You might recall hearing about the Isle of Wight Festival which in 1970, was the largest rock-music event ever held. It was called Britain's Woodstock and featured Jimi Hendrix and The Who. Not so much peace or quiet that week. Apparently there is Jimmy Hendrix statue on
the island. Maybe that was where the funny smelling smoke was emanating from?
We deposited ourselves in a café overlooking the seashore at Sandown and enjoyed a lovely lunch watching the Brits enjoy the beach i.e. brave the cold water. Yes, it was a bright sunny day but that water looked like it could be used in an “ice bucket challenge”. After a glass of sav blanc and a pint of local beer we treated ourselves to a stroll on the Promenade, making our way to the Sandown Pier. It had recently been restored and looked great from the outside. I don’t know why we expected something elegant and tasteful but the pier housed an amusement park with pinball machines etc..
So here it is Sunday morning before our cruise. It’s a gorgeous day and I’m finally almost free of the headache I’ve had for several days. Win!!!!
We leave this afternoon bound for Iceland and Norway. Our ports of call are: Reykjavik, Iceland; Akureyri, Iceland; Trondheim, Norway; Alesund, Norway; Olden, Norway; Stavanger, Norway; Southampton, England. We are on the same ship as last time, Adventure of the Seas. We've booked almost the same cabin and I can’t wait to get in there and fling myself on the bed and then rush out to the balcony to see what’s going on.
Will talk to you again from Iceland which hopefully has no hurricanes or lava flows from the volcano.
love pj and Sandy
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Sandra
non-member comment
Vacation
Sandra So very glad you are feeling a lot better, I'm sure that you will both have a great time on the cruise, Thanks for the update on your trip, Wow could imagine what you felt like at the airport. Couldn't help but laugh at just the thoughts of it. I see that you like the same wine as your aunt. Lots of love Auntie Sandra & Carmen