And so to the gate. Gate 23 this evening, a very short stroll from the lounge. The tense queue for 1-3 was well loaded so I used the empty 4-9 lane to get to the desks and asked if they were pre-boarding group 0, and indeed they were!

Now sat the right side of the gate scanners waiting for boarding to commence

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Boarding started almost exactly at 6pm and I was first on board G-EUUG which I was last on in August for the NCL-LHR run

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1C again for this second flight of the day and propped on top of 1B as usual to avoid the battering

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Menus have been distributed

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The safety briefing is in progress and whomever is doing the speech is really faltering. I asked the IFM if he was new. “Believe it or not he has 27 years” was the laconic reply :D

18:47 and we are trundling around Heathrow, not long now, hopefully!

Indeed, 15 minutes early is the estimate, every minute counts when you’re arriving after 23:30 anywhere.

Light coloured pants for a day of travel is brazen in my books. Good chance they wouldn't come out unscathed.

Hey! I resemble that remark!
Also, it's barely 10pm tonight, evening's not even started yet.

re. the poor sod on the safety briefing, I wonder if the issue is coming back from widebody fleet where it's almost always automated.
I recall one time I flew, A380 Lufty I think it was, where the safety video would not play for some reason and they dug out the manual demo kit.... I have never seen a bunch of FAs so flustered, worse than having to tell an F pax the champagne is out.

Now watching your arrival, neck and neck with a Lufty from Frankfurt!
I know who my moneys on but let’s see🤔

It just worked out that way. I’m sure you’ve seen in previous threads that it’s usually dark trousers and shirt. Company wanted a head shot with semi-formal dress, jacket and shirt basically. I was not travelling in a suit so it started with a blazer and then shirt and then these were pretty much the only trousers that really matched.

They’ve survived amazingly unscathed!

Security was completely empty so I think we won :D

I think that may have been the case, he really was flustered and clearly unfamiliar with the script

Well, that flight went amazingly quickly! Everyone in row one was incredibly chatty and the three hours just shot by.

I’d ordered the Muslim special this evening and that turned out to be the standard curry from the menu. Very tasty but could have done with a little more spice.

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We arrived onto a remote stand but the buses were already waiting and we were very quickly over to the arrivals hall and the long march to passport control which was completely empty. A no drama entry, just a quick peruse of the passport and a stamp and that was it.

I ordered a bolt to take me into the city and the driver was already here, no wait at all and that is where I am currently sat heading to my hotel.

That has to be the smoothest arrival into Bucharest ever.

Only the best maintenance for the best airport, I suppose.

It's always the good-bye trip that leaves the best impression, in my experience.

This weekends hostelry is the Hilton Garden inn in the old town. I’ve not stayed here before and it is not too bad at all

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The room is spacious and the bed is comfy

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It is now a few minutes after 1am and it is time to see exactly how comfy that bed really is!

Vorel friendly deserts are going to be a challenge I think. I’d recommend checking out Cathay first dining and the first pantry, they definitely have a real variety of desserts. Also worth popping into Cathay bisiness and checking out the buffet as I’ve noticed in the past that there can be different desserts there.

If all else fails there’s always the first dining sorbet!

You did, just the LH landing right behind you.