I was too early to go through security, so sat and wrote the blog instead. (Photos now fixed, if you want to check them out.) Rumour online had it that three hours beforehand was the deadline.. after all that blogging, my phone needed charging, and I'd seen a handy breakfast bar-style charging point earlier, which I now made for. I was lucky enough to get a charging point, if not a seat - I see each socket also has a USB port, handily. When the time came for me to try security again, the phone wasn't sufficiently charged, but the website said they had the same facilities after security, so I went through.
First thing I saw on the other side was the departures board. Funny how, for a flight leaving at 6.25, gate information wasn't coming through till 7.55.. Blast, it was delayed. Anyway, next priority was food.. I was starving.
Garfunkel's beckoned.. it was the first one I saw, anyway. Didn't see the sign for the lift, which was well-hidden, so I lugged my bag up the stairs. After a short wait, I was seated. Now, it may have been my fault, because when he reassured me that I'd be served quickly, I told him my flight was delayed. I was duly kept waiting forever. When I finally mentioned it to someone, service did improve. And it was very moreish.. nothing sufficiently chocolatey for dessert, so I had a good hot chocolate instead.
And then I really needed to charge my phone. Where was the charging station? Where were the charging lockers I was promised on the website?! I did two tours of the departure lounge before giving up and asking one of the workers in Dixon's. She directed me to the seating round the side, where there were some sockets. Sadly, all the seats beside sockets were taken, so I spent the next 90 mins on the floor, babysitting my charging phone. Bloody cold it was, too. I lashed into them on customer complaints.. no acknowledgement they'd done anything wrong, of course, just an assurance that they were constantly improving..
I'd just nicely got the phone charged when the gate number was displayed. Estimated departure now 8.45 - the website was sticking to 7.55, but I'd never believed that. Well, off I headed. I hadn't cleared the departure lounge before the boards were reading "Gate closed".. Easyjet subsequently apologised for that, it was apparently Gatwick's fault. 10 mins more it took us to get all the way to the gate.. which, I guess you could say, was closed, as it wasn't open! No staff there.. we hunkered down and waited, somewhat blocking the corridor to all the gates further down.
You can judge a company by how it behaves when things go wrong. On that basis, Easyjet is in serious trouble. The plane had arrived all right.. and I have to wonder whether it was a pilot that had come off that plane, who was looking at us worriedly, speaking on his mobile. Finally, someone appeared to make an announcement; the disembarking crew had worked their maximum number of hours, and couldn't fly us. He'd get back to us when he knew more.
WTF?? Did they really only just find this out when the plane arrived? I suppose it was because of the delay - which was never explained to us. It took them another half hour to decide they couldn't find a replacement crew, so were cancelling the flight - and another half hour to find a security team to lead us back out. Where they told us that someone would be available to rebook us. They weren't. Had probably gone home. (What the hell are they doing, leaving a customer service desk unoccupied, while there are still passengers in the airport?) In due course, someone appeared with a schedule of our rights.. by now, seats were disappearing fast, and the best I could do was arrive at 7.25pm the next day. Flying with Norwegian.. at 9.50am.. via Helsinki! I was going to miss half the conference.. but what can you do?
Well, it was from Gatwick again - and me swearing it'd be an age before I darkened their doors! So I bought a return Gatwick Express ticket, which I expect them to pay for as well as my flight, and took myself home again. Another early start beckoned - God, I was exhausted! Isn't it funny, by the way, how the Gatwick Express runs every 15 minutes from the airport, but only every 30 minutes to it..? You might think that people heading to the airport would be in more of a hurry..
Well, this time went much better. I had to get up at the same time, but gee, Norwegian doesn't have the stupid baggage restrictions that Easyjet does. So, no morning panic. Plus I was mostly already packed. And at Victoria, I took the correct exit for the station - the opposite direction to Cardinal Place. Upshot was, I was in plenty of time for the 7.30 train, which would have saved me all this trouble the day before. Why, I even had time to buy a pain au chocolat. Already checked in - and bless, they texted me a link to my boarding pass! For free..
Even the boarding gate was nearer. Lots of folk on the flight were wearing Mad-Croc gear.. And Norwegian has an interesting boarding policy I haven't seen before, whereby the front of the plane board via airbridge, and the back by steps.. Slightly different plane configuration, but a comfy flight, and we duly landed in Helsinki.
Vast airport. Not that many facilities though.. best I could see for eating was Burger King, so I bought a bar of chocolate and made do with that. Nature sounds in the loo. I must say, I like their boarding procedure! Queue up, and it's self service.. scan your pass, and you're through. (I'd only just remembered to check in for my second leg, that morning).
And so I finally arrived in Prague. (Thanks Norwegian, I'd happily go with you again!) There was no sign of my hotel transfer - turned out he'd been delayed in traffic. In the meantime, I tried getting out some Czech Korunas from a nearby ATM - however, maybe it was my exhausted state, but all the amounts seemed quite large, and excessive for my stay, which would be less than 24 hours. So I skipped it - they take the Euro in Prague anyway, and I'd packed mine, given that I was also passing through Finland. My driver arrived shortly after, and in a bit I was finally in the hotel, and able to relax a little. I was delighted that the restaurant was still open - well, with the scarcity of customers, he served us in the bar:
Really limited menu - salads, two kinds of spaghetti, burgers. I had a burger - not gourmet, but well cooked, and very, very welcome. No desserts appealed - so I had a second glass of wine, and collapsed to bed. Pretty standard hotel room - mattress a bit hard for my liking, and aircon too loud.
The breakfast buffet was quite decent, and the conference venue - the Autoklub - was just next door, notable for being covered by scaffolding. I wouldn't have recognised it, were it not for Google Maps. Gorgeous inside, all marble:
More photos here. I managed to register without fuss, and was flummoxed that this was the first conference I'd ever attended where I didn't get a notebook and pen! (Well, it's been nine years, and they all use laptops now.) I did get a free t-shirt, mind. Oh, and they served a breakfast even more extensive than that at the hotel! I had some pancakes, but found them a bit doughy, but they did come with syrup.. Anyway, I knew things wouldn't appeal for the full day, and after a couple of talks, I took myself off. Wasn't on a sightseeing mission, as I'd already been twice before, but did want a run around the shops. Prague is a beautiful place..
I ran out and back during the day, between sessions at the conference - where I got lunch, too. And early in the evening, I decided I'd had enough of the conference, got my bag from the hotel - where they kindly overlooked the fact that I'd lost my ticket - and changed my taxi booking to - now. Dozed in the taxi to the airport. Saw I'd have been too early to check in for my BA flight - but that was ok, because I'd already checked in online, and security let me through! Bought a few souvenirs, found a seat beside a charging point - and in due course, wouldn't you know it, my gate turned out to be right in front of me!
Boarded without issue. It was then that the fun started. Our very sarcastic pilot explained to us that, despite the weather in Heathrow having been fine earlier, they were now limiting the number of flights coming in, apparently due to bad weather - strong winds, in particular. So we had a long delay before we could leave. Oh and then we had to wait for a Sichuan Air plane to leave, just before us. And they apparently needed a tug - because, as he said, they were afraid of hitting something. "Ladies and gentlemen," he said, "you couldn't make this up. They - can't find a tug!" Pause, cue laughter from cabin. I couldn't believe my bad luck - this trip was cursed. "Oh wait," came the announcement, "they've found one."
We got away soon after that - and despite a flight that was horrendously bumpy in parts, including the approach to London - we had the most feather-soft landing I've ever known! Really, I couldn't believe we'd actually landed. Kudos to BA, who also came around with water while we were waiting, and rebooked one passenger headed to the States, who was going to miss her connecting flight because of our delay. Can't fault their professionalism, or their care of us. Can, however, fault bloody Terminal 3, where they'd by now closed all the e-passport gates, so we had to queue at the manned ones. Which were mostly open. It was after midnight when I got home.. hardly ever have I been so glad to be back.
Still exhausted today, even after a good night's sleep. Tonight, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats, at Sadler's Wells, for the Hofesh Schechter Company grand finale.
Tomorrow, I was at another talk with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts - this one, at Southwark Cathedral, is about the River Effra, South London's Secret Spine. Another free Eventbrite event, this is to publicise a book about the subject, and the talk is again given by the author. Another thing that had no tickets, then it did (no notification)! Now I've changed though, and will be off with Up in the Cheap Seats to Loot, at the Park Theatre. Got the last £20 ticket, yay! Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On Monday, I was off to Showstopper! at the Lyric. Ticket courtesy of From the Box Office again. I have actually seen this before - but, being an improvised musical, it literally is different every time! But you'll never guess - the Crick Crack Club finally announced their autumn schedule recently, and now, that night, I'm off to Eaten Father, Eaten Mother by Ben Haggerty. In Soho Theatre, first time in ages. Finally advertised by their Meetup group, jeez!
On Tuesday, I was back with the Scarlet Ladies, for a talk entitled 100 Women - Their Breasts, Their Stories. No longer, of course - now I'm joining London Science Talks and Museums Meetup for a talk at the Alan Turing Institute about the future of data in public life. Most pertinent, given the talk I was at recently.
Next Wednesday, Funzing (London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night, as usual) and Jennifer Rees again - this time, a fun talk about the Psychology of Batman Villains! The first of hers for which I managed to get a 30% discount.. and it's on nice and close to me again. Seems to be a feature of her talks!
On the 21st September, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - with Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich, Random London, and DiscoverLDN.UK. But yay, I have my alternative at last! Going to some comedy I have to pay for, which will probably be better. Mae Martin is at Soho Theatre. Advertised by a group called Moxie Ladies.. good luck to them, but as they charge extra, I'm going solo.
And on the 22nd September, the same free comedy - with DiscoverLDN.UK. I rather doubt it though - don't you?
On the 23rd September, I was to do the same, but am now headed to the launch of Rob Luft's new album, Riser, at King's Place. As advertised by The London Jazz Meetup. I finally ended up paying their membership fee after booking an event with them the other day, for November, which someone is attending that I know. So I figured it was wiser!
I had booked the same free comedy, with the same group, on the 24th September, but was again saved - this time, by the World Music Meetup! They're off to see Kefaya, in Nell's Jazz and Blues bar, back in my old stomping ground of North End Road! Happy days, when I was working there..
On the 25th September, a group called Theatre and Stuff is off to see Prism, at Hampstead Theatre. They're charging extra to go with them, though - so I happily bought my own ticket. What the hey, odds are I won't know any of them anyway.
On the 26th September, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats - to see Wings, at The Young Vic. Accidentally booked standing, I think.. :-/
On the 27th September, with Up in the Cheap Seats again - for Jekyll & Hyde, presented by the National Youth Theatre, at the Ambassadors Theatre.
On the 28th September, I was with another new group: London, Surrey and Beyond.. for an event called "A Unique Experience. Olde Pub, Gerry's Private Club, 2 'i's Famous Fish 'n' Chips". Which says it all, really! But then TunedIn advertised flamenco at Sands Films.. irresistible really. So I've looked that instead. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.
On the 2nd October, I had booked at Hampstead Theatre, for No One Will Tell Me How to Start a Revolution. North London Friends are attending - and charging extra, so I was going it alone! But now it turns out I'm spending the week in the Stockholm office - back on the 8th.
On the 3rd October, it was free comedy in Hammersmith - nominally. With Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith, Wimbledon and Greenwich. So, that was easy to cancel, for Stockholm!
On the 4th October was Up in the Cheap Seats and Labour of Love, with Martin Freeman, at the Noel Coward Theatre. Cheapest tickets from the venue, for once!
On the 5th October, same group - headed to see the Company Wayne McGregor, at Sadler's Wells.
And finally! on the 6th October, headed to see Chekhov's The Seagull, at the Lyric. Third night in a row for that group - almost as busy a group as I am a person! So, four things in all I had to cancel, without refund.. what the hey, I'll doubtless be saving money in Stockholm! Expenses paid, after all.
On the 9th October, I'm finally going to see the show so many people have asked me whether I'm seeing. Ink is showing at the Duke of York's Theatre.
On the 10th October, I'm back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Ballet Boyz at Sadler's Wells.
On the 11th October, back with Funzing for a talk on Revolution in Iran: Girl with a Gun. This will be an interview with a female Kurdish revolutionary.. on the Battersea Barge, which I believe can get choppy. Never mind. This is one I got for free, for completing a loyalty card with three talks.
On the 12th October, Let's Do This are back to St. Martin-in-the-Fields, where London Concertante is performing Bach Violin Concertos. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend again.
And on the 16th October, back at Southwark Playhouse with Up in the Cheap Seats - this time, it's for A Day By the Sea.
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