Rolls Around the World 2007: 7 - Copenhagen, Denmark to London, England

Sunday, July 15, 2007

We took a taxi to the airport rather than the train due to the weight of Marilynn's camera gear and my failing knees. The Scandinavian Airlines check-in clerk was in the wrong job - she would have been much more suited as a prison guard or building inspector. I had to empty everything of value out of my carry on case - fortunately I had a plastic laundry bag. This is the first time in many years I have been required to check my carry on - and this was in business class!

At the gate another foul tempered female told Marilynn to "get to the back of the line" when she inquired if there was priority boarding for business class. There isn't. The flight was full and the line long, so I found a seat and waited until every one else was on board.

Business class was certainly of no value on this MD 81/82 aircraft. The seat configuration was 3 standard economy class seats on one side of the aisle, and two on the other. The spacing between the seats was less than in economy on most airlines, making sitting a painful experience with my long legs. I turned down the meal service, as there was no way the tray table could be lowered with my legs jammed against it. The food was standard economy fare anyhow. The flight crew were cheerful, and at least kept me supplied with scotch to ease the pain.

For those considering a Scandinavian Airlines flight, my recommendation would be don't. It goes to the top of the list as the worst airline for comfort on which I have ever flown - and that includes a lot of third world airlines!

Arrival at Heathrow was straightforward, with easy immigration and customs. We taxied to the Sheraton Skyline Hotel at Heathrow where we spent the night. The room price was OK, but the extras amazingly expensive. A four oz bottle of diet coke cost Marilynn $US 4.40, and a tomato and cheese sandwich was $US 22.00.

Monday, July 16, 2007

We were going to take a taxi back to Terminal 4 at the airport and the Paddington Express train to the area of our hotel, but the taxi driver came up with a reasonable deal to take us right to the hotel - a lot easier than hauling all the gear around. One of the pleasures of London is its knowledgeable taxi drivers. They still must take a 6 year course before getting a license, during which they are required to memorize the names and locations of every street and lane in the city.

We prepaid the Shaftsbury Paddington Hyde Park Hotel through Expedia, and were pleased to note that our price was less than half their posted rates. The room was not ready, so we walked to nearby Bayswater where I found a place that claimed they could repair my computer. The area has loads of pubs, so a pub lunch was in order before getting back to the hotel. The afternoon was spent taking turns on Marilynn's computer to get caught up - the rooms include high speed wireless internet.

The area has an amazing ethnic mix - it seems every country in the world is represented! I was interested to see that throughout London each pedestrian crossing has "Look Left" or "Look Right" printed in large letters on the road, with an arrow in the appropriate direction. I guess they were having to scrape too many tourists & new immigrants off the front of vehicles when they looked the wrong way before stepping into traffic.

I received an email from Agility Logistics with the name and number of the contact to pick up the car, along with the very unwelcome news that they missed the boat. The car was supposed to arrive in London July 17 - tomorrow. This has thrown a monkey wrench into a lot of plans, so a full week of seeing people in various areas has had to be cancelled. The company was first advised of the approximate shipping date required on June 26, 2006 and the car was handed over to them on July 6 in Montreal as requested, so I see no valid excuse for this screw up. When I phoned the Agility office, the contact I had been given was not in for the day, but I talked to Eve, who said she would find out what was happening and get back to me. When she called she said the car was expected to arrive in Southampton on July 23, but it could be later if sea conditions are bad or the port is busy.

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

I called Agility Logistics, and this time Steve Bagshaw, who is to be looking after receiving the car, was in. I told him that I would pick up the car in Southampton to save the time of transporting it to West Thurrock (near London).

Marilynn found a laundry next to a pub a couple of blocks from the hotel, so we had another pub lunch while clothes were cleaned. We purchased a three day underground (tube) & bus pass at Paddington Station, only a couple of blocks away, and took the tube into the West End to convert our theatre vouchers into tickets. The tickets purchased through Expedia cost less than 50% of box office price for the first night, the second night was slightly less than box office and for the third night Expedia charged more than the box office price. The average worked out OK.

We had a superb dinner in a restaurant above a pub in the West End, and then walked to the Phoenix Theatre to see the excellent production of "Blood Brothers". The crowd gave the cast a standing ovation. After taking the tube back to Paddington Station we hit a pub across the street for nightcaps.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

To the computer place first thing - a bit of a wait as they didn't open until about 10:30. Breakfast, changing money and shopping filled the time. The computer is promised for tonight.

I called Steve Bagshaw at Agility again, but he is off for the rest of the week as his son has chicken pox. Eventually a lady named Jo said she would see what she could do. She faxed five pages of forms needing to be filled out for customs, which I filled out and sent back. There is concern about duty being charged on some of the equipment in the car. I also organized accommodation for Southampton, as my plan is to camp on the doorstep until I have the car.

Marilynn wanted to do some shopping, so we took the tube to Harrods. I have been in the store before, but it was not to shop, and checking prices was a real eye opener. It was their annual sale, with 50% to 70% off the regular prices, bringing a pair of ladies shorts made in India down from $US 1,300 to a much more reasonable $650. It was even possible to pick up ladies T-shirt like tops for as little as $400. The department store has 28 restaurants and pubs in it, and at each entrance shoppers are greeted by an information person with a booklet of maps for each floor. Very expensive, very classy!

After we fled the store we took a double deck bus for a scenic drive through the old part of the city, and then walked out onto the Tower Bridge, past the Tower of London. There were a lot of old buildings in the City of London that have disappeared, replaced by modern glass and steel. Eventually we returned to another shopping area near the West End, where, having been softened up by Harrods prices, everything seemed quite reasonable. Marilynn purchased some clothes.

We had some very mediocre pub grub before heading to the Queens Theatre to see Les Miserables. This is the longest running musical in history, and it was easy to see why. The special effects and props were amazing, and the show excellent. The packed theatre gave the cast a standing ovation. This time after theatre drinks were on the way to the underground station in one of the many pubs en route.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

The computer was ready as promised, except there was no Word or Excel on it. A price was agreed to for the installation of Office 2003, and it was promised for the end of the day.

I talked to Jo at Agility Logistics, and was informed that there was no way the car could be unpacked and delivered in Southampton, it would have to be transported to West Thurrock where customs would be dealt with. Expected delivery date is now July 25! We are back to the drawing boards on accommodation and travel plans. We were to leave the hotel tomorrow, but were able to extend our stay one night. They are full on Saturday night, so we'll have to leave Saturday morning.

We had arranged to meet Tristan Palmer at the Melton Mowbray Pub near the Chancery Tube station for lunch. He was there with a beer in hand when we arrived, so I quickly rectified the problem of my empty hand. We had not met Tristan before, but knew his brother Ashton and his wife, who have a successful travel company in Seattle. We met in 1994 when they worked on the ship Explorer and have remained friends.

Tristan, who has lived in London 20 years, took us for a walking tour of the area. Ancient pubs, fortunately, were an important part of the tour. The oldest of the pubs was built by Bishop Goodrich in 1546 for the staff of his palace. The area of the pub, with adjoining street, buildings and church are like a diplomatic enclave - they are legally part of Cambridgeshire and even the police require permission to enter. For those of us from North America it is truly amazing to sit in a place, particularly a pub, that his been there for almost 500 years!

After a superb lunch at an excellent restaurant, we carried on until it was time to meet up with Scott Jones, son of a close friend of many years, George Jones. We headed off - where else? - for a pub, where we talked until it was time for Marilynn and I to head for the theatre. Tonight we saw Spamalot at the Palace, the most expensive of the shows we would see. I had so much beer in me by this point that I had to drape a cloth over one of the lenses of my glasses to stop seeing double! The show was good, but not up to the other two - no standing ovation.

After the theatre we dined on sausage and fried onions in a bun sold by a street vendor, eaten in the closest pub. I really needed another beer!

Friday, July 20, 2007

After picking up the computer in the morning we had a superb lunch of appetizers in a restaurant called "Shish". It is one of three in London that specialises in Shish Kabab, but there is much more to choose from. The sauces and gourmet food they prepare are indescribably delicious. We went back for dinner - a highly recommended dining experience!

In talking with Agility Logistics it turned out that the documents I faxed did not all arrive, so we went back and forth until all were received. In return I was sent a list of hotels in West Thurrock. This commercial town is not a recommended tourist destination, but it is our intention to move into a hotel there on Monday and become a nuisance around the Agility offices until they give appropriate urgency to releasing the car, thus freeing themselves of my presence.

The day was spent catching up on computers, now that we each have one again. With luck I'll get this away before we leave here.

Tomorrow we will move to Epping for two nights so we can take Tristan up on his invitation to a BBQ on Sunday, then the next two nights will be in West Thurrock agitating for the release of the Rolls.