December fun is back!!!

[Joelist]

Barring freak events, I will be flying into Heathrow taking off from O Hare in Chicago December 12th for a redeye that touches down at 6am on December 13th. Some fun time roaming the countryside then off to Southampton where I meet come friends for a fun pub nite at The Grapes. Then back to my hotel than the next day off to the docks to board RMS Queen Mary 2 for the trip home!

 

[Joelist]

Working with a Travel Agent for the first time ever on this and already have benefits - like getting me on British Airways Business Class (Club World) for same price as American Airlines Economy Plus. Global Entry updated and I have to complete setting up Clear (which I got for free).

 

[Joelist]

Well today is flight day! I'll be heading out soon to get to the airport then it's off to the UK!

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Well today is flight day! I'll be heading out soon to get to the airport then it's off to the UK!

Nice! Have a safe flight!

Is the idea to then take a boat back from the UK to good ol' USA?

 

[Joelist]

Yup!

 

[Atlantis]

Well today is flight day! I'll be heading out soon to get to the airport then it's off to the UK!

Enjoy the line on the welfare/unemployment benefits as soon you get off from the plane lol

 

[Joelist]

Actually the flight was a dream - British Airways was magnificent. Alas the baggage crew at Heathrow were not and it took over 2 hours to get my luggage. To add injury to insult I got blindsided by a handicapped motor carrier and went down hard on the hip I injured decades ago. More time wasted as NHS checked me out and I filed a complaint with Heathrow. Stonehenge succeeded anyway as English Heritage went above and beyond with a helper and scooter on their own initiative to help my gimped self around. Hotel was also okay and the ship so far is superb.

View attachment IMG_0501.jpeg

 

[Lord Ba'al]

Actually the flight was a dream - British Airways was magnificent. Alas the baggage crew at Heathrow were not and it took over 2 hours to get my luggage. To add injury to insult I got blindsided by a handicapped motor carrier and went down hard on the hip I injured decades ago. More time wasted as NHS checked me out and I filed a complaint with Heathrow. Stonehenge succeeded anyway as English Heritage went above and beyond with a helper and scooter on their own initiative to help my gimped self around. Hotel was also okay and the ship so far is superb.

View attachment 35880

Hope you're alright with the hip and all.

Do you go to Stonehenge every year?

 

[Joelist]

Not every year on Stonehenge. I originally had more stops planned but was so gimpy it had to be cut short after Stonehenge.

The voyage has been mostly grand. Me hobbling has changed some of my strategy but I adapted, and stretching exercises plus measured walking has helped a lot in dealing with the injury (diagnosis bruised hip flexor). It's been worthwhile.