DAY 1 - THURSDAY 15TH MAY 2003
Woohoo! It’s here! It’s here! I’m going on holiday today!
I suppose I had better wake up the rest of the family. Amazing, most days a cattle prod would be hard pushed to rouse the girls from their slumber, but today they are up and bouncing off the walls inside 5 minutes. Why do you suppose that is?
We all have to
put up with work and school before the real excitement starts,
but the time goes as fast as a work-day-before-holiday can go and
before long we are at the station waiting for the train to
Gatwick airport.
Once underway out come the crisps, beer and Budweiser, just to
put us in the right mood.
We have to change at Reading and, as is par for the course, our
supposed 25 minute gap between trains is reduced to 9 minutes due
to various delays. Carting 3 heavy suitcases down the stairs to
the underpass and up the stairs the other side is not really my
idea of fun, but at least it keeps me fit.
We make the connecting train to Gatwick with 4 minutes to spare. This is an improvement over the last time we did this 18 months ago when we had 2 minutes to spare. Either the rail system is improving or my ability to move cases around Reading station has got better as I have got older.
The shunter
train between Reading and Gatwick has not improved. It is still
packed with bored businessmen attempting to spread themselves
across 4 seats to prevent anyone else sitting within snoring
distance of them.
One man has removed his shoes and has his feet on the seats in
front of him. I could be wrong, but I imagine that eau de
sweatybusinessmansfoot is unlikely to be the cologne of choice
for the discerning gentleman this year.
Mind you, I am sat on a train drinking beer from a can. Who am I
to lecture anyone on etiquette?
After a couple
of cans of Boddingtons I am more than happy to find that there is
a loo hidden away in the depths of the train. Amazing the things
that delight you as you get older.
After all the moaning I have to say that I still enjoy travelling
by train. I don’t have to drive and the girls and I enjoy
chatting and looking at some very pretty countryside while Tam
buries her head in a book.
After a couple more beers I notice that Thames Trains has also
laid on pink dancing elephants for my personal entertainment.
Very thoughtful.
At Gatwick
station we struggle up the escalator with the suitcases and head
for Twilight Check-in at the Virgin desk. There is a short queue
and after 20 minutes we are stood in front of the most humourless
soul on the face of the planet who informs us that our pre-booked
seats are not available. When pushed as to why, he does little
more than shrug his shoulders. Miserable git!
I even tell him the one about the 2 nuns in the bath, but to no
effect.
If we
can’t get our pre-booked seats on the evening before the
flight, what chance have those arriving tomorrow got?
If someone from Virgin could tell me what the point is in
pre-booking seats if you can’t get them, I would be very
grateful.
Across to the Hilton which, at first glance, looks a poor relation to Le Meridian. At least the reception staff are pleasant. Our family room is huge and very nice. Tam points out the Matisse on the wall. In my considered opinion it is not original. Although I hear that Fred Matisse is very big in the Gatwick area.
We go to eat in
‘Amy’s’ an American style diner. Well, it seems
appropriate. The food is good with large portions, but somehow
they forget about the girls meals and Tam and I have nearly
finished while Georgia and India are still salivating with
anticipation. The waiter tells us that their order has been
missed and offers a free round of drinks to make up for it. I
nearly kiss the man in gratitude.
When we get the bill we find that, not only have we got a free
round of drinks, but they have not charged for the
children’s desserts either. Pucker up waiter, I’m on my
way over again.
We sit in the atrium for a little while and listen to the piano player. I prefer the sophistication of Le Meridien, but Tam and the girls say that they prefer the Hilton as it seems friendlier. Shut up then Kev.
Back to the room at 10:15. The girls are all tired. In fact Tam has been yawning since 9:00. This does not bode well. I have visions of me being left alone at night on the cruise to do what I please….. on second thoughts….