Woke up at The Cock (no food Sunday; no breakfast Monday) before the cock crowed, after another restless night for me up at 5:30 much to the annoyance of the other traveller. Whilst there was no breakfast being served today, we did take delivery of our breakfast tray and both managed something to get us on our way. Left the hotel about half an hour earlier than expected, and made our way to Harlow Town station to get the train to Liverpool Street. Viv dropped me off and made her way back to have another visit with Gethin; can’t get too much of that I think.
Now I realise that it is seven and a half years since I last took the commuter train to London, but I must admit that I was struck with how things have changed. I only spotted one tie being worn, and suit jackets seemed a rather optional garment to wear. If I remember correctly all that time ago, whilst it was not uncommon for people to be using a mobile phone on the train, now, however, it appears as though some kind of mobile device is de rigeur for all passengers. Lots of beeping, flashing and finger shuffling the whole journey. Young lady next to me was applying make up and finger twiddling simultaneously; is that a skill or something that is taught in a training class. Of course I did resist pulling mine out, and stuck to reading my Sony Reader. Oh, and I did spot two copies of Fifty Shades of something by the way.
Walked from Liverpool Street up to Old St. roundabout and then along Old Street to my meeting. The difference between the City and Old Street is astounding. As soon as the City boundary is passed there is a notable absence of multinational corporate retailers, no Starbucks, Tesco’s, Mc Donalds mobile phone companies or anything else of that ilk. Quite a few kebab shops and ethnic retailers selling mobile phone cards for calling parts of the Indian sub-continent at bargain rates. Did a detour around to Whitecross Street, a revelation. Seems as though a traditional fruit and veg market has been replaced with very trendy food stalls selling most of the worlds ethnic food. Spotted a very elderly Turkish lady rolling out flatbreads at the back of a stall with a rolling pin that must have been as long as she was tall. Very adept she was at the rolling technique, but not so sure about the hygiene of the food preparation area, her sitting on something resembling my grandmothers pouffe, wooden board balanced on her knees.
Business sorted, another walk along Old Street and Clerkenwell to Farringdon Station with lunch stop on the way. Around about now, at exactly 12:15 to be precise I delved into the modern world with a vengeance, and attempted to “check in online”. These three simple words should strike everyone with fear. For me, it may have been a mistake. Standing outside a City University building, and using their Wi-Fi, I did make the connection through to the BA utility, but did not get to the point where the seats are chosen before I was rudely thrown off the internet A little walk along the road found a better signal, and this time I did get to the seat selection part, but unfortunately I was not able to pick seats where both the other traveller and I were seated close by.
Boarded the Brighton train at Farringdon for Gatwick Airport in order to meet my fellow traveller at the hotel as agreed. The thought then came to me that as I was going to be at the airport, and would have time on my hands, I could make a little detour and sort the ticketing issue out. This was accomplished, but not without some difficulty on the part of the BA representative who was unable to locate us both together without a call “upstairs” to sort out the problem. The lady was also of the opinion that someone, somewhere did not want us to be sat next to each other !
Arrived at Courtyard Hotel, met Viv and returned the rental car. Dinner, coffee and then up to the room by seven o’clock for an early night after another busy day.
Monday’s second revelation. The majority of service staff at Gatwick airport seem to be from somewhere east of Sheerness at least as far as the car rental company and the Marriott hotel is concerned.
Will have to get some pictures up here Tuesday.