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The food was outstanding, and clean dishes went back to the kitchen… well,
almost, the decorative salad remained pristine :D

The meal ended in a very sad way, the burglar alarm of the hotel above that is under renovations was set off and it was piercing! I don’t know how this will come across in a video but it was really bad in person

Now jonesing for a desert I wandered back to the hotel and the monumental bar. A fairly minimal desert menu, but you’ll not go wrong with chocolate mousse! My favourite XO Brandy on the shelf and at 28.50 for a double plus shaky hand measure that’s good value. An americano completes the line out and I’m now happily working my way through the trio

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Admirable job JapesUK , a bit less than your usual slumber breaks, I’d say!

Finally back to the hotel after languishing at the monumental bar for so long that I was compelled to have another coffee and brandy :D

Now it is time to retire to the room and hopefully a less broken nights sleep. No wind this evening so peace reigns.

Tomorrow is a fairly reasonable start, plenty of time for breakfast and a stress free packing of goods and chattels before my transfer picks me up at 10:30

I might have gone with the apple pie and ice cream.

More in keeping with your all out attempt at diabetes :).

Great TR, as always.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring......

That chocolate mousse was super-compressed sugar in disguise :) So sweet was it that I only ate half!

Good morning from Funchal where the wind is blowing nicely and it could be an interesting departure today.

I’ve had a late start today as I was rudely awoken at 01:30 by some very drunk and boisterous females returning to their room(s), and did not get back to sleep for hours. Imagine my glee when I heard room service hammering on their door at 08:30 whist I was secure behind my do not disturb shield :D

Packing complete, my pickup is due in a quarter of an hour so next stop will be Funchal airport.

Short but sweet, enjoy your journey home :)

Thanks! Most of my trips are :) I enjoy the getting there and back just as much, if not more, than the destination.

The transfer turned up exactly on time and it was around 25 minutes to the airport. The weather has changed once more, no wind and blue skies, at least for the next thirty minutes

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Very quick and easy through the airport with fast track security being empty

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First stop is the viewing terrace which brings you incredibly close to the aircraft

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The lounge for BA is the ANA lounge which is pretty small, maybe some 10 tables plus seating around the edge of the space. No photo of the seating area as I took the very last solo table, it’s pretty full. A very basic food and drink offering, not really a place to linger.

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My first attempt at a snack and drink broke the coffee machine, just milk

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Plan B

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I’ll not stay long, there were people on the viewing terrace with beer in hand so I think I’ll head back out there for a little while

Very civilised :)

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Roughly forty minutes to boarding but the is still border control to navigate so I shall enjoy this small beer and then head towards the gates

Through to the gates and it’s all a bit of a crush

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Checked with the gate agent as to how they handle group 0 as was dismissively told to join 1-3 :) I asked if they would do a separate call or preboard, “No”. Tier points income perchance? 🧐

13A today and the reason I don’t really like window seats as it is very snug to the fuselage

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Boarding has been complete for ten minute but they are still juggling the luggage around the bins so we are definitely going to be at least a few minutes late away.

G-GATM is our bus of the day, another first for me.

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The bug spray has been deployed, the bags are stowed, and they’re now strong-arming the bins closed.

12:53 and we are pushing back, so nowhere near as delayed as I thought we might be.

Next Stop: Gatwick airport in a little under 4 hours