Saturday, we head out for two weeks in Spain (staying with the other halves family).
To be honest, I could do with a bit of a break, although it has ended up landing while we are really busy in terms of work, etc - so very much looking foward to it.
Will attempt to write at least 1-2 blog posts while we are out there (most likely whinging about how rubbish the journey has been, or how pants something at Gatwick is). Will also endeavour to smuggle back some sunshine in the luggage.
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Sometimes I wonder..
.. why I bother?
Yesterday, day in London to see clients. That part of it was great. The travel part was not.
The following things were crap, and annoyed me:
1. FlyBE (Fly MayBE?) flight from Jersey to Gatwick delayed by approx 30 mins because of a flat battery.
2. Gatwick "Express" was not very express, and delayed me a further 30 mins because the first train was broken, and the second was just plain slow (it got overtaken by a normal 'South West Trains' one - and they go really slowly as we all know).
3. Gatwick Express back to Gatwick was not express either. Oh well - just badly named and overpriced as usual!
4. When I got to Gatwick, the flight said 'Gate opens, 19:35' - this was a bad sign, as departure was supposed to be at 19:30. Eventually left around 20:45, landed at 21:20. Gave up on the idea of waiting 25 mins for a bus and got a cab.
The only bits which worked out well for me, really were: The London Underground (shocking as that is), the walking bits (even more shocking, as I normally get lost when left to my own devices), and the very nice cabbie, who knew my dad - this is quite common in Jersey, as my old man was a copper and then a cabbie - most people encounter one, the other or both at some point!
Grr. Stupid FlyBE. Stupid Trains.
Yesterday, day in London to see clients. That part of it was great. The travel part was not.
The following things were crap, and annoyed me:
1. FlyBE (Fly MayBE?) flight from Jersey to Gatwick delayed by approx 30 mins because of a flat battery.
2. Gatwick "Express" was not very express, and delayed me a further 30 mins because the first train was broken, and the second was just plain slow (it got overtaken by a normal 'South West Trains' one - and they go really slowly as we all know).
3. Gatwick Express back to Gatwick was not express either. Oh well - just badly named and overpriced as usual!
4. When I got to Gatwick, the flight said 'Gate opens, 19:35' - this was a bad sign, as departure was supposed to be at 19:30. Eventually left around 20:45, landed at 21:20. Gave up on the idea of waiting 25 mins for a bus and got a cab.
The only bits which worked out well for me, really were: The London Underground (shocking as that is), the walking bits (even more shocking, as I normally get lost when left to my own devices), and the very nice cabbie, who knew my dad - this is quite common in Jersey, as my old man was a copper and then a cabbie - most people encounter one, the other or both at some point!
Grr. Stupid FlyBE. Stupid Trains.
Tuesday, 23 September 2008
Noone expects the Spanish Inquisition!
Not entirely true - we do. Often at least once a year!
The (future) in-laws are staying, which is fine - they're lovely really. The main thing which has struck me about this visit is the amount of time which has been spent watching TVEi (international Spanish TV).
They've come a really long way, and it has been tricky to even get them to pop out for a walk!
The (future) in-laws are staying, which is fine - they're lovely really. The main thing which has struck me about this visit is the amount of time which has been spent watching TVEi (international Spanish TV).
They've come a really long way, and it has been tricky to even get them to pop out for a walk!
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Avoid passport control queues with IRIS
If you travel frequently in/out of the UK (via Heathrow/Gatwick), and don't always take luggage, then this may be of great interest to you.
Next time you fly, you can submit to an iris scan (well, a photo), which then allows you to use the "Fast Track" lane at border control - where a camera scans your face and eye, rather than the standard queue and passport examination.
When I came back into the country this weekend, there was no queue at the automated terminal - the one chap who I saw use it passed the huge queue which I was trapped in, and in a few seconds was back in the UK. I had to wait another 20 mins to get through.
Of course, I still had to wait for nearly an hour for my bags to show up, but thats a different story!
Next time you fly, you can submit to an iris scan (well, a photo), which then allows you to use the "Fast Track" lane at border control - where a camera scans your face and eye, rather than the standard queue and passport examination.
When I came back into the country this weekend, there was no queue at the automated terminal - the one chap who I saw use it passed the huge queue which I was trapped in, and in a few seconds was back in the UK. I had to wait another 20 mins to get through.
Of course, I still had to wait for nearly an hour for my bags to show up, but thats a different story!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
