BAA Gatwick responds

I received a reply from BAA Gatwick with an explanation to Sundays "fun". Well, once again life is a beach and then you swim ;)

"Thank you for your feedback received via our website.

I was very sorry to learn of the inconvenience you were caused on Sunday March 28th with your Easyjet flight landing in the wrong terminal and then the confusion caused when you finally arrived in the North Terminal.

As you are probably aware, EasyJet is a low-cost carrier. In order that their aircraft ground turnaround times are kept to a minimum there are occasions when the arriving aircraft will be parked at the terminal where it is next planned to depart from.

Although I appreciate your flight operated from the North Terminal, it must be considered that on this occasion the aircraft was due to depart from the South Terminal on its next rotation, hence it was necessary for passengers on the inbound flight to wait for a bus transfer to the North Terminal. I can only apologise that on this occasion the driver took you to the wrong terminal and you had to make your own way to the North Terminal.

I understand that although this appears to be an airport issue, however it is something that you would need to take up with EasyJet if you wish to pursue the matter further.

I was pleased to hear that you were able to resolve the two issues with help from the traffic warden and a member of terminal management staff.

In closing I am sorry that you have had cause to complain on this occasion. Nevertheless feedback is important to us and I am grateful to you in bringing this matter to our attention."

Finland trip in pictures

F*%$"ing Gatwick!

Yesterday the flight home was on time, no little monsters screaming on the plane and Easyjet staff was friendly and efficient. Then we land to Gatwick and that is where the "fun" started.

We were kept in the plane waiting to get off for 20 minutes after which we finally boarded a bus and headed to the terminal. Straight to the passport queue and then to wait for our bags. 6 flights appeared on the board but not mine but I patiently kept waiting until after 30 minutes a voice over the loud speaker advises people from Easyjet flight 8966 from Helsinki to approach a information desk at the baggage claim hall.

There a gentleman told us that were were actually in the SOUTH terminal and not in the North terminal where our bags were. You can imagine how pleased I was to hear this 23.30 in the evening!! I then legged through the South terminal arrivals and boarded the shuttle buss which took us to the North Terminal where the information desk was naturally closed at the arrivals hall and not a soul to advise us on how to get the bags from that terminals baggage claim. I then cornered the first official looking worker in a high visibility jacket which stated that he is a traffic warden from outside. But he was a treasure and called the terminal "fixer" who turned up moments later.

She then had to take us passengers (about 30 give or take) 6 at the time through the security checks to get us to the baggage claim hall where I spotted my lonely suitcase at the end of a carousel and I just crabbed it and left but I did say thank you the "fixer" lady as she had been brilliant, but at the same time I wanted to go and yell at the nincompoop bus driver who took us the the wrong terminal in the first place. You can just imagine the email BAA Gatwick management is going to receive from me. *shaking my head*

I made it home finally in the wee hours of the morning and just died in my bed. I am still off today, which is nice as I would of been way too knackered to go to work.

All good things...

...come to an end. I have really enjoyed my stay here in Finland and weather, friends, food and drink has been most excellent.

Alas, onwards and upwards and to the airport in about 4 hours time and back in the Old Blighty around 22.45 in Gatwick where a taxi will be waiting for me. Still off work tomorrow and few chores to do. Life is good :)

Finland Friday

Friday went by in a hangover haze. We managed to get to bank, shops (new underwear) and did all the food shopping for tonights dinner (with Kirsi) and tomorrows lunch with Dad-Heavy and Mum-Heavy. In the evening we pulled our selves together and headed to the town to Perkele Bar where we met with Melina and assorted motley crew. Alas, we were not quite up to a full scale session after previous days excesses and made our excuses just after midnight and came home.





Tonight Kirsi will be over for a dinner and few beverages and we can proceed to walk down alcohol fuelled proverbial memory lane. Good times!

Finland - Estonia - Finland

Heavy met me at the airport Wednesday evening with cold Lonkero and we came home to chill. Then yesterday morning we headed to Katajanokka, met with "the sisters" and boarded the Viking XPRS and headed towards Estonia over the Baltic sea. Lonkero was going down nicely and we watched some karaoke renditions of Finnish classics by various people including "the sisters" who were in a fine voice.

Tallinn was beautiful and the weather gods gave us uninterrupted sunshine. I bought a new handbag and a T-shirt before we stopped to have steak for lunch with lashings of Lonkero. Not a bad loking little town.

Back on the Viking XPRS the karaoke fever gripped "the sisters" and some other travellers and Heavy and I showed our support from behind the Lonkero glasses.

In Helsinki we headed to PataÄssä bar in Mariankatu where we were dancing "old school" Finnish style with various partners wich was fun. Of course there was karaoke and "the sisters" kept singing the night away.



This morning we are feeling somewhat fragile but we need to get our heads in gear for the Perkele bar tonight and no doubt there will be more Lonkero. Good times!

Going to Finland

Suit case is packed, passport and other traveling docs are in my handbag, MP3 player charged and I am good to go back to the land of my ancestors. My Easyjet flight will get to Helsinki 20.15 tonight (if there are no delays!) and Heavy will be there to meet me. I hope there is a cold Lonkero stashed in the glove compartment of her car for me ;)

Tomorrow morning we are off to Tallinn Estonia, Friday night there is a gathering at the Perkele Bar with Melina and assorted motley crew, Saturday dinner with friends at Heavy's and Sunday some more friendly people for lunch before I have to fly home in the evening.

I will update the blog if I have time in between all the merriment. Good times!

Greek economy

I found this cartoon by Ilias Makris ever so funny in today's Katimerini.

This summer?

The predictions for weather this summer are coming thick and fast and there is a promise of a scorcher. Well, I believe it when it actually happens, but here is one prediction.

The PWS forecast is:

JUNE: Starts with fine weather. Rain mid-month but temperatures warm to very warm. Changeable later in month with fine conditions although some heavy rain to finish.

JULY: Starts unsettled with some rain, then dry through mid-month with warm to very warm temperatures, lots of sunshine and light breeze. Humid towards end of the month with thunderstorms and possible flash floods.

AUGUST: Thunderstorms quickly replaced by unbroken sunshine which may cause record temperatures. Warm mid-month but broken up by unsettled periods. Good weather towards month end before showery, cooler conditions move in.

Blondie scores!

Today (the blondie of the team) Eidur Gudjohansen finally got my blessing in my beloved Spurs by scoring against Stoke and keeping us in precious no.4 in the Premier League. Good stuff! Love me, Love my team ;)

Travel preparations

This week has flown by with semi hard crafting at work and early nights followed by bright early mornings. This weekend will be quiet and I am filling my suitcase slowly for the forthcoming trip to Finland next week. Poor Heavy has managed to mangle her back muscles but I hope she will be drinking fit by Thursday when we cruise on the MS Viking XPRS to Tallinn Estonia with another friend.

The holiday in Alykes Zante is also nearing with mere 65 sleeps to go. I received a letter from Thomson yesterday that they changed our flight time to there to stupid’o’clock instead the original afternoon time. Heavy is flying over here previous day from Finland with Easyjet to Gatwick and we decided to book a hotel there at the airport for the night, so that we will be there ready for the stupid’o’clock flight the next morning. Fingers crossed that they don’t make any more changes to the flight times!

Weekend

Gorgeous lazy weekend! Nothing much has happened but my body and mind have got plenty of rest and weather has been rather nice. It is almost time to start messing around in the garden as well. This year I will plant sweet peas and Mr S will get on with spuds etc. and Min is in charge of the herbs so we should get a decent produce sometime later this year.

Let's Dance for Sport Relief provided the biggest laugh of Saturday night when Rufus Hound went and won the competition. He was as overwhelmingly good dancer and strangely attractive as Robert Webb was last year. Good stuff!

The Baseballs are in town

The cute German vorsprung durch technik of vocals and harmonies The Baseballs are in town tonight. They play their gig around the corner from my work tonight. I did take part in Facebook competition to win the tickets, but I didn't (surprise!) so I won't go. Being a more mature fan, I cannot bear queuing on the street with the kids to get the ticket as they are not sold anywhere in advance. Such is life, but a warm welcome to London Digger, Sam & Basti!

Mac on... 'Dogbos'

Click on the cartoon to enlarge it

This cartoon is a funny and quite suitable reaction to this news.

The Pipeline Bar

The Pipeline bar was fun. First when I got there yesterday after work it was crowded with wall to wall suits but I plonked my self and my tattoos on the bar not caring as my eyes were firmly fixed on the price which was ice cold Lonkero after a hard weeks work. And it did not disappoint and I relaxed on my bar stool in deeply satisfied state.

The sensible person that I am, I decided to eat before the guys got there and the more serious drinking would commence and ordered the Köttbullar - Swedish Meatballs Served with homemade potato mash, creamy gravy and traditional Lingonberry jam on the side. Nice!

All the bar staff is Swedish and one of the guys came to work straight from having his chest tattooed. The service was good and once the suits vanished the place came immediately more cosy. Met few more Finn's and all in all wasn't a bad night and my hangover is actually tolerable this morning. Good times!

The Lonkero

Köttbullar - Swedish Meatballs

Happy Lonkero ladies

Mötley crew

The Salmiakki shots went down fabulously

More Friday Finn's and beverages

It has been positively sunny week here in London Town. Tuesday the temperature was spring like +12 Celsius and all thought that did not last people are still grinning in the streets. Still sunny today, alas really cold, but it is Friday!!!

Tonight there is another Finnish gathering in a place called the Pipeline bar(named after Johnny Thunders song) it is owned by a Swedish fellow. The main pull for me to attend is that they serve my favorite Finnish beverage Lonkero and there is some Finnish music in the jukebox. They also have Lapin Kulta (Finnish beer), Minttu(liquer) and Salmiakki (vodka) on the menu. Bar review with pictures tomorrow. Never mind the impending hangover, life is good :)

Being nice works

Since I started this being nice to myself last November. Things have changed somewhat indeed, but without any serious hardship or major effort on my part. First of all I have now lost 6,5 kg since November and clothes that did not fit properly now are almost too big. I have climbed down on the BMI chart from overweight to normal and I do not suffer from high cholesterol as confirmed by my Dr. I will definitely continue being good to myself :)

Today is the day when I attend the Biobank poking and prodding session in the afternoon and I am just hoping that no serious underlying medical condition props up. Then again, if it does it must be good because hopefully it can be treated. And who knows, it might help someone else at some point.

About spring time

This morning dawned bright and sunny here in London town. Yesterday we had tons of rain and I didn't really get out of my bed except to have a chat with Heavy on Skype.

Also this morning I noticed the subtle shift in the weather and a hint of spring in the air. All this wall to wall sunshine is making me grin like an idiot, but then again I am easily pleased.

Ed and Larry in the shop accross the road have been touched with the spring idiot stick as well as they have been laughing and grinning for the past hour. Even the never ending traffic on Garrick Street seems happier and not one driver has had a fit yet and/or cursed the other drivers. Not bad at all for a Monday :)

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."
-Doug Larson-