London Vacation Day 8

Is it really here???? The final day of our trip to London??? I am FINALLY getting out of this haze and writing it???? You better believe it! (thanks to the beginning assistance from my favorite husband!)


The day started early, as did every day on this trip. Our sole objective today was making sure we got on a plane to come home. After the call from Cary's mom the previous night we were a bit uncertain as to our flight arrangements for today. They had said that we were on the new flight but could not give us a seat assignment. We were not sure if this was just there way of telling us that we MIGHT get on the flight. So we had just a little bit of added pressure. We wanted to make sure that we got there not only on time but a little early so that if we had to stand by for the flight that we could be first on the list.


We started out early by getting to the Tube and riding out to Heathrow. Remember the Underground strike I mentioned earlier in the week? Well, fortunately for us, they ended at 7:00 the evening before. Otherwise we would have been riding an expensive taxi out to there.


It took us a bit of time once we got to the airport to check in our baggage and get our temporary tickets for the flight. And then through security, where all 4 of us were questioned as to why we only had temporary tickets. Oddly enough, I was behind dad, and the guy let him through with very little questioning...I had to wait longer for the security guy to get an explanation!


Once we were inside the gate area, we made our way to our gate, just so we could see it and get an idea of how far we had to go when it came time for 'the battle'. I'm glad we scoped it out first--it was at the very end of the airport!

We saw when we got there another plane boarding for Dallas, so we jumped into the line in hopes that we would be able to get onto that flight. Unfortunately, no luck, but it allowed us time to go get breakfast before our gate opened.

We went to a place called The Pub and ordered a pancake breakfast. Not as tasty as American food (which we have apparently become spoiled to), but it was much better than the hotel's powdered breakfast.

We got finished with our meal just before the gate opened with our flight, so we walked back, only to jump in line and get told the same thing: you have your temporary ticket, which gives you a seat, but we can't give you your seat information yet....okay...

So off to the restroom mom and I go to get cleaned up, and then to our sitting area. Well, dad and Cary were already there, but we had to go through security...and get the pat down! Fortunatley, it was very tolerable, and not long after that, we were watching others get their pat-downs...what entertainment!

I started to get nervous. Excited that we found a flight to come home on and we wouldn't have to sleep in the uncomfortable chairs, but nervous because I didn't want the 4 of us to be split. But I did come up with an idea: since dad and Cary have flown many times by themselves, they could sit by themselves. Mom and I could sit together and hold each other's hands if needed.

Fortunately, we didn't have to do that. When we got our seats, they were all together, 2 in front of the other. And at the BACK of the airplane. Yes...the VERY back. Last row, by the bathrooms, where the coffee brewed and circulated around us. And all the flight attendants gathered for conversation (there were about 7 on duty and about 20 off-duty--exaggeration).

To cut the story short because there is not much more to report, the flight was long. I watched He's Just Not That Into You (fairly funny, I liked Ginnifer Goodwin) and close to home we hit a bunch of turbulence....I did not like that part!

Gary was great and picked us up and took us to the apartment where we then drove mom and dad home. We got to observe the damage done to the homes and yards after the big storm that hit while we were away. The best part of getting home? Our dog. Our yummy food. And our bed!!