Wednesday 1 September 2010

We Are Off To Blighty!

first stop the new Bangkok airport Suvarnabhumi,
so modern and easy to get to from Pattaya, we left on Monday the 9th of August in the morning and arrived at Heathrow in the evening the same day, there are lots of sautes in the concourse, a pity some one in the planning department at Hearthrow has never been here,
the only slight criticism is that some times it is a fairly long walk from the plane to immigration, but then there are plenty of moving walk ways,
we were buying some orchids for Steve, Kai and his mum and for Duncan and Merlina, also some chocolate for the kids,
Diana was a bit peckish, so a whopper was just the ticket,
the plane will be here any moment now,
if ever you have wondered how aircraft windscreens are washed, now you know,
to while away the hours we brought our cribbage board along, we wanted to fly EVA as they have aircraft with television monitors/games consul set in the rear of each seat, but as this was my second trip in almost as many months we settled for the cheaper Thai option, £1,600, it was high season, in other words half the customers twice the price! the plane was less than half full,
but at least the wine was nice,
no Diana is not drinking red wine, she asked for a glass for me,
complementary flower, as to the catering the first meal was fine, but the one we had nearing Heathrow was just plain horrible, one tentative spoonful told me what my eyes and nose had already discovered,
not even out of the airport and there is a opps! moment, huge amount of damage when you consider as so many people are walking around the speed limit is 5 M.P.H.
the good news was that we were being meet by Steve and Kai who we were going to stay with and as usual a trip to the Moghul Brasserie was on our way home for a Indian meal,
'Cheers!' from all of us,
Steve and Kai,
and of course Diana and myself, the food was delicious,
Steve like myself is a very keen aquarist, Diana just loved looking at the fish,
Steve and myself often sit on his balcony chatting the night away with a few vodka sodas, tonight was no exception! whilst we chatted Steve said that the weather had been excellent, the down side was that it looked like the day we landed we had brought the rain and cold weather with us, indeed we had, it rained and was over cast pretty much the whole 3 weeks we were here,
but next day down to my shop,
Diana had a look around but I think preferred it in the cold water or pond section,
the plant is a grape vine, it must have been planted over 30 years ago, the only problem is the grapes are so sour, naturally when we bought it the label said sweet grapes for dessert eating,
Steve has just taken delivery of his new car a Honda Civic 2.2 turbo diesel and very nice it is too, not to mention pretty quick!
next stop breakfast in Hayes, (Kent), we ate there the last time I was here, the cafe is just opposite the church,
the meals are huge, tasty and reasonably priced, a great favorite with all of the local tradesmen,
we were on our way to Wing Yip, a huge food store specialising in food primarily from Asia, but on the way through we called in on Mick and Pauline, they both love their garden and it shows,
although past it's best because of the time of the year, you are assaulted with the fragrance of different flowers as you walk to the door,
Mick is a retired fireman, to help us out he would come to the shop, we have been friends for it must be more than 30 years,
after our farewells it was down to a very deserted Surrey Street market, fresh strawberries, raspberries and red currents, just have to remember to buy the cream!
after that off to the Whitgift shopping center, to have a look there, we arrived with just hand luggage and wanted to buy two suitcases,
we also along looked in Alders in the now pedestrianized street,
then into the shopping center proper,
the main entrance/exit,
whilst there a coffee break,
as it was school holidays the owners I guess had cordoned off an area for the kids to be entertained,
with a balloon man, coloring books and pencils so mums and dads could have a tea and a chat,
I mentioned the Whitgift shopping center, it is in fact named after a Archbishop of Canterbury, John Whitgift, (1583-1604), the building above is the Hospital of the Holy Trinity, he laid the foundation stone in 1596, for the maintenance of between thirty and forty "poor, needy or impotent people" from the parishes of Lambeth and Croydon,
the plaque set on the wall of the building,
and the front entrance,
some meat from the butchers,
on the way back in Surrey Street Steve pointed out this church, I had never noticed it before,
it seems to be totaly boarded up but I know nothing of its history - a job for next year if we have some spare time,
onward to Wing Yip,
it is huge, with a Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant amongst others to dine in if you are peckish, they always seem to be very popular when ever I have been there,
love the pagoda style roof,
all loaded up and ready to go,
then home to Steve's to prepare our evening meal,
Thai home cooking at it's best, a few on the balcony then off to bed.

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