HMS Temeraire – silverfox175
Picture taken of the Cross of St George the English flag, above Bargate, Southampton.
Bargate – Southampton . . . but before we reached the Sceptered Isle, we had to leave Singapore
We walked out of our hotel in to a very quiet terminus at 6.00 am, to check-in for our flight to London.
Emigration & security didn’t open until 6.30 am so we had time to find our check-in counter. Flying business class did not require us to do self check-in and self labeling of our bags, a growing cancer of modern day flying and self checkout at super markets. Remember me, I used to be called the customer, not the DIY wizard to save you money.
When was the last time that you saw empty self-check-in machines?
Photographs must have been taken during the night – nicely posed.
Whinge over, we’ve been checked in by a real person, and we’ve been invited to the lounge.
A light breakfast perhaps – not too much as to ruin the appetite for brunch on the plane .
The lounge was not all that far from the boarding area so we had plenty of time for breakfast and to watch the airport traffic.
One must admit that Singapore airport authority have created a relaxing environment for those travelling in tubes of metal across the world. The above is an advert with a fountain (the white circle), which didn’t come out as planned. More fountains below
As we sped down the runway the Singapore Airlines planes were everywhere, so is it any wonder that in the near future they will be flying an ultra long range aircraft A350-900ULR none stop to New York. It’ll take nineteen hours, and only carry business and premium economy seats. Our flight from Singapore to London would take us about thirteen hours, which is long enough for me.
All my yesterdays – ships at anchor off Singapore, but I have a feeling that they are not waiting to go alongside or to work cargo from junks, but to die on a beach in India or Bangladesh.
Nothing new – in 1838 HMS Temeraire, immortalised in William Turner’s painting as she was towed to the breakers. Sold by the Admiralty for scrap for £5,530, her copper reclaimed and sold back to the Admiralty, and her timbers sold for housebuilding and hand carved furniture – where there’s muck there’s money.
On a happier note it was time for brunch.
The lighting had been dulled a little for those who wished to sleep, hence the coloured reflection. Prawns and scallops, and of course a glass of white wine, it was 5.00 pm somewhere in the world!
More fish – Maureen was proud of me considering fish is my least favourite food.
I think this was called a Tarrufo Limoncello – what ever it was called it was very nice.
and of course cheese to finish – this meal was a very pleasant way of spending an hour or so . . . .
England below – the picture is not as clear as I’d hoped, and as we descended, I was hoping that we would pass near Windsor Castle for a photograph – we didn’t. If we did I didn’t see the castle.
Once through customs and immigration we were met by a driver to take us to Southampton – the traffic was nose to tail most of the way and took us two hours.
We arrived at the Premier Inn, Cumberland Place in time for a quick shower and down for a drink before dinner. The hotel is not a ‘flash’ hotel but new (opened February 2018), clean, with friendly efficient staff. We’d booked in for three nights before joining the cruise ship.
Small bar area, which was part of the dinning room.
Dining room.
They served the best ‘Continental’ breakfast that I’ve had in a long time – choice of juices, cereals, fruit, various breads and as much coffee as you could drink. A hot breakfast was about £3.00 extra, but after the ‘Continental’ I couldn’t face bacon & eggs.
Early to bed as our inner clocks where out of wack with the local time . . .