Doesn’t appear to be sustainable, even at the inflated prices they are charging.
Doesn’t appear to be sustainable, even at the inflated prices they are charging.
I haven't been visiting TD much lately. Found other things to occupy time with.
Home brew is still good - lots of supply. Before the latest lockdown here (Aug 6) the govt gave a few days notice, so I was able to stock up on Tanduay rhum - I like to mix it with fruit juice during evenings.
Nothing much going on in my end, still WFH. It's tough to do interzonal travel here, so just staying put until the situation gets better. Cheers!
@mendip - Hope you got to your destination safely.
Thanks Katie! it was all going OK until I got to Oslo...
The Bangkok - Frankfurt flight was maybe 20% full so I got a middle row of 4 seats to myself, and had a lot of choice over which row of 4 to take. The food on Lufthansa is now awful... I would say as bad as KLM but on the plus side they provided metal cutlery so at least I added to my spoon collection.
Frankfurt was quiet... I still get surprised by having my passport stamped on entering Schengen and no way will it last 10 years before being filled up... thanks Boris. The one noticeable thing for me at Frankfurt (and Oslo) is that everyone now wears face masks... I remember when I arrived in Europe for my work trip a year ago there was barely a mask to be seen.
I had a 1 hour 45 minute connection at Oslo before my last flight to Kristiansund... normally no problem but Covid has changed all that (and Brexit of course).
There were huge queues at immigration due to the checking of Covid vaccine certs/immunity certs/negative test results, along with compliance in filling out online registrations forms, etc etc. My British passport now gets me into the 'All Passports' queue... along with the families of Syrian and Eritrean refugees... it was mayhem and the time soon started ticking away... (ya wanker Boris).
You have to pick up your checked bags at Oslo to clear customs before taking any onward domestic flights. After eventually clearing immigration and picking up my bag there was now a new station to go through before exiting through the Green channel... you now have to take a Covid test on entering Norway, my second in two days. They give you a code and then inform that they will send through a text message with another code and a link to a website to access your results. I was promised a 20 minute turnaround which was very tight... but you're not allowed to board your onward flight without a negative test result. I duly took the test, exited through customs, dragged my bag up to the next level and dropped it off for my Kristiansund flight. The guy at drop off told me not to hang around because my gate, B1, was a long way off and it was tight.
Of course security was mobbed... everyone had been delayed and no-one was allowing any pushing in. I nearly got through and then this complete tosser of a security guard insisted on putting my bag through the machine a second time...
While I was waiting I looked up... gate B1 was closing.
I eventually got my bag back.... and while shambling off to the gate my phone beeped... I had my code, so was trying to enter in the two codes on the move (not quite a run) and eventually managed... a negative result... so all good, I just needed a bit of luck. And then I suddenly realised that my carry on bag was feeling very light. I looked inside and realised that the complete wanker of a security guard hadn't put everything back inside. I had to turn back... and Gate B1 was a bladdy long way from security and I had a sweat on by this stage. When I got back to security there was a tray with half of my stuff sitting at the end of the conveyor belt... lucky no-one had taken it because it included my document wallet with second passport, Seaman's book, etc etc.
The screen still said 'Gate Closing', so I had a chance... but as I approached the bladdy gate which was a good 400 metres from security my plane was just backing out.
Bastard!
Bon voyage... fukkos.
I now have to wait 7 hours for the next flight and I'm knackered. I won't get to the hotel until approaching midnight and have an early start tomorrow because we British now have to report at a police station before going offshore... but I can't blame that on Covid... that one's down to Brexit. Thanks Boris you wanker.
There's not a lot of enjoyment in travel these days.
Bloody hell Mendip!
Ouch Mendy..... appears to be an eventful start to your trek back to work....
Disaster.
Boris can go die in a fire.
Need to publish this carry on in Scotland before IndyRef2!
They're having an independent enquiry into the handling of COVID in Scotland - that should be interesting.
As supposed to an international enquiry?
I don’t miss those tight turn arounds and airport queues…
^ To be honest the spoon was scant compensation for such an awful journey and besides, I've already got few Lufthansa spoons. But I guess it's always nice to get another for swaps.
That was potato salad with lettuce and was probably the best part of the meal, apart from the Kit-Kat of course.
After a very bumpy flight up from Oslo to Kristiansund we exited the plane to torrential rain and a gale. Not the best of pictures but you get the idea.
I'll wager I was the only person standing around in plastic slippers and a short sleeved shirt.
I finally dumped my bags down in my Kristiansund hotel room at 11:30pm, 34 hours after I left my Sukhumvit hotel. This is what 100 quid a night gets you in Norway... it's a bit grim but I'm only staying for a few hours.
Two things are bothering me now... firstly, despite being fukken knackered it's now 5am in Korat, my body clock is waking me up and I think sleep will be hard to find and secondly, it's blowing a hooley outside and I'm going to sea for the first time in 11 months tomorrow... I'm worried it could take a few days to get my sea legs back and I'm not looking forward to it.
But that's a worry for tomorrow... the journey is nearly over, my bandages stayed on and my toes feel good. I have to put on proper shoes in the morning and I think it'll be OK.
You’re completely mad. I always carry a heavy coat with me so I can put it on at the airport!
I thought they would have invented a medicine to cure jet lag by now. It can be very discomforting.
Before one of my Thailand trips , I started going on Thai time 2 days before my trip. Maybe it helped a little. But I was still overly exhausted and foggy for awhile.
Btw that airplane pasta looks delicious
Last edited by Backspin; 25-08-2021 at 08:44 AM.
Can't wait for Mendy's return in his Proper Jesus slippers......
There are currently 2 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 2 guests)