What a day of days........

Published at 37,000 feet..........

What an amazing, yet upsy downsy sort of a day. I left the hotel at 8am in a taxi wondering quite what th day would bring. At Heathrow airport the snow had all but disappeared and the weather was improving by the hour, so I knew that flying was a distinct possibility ! For this I was eternally grateful. On arrival I went to the Royal Silk Class check in desk where I was the only person in the queue, and after checking my bags through was ushered to the United Airlines lounge to sit out the long wait. My flight to Bangkok was officially timed at 11.50am but we had all been informed that it was delayed due to technical issues until 14.10. This delay elongated as only flights can, adding subversive  minutes all day until finally we boarded at 1600 and left took off at around 16.40. 

I was quite exhausted when we finally boarded but quickly revived when I saw how utterly comfortable I was going to be in my delightful lilac ‘pod for one’. Spacious and calm, oodles of storage for bags and sundries and a wonderfully comfortable reclining seat which feels rather like my sofas, and which in an hour or so will become my full flatbed. A fresh orchid bedecks the drinks stand, a 22inch television is showing so many new films I am at a loss which to watch, and my welcome mixed nuts with slices of ginger and a flute of champagne appeared five minutes after sitting down. 

The Thai stewardess for about six pods called me by name and was charming, polite and very welcoming. The girls are wearing silk national costumes which makes them look like exotic birds of paradise,  and so ththey stress of the day melted away like warm chocolate, and I relaxed so fully I could almost have slept immediately! But no ! I was here to enjoy my once in a lifetime experience of the wealthy - well, perhaps just wealthier than me, which isn’t saying much I grant you !

The drinks kept coming, and a gin a tonic was the order of the day pre dinner, and then endless topping up of - wait for it - Harrogate Spring water during the scrumptious meal - that was a side swipe I wasn’t expecting and it made me laugh !

Dinner came after about an hour and I chose the Thai option - in for a penny......the starter was seared scallops and a tiger prawn on delicious spicy coleslaw with peanuts and ginger, then the main course was chicken and coconut soup, beef massaman curry, an aubergine dish I left untouched, and a small sculpture of jasmine rice.....mmmm the meat dishes were absolutely gorgeous, hot but not too hot and all with a slightly satay feel mingled with coconut cream. Dessert was a Vanilla Cream with Taro, I don’t know what it was except the lovely steward said it grew in the ground like turnip ! It did not taste at all like a turnip, for this grateful thanks ! Coffee followed and a Ferraro Rocher chocolate and another hot white towel. Total bliss if I am honest. I have pictures but they will have to wait until I have more WiFi.

I shall publish the writing bit with the free aeroplane WiFi which comes as part of the grandeur Ha Ha ! I must say it has been worth every penny so far, my feet and legs are up in a lot of space and I feel very dozy but very glad I did it. I did not realise when I spoke to a charming chap with four stripes on his jacket that I had the ear of the captain ! I merely saw a uniform and enquirer as to what happens with my missed connection to Melbourne. I explained that as a diabetic I really needed to elevate my legs and that is why I paid for business class. He was utterly delightful and a young lady came 15 minutes ago with a piece of paper saying the captain had booked me a seat on the next Melbourne flight in business, so I was not sat in any old seat, which had been of some concern to me. The check in girl had said I could be put in economy and it all depended on seat availability.

That quietly charming captain sorted it - Wow isn’t that impressive ?