Right - after some IT issues and a few lost posts (grr), I'm able to give an update from the BA lounge in AMS.

Chris and I made a very rapid escape from the office yesterday. Thanks to Chris' CCR card we had the luxury of the Concorde Room pre-departure. Walking through Millionaire's Door we were met by a poor, flustered lounge-angel. She was on the phone to IT as the wifi in the lounge had gone down. Being so distracted she tried to give Chris her notepad but keep his CCR Card.

I have been lucky enough to be in the Concorde Room before but it was still quite a thrill to be there again. There were a few things I promised myself I'd do on my return:
- Reacquaint myself with Grande Siécle,
- Thoroughly sample the new food menu, and
- Sneak a peak at a cabana

Tick, tick and tick.

All too soon it was time to head to the gate. Flight was non-eventful. We had a fun crew who we told of our quest and they seemed fascinated and confused in equal measure.

We landed in AMS on the Polderbaan runway, which is the equivalent of landing in Gatwick and taxiing to Heathrow. The captain seems as surprised as anyone of the 20min taxi to stand.

Once off the plane (after the perfunctory photo shoot of course) we got to spend some time with dutch_122 whom we have to thank for constructing or trip. We had a really insightful and eye-opening lesson in trip construction. Thanks again dutch_122 it was really great to meet you.

After it was back through security to bed down in the airside Mercure for stage two of our journey.