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Post by dennisn on Jun 23, 2016 15:19:43 GMT
I am sufficiently near now to make a small start - 12 hours from now we'll be halfway to Birmingham airport.
I have packed my hand luggage. It weighed 5.75kgs and there's very little in there, just the essentials, MacBook and iPad, cables to charge them, dashcam with cable. So I've taken out my Fisherman's Friends and brought it down to 5.50. I'll consider hiding my iPad under my t-shirt for checkin!
Last minute change of plans. I had been expecting to go see a dentist in Skiathos to be fitted for nice new plastic teeth on Saturday morning, but Angela has spoken to him and he doesn't work weekends. In order to make them during my fortnight, he wants me in there ASAP and that's tomorrow afternoon! Suggested when we land we go straight there in a taxi. We can't do that though - need to offload our cases, so we'll go on the transfer coach then I'll do a swift about turn and taxi back into town. Unless Thomsons run late - he shuts at 4pm.
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Post by *Di* on Jun 23, 2016 15:47:57 GMT
Look forward to hearing from you Dennis... Have a safe journey...
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Post by kelso on Jun 23, 2016 17:27:54 GMT
Dennis, I'm surprised that such a resourceful person as your self doesn't have a poacher's jacket with huge pockets for your technology! Bob
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Post by dennisn on Jun 23, 2016 18:14:05 GMT
I used to have one many years ago before I gave up poaching.
Anyway, we're almost gone - cases are all in the van, so all we need to do is get up at 2:15am, dress and drive off. My hand baggage weighs 5.5Kg, Vera's 7.5! I said forget it, they don't weigh going out. But in any case, her suitcase weighed 17.25Kg and mine 16.1, so there's plenty spare to cover it (not that either suitcase is hers or mine - she just packs everything in whichever suitcase suits her at the time, trying to spread it out between us - at 17.25 and 16.1 she seems to do a pretty damned good job of it).
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Post by Tre on Jun 23, 2016 20:21:39 GMT
Safe journey Dennis. My lot already at Novotel in Birmingham!! Watch out for the Welsh!!
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Post by dennisn on Jun 24, 2016 6:21:41 GMT
Grrrrr! Boarded, belted up and then he gives us the rubbish about small airport parking etc. Estimate delay 50 minutes whilst we sit in these little hard seats!!!
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Post by kelso on Jun 24, 2016 6:26:10 GMT
Sorry to hear that Dennis. I hope that you are on your way before too long. Bob
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Post by dennisn on Jun 24, 2016 6:47:25 GMT
These seats are uncomfortable. I can tolerate it when we're flying, but sitting at the departure stand is awful.
Having said which, this is actually the first time we have suffered one of these delays. Not that it makes my dental appointment this afternoon any more doable!
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Post by Tre on Jun 24, 2016 7:57:23 GMT
Yes I gather Birmgham flight delayed Just announced delay at Manchester "defect in the hold" oh!! Not yet boarded.
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Post by dennisn on Jun 24, 2016 21:52:06 GMT
Well, here we are, with our body clocks all shot to pieces. After arriving an hour late and very little sleep before driving to Birmingham, we lay down our weary heads at whatever o clock (5pm? I don't know!) not bothering with an evening meal, and here we are, midnight, awakened by a plague of tiny moths. Vera has just made me the most wonderful cup of coffee ever, because we're wide awake.
All plans went well (we waved to Costas at the airport and he came running across to welcome us with a hug, lovely man). Transfer coach dropped a couple off in the port, transferring on the ferry to Skopelos, then we were on our happy way to be greeted at the gate of Villa Maria by Stamatia, acting as Front of House, with a clipboard with names on, informing us we are in number 8 (which we already knew).
What on earth is the temperature? Certainly clout-casting time. Angela said it was 34, all I know is my clout got casted in double quick time.
I dropped our bags into number 8, twiddled the lock codes and shot off to town to see the plastic teeth man whilst Vera unpacked. The bus fares are unchanged, still 2 Euros. I have a follow-up second impression visit some time on Monday - he'll phone me for it.
When I got back, we staggered off to the nearest supermarket to spend 70 Euros on startup supplies, came back and decided to try the pool. What a pleasure! It was like swimming in milk and honey, absolutely wonderful, not even the slightest hint of Big Girl's Blouse testing the temperature. I'm guessing the sea will be rather more challenging.
And so back to bed again. The overhead inverted bowl of lampshade is full of these flipping tiny moths - not biting, but dead irritating when they perch on us, so I'm guessing that when I switch the light off they'll begin to drop on us again. And here I am, going to bed without my clout on!
Oh, Lee has overhauled the wi-fi here and we now have 4Gb as far as the eye can see. Thanks, Lee.
Goodnight all.
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Post by *Di* on Jun 24, 2016 22:09:03 GMT
Thanks for the update Dennis... glad to hear you eventually got there ok, hope you have some sleep and start properly on your adventures tomorrow feeling fresh as daisies...
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Post by Tre on Jun 25, 2016 5:53:23 GMT
Morning Dennis. Did your coach transfer drop off at the Hermes? If so, they were " the Welsh" Have a great day.
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Post by kelso on Jun 25, 2016 5:57:55 GMT
Ah great. Normal service would appear to be resumed. Be careful though how much of the clouts you remove, unless you venture to SB! 😱 I hope all goes well withe new gnashers. Bob
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Post by *Di* on Jun 25, 2016 7:42:20 GMT
Dennis a question re the wifi... You say you now have 4Gb? Is that mobile data coverage as opposed to free wifi/broadband?...
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Post by dennisn on Jun 25, 2016 7:57:22 GMT
Is the Hermes in Town? TBH I don't pay attention to anyone else as I'm too excited to be here (or too tired to concentrate). Whoever it was didn't speak Welsh at us and I think they only had two eyes (or that might have been two eyes between them). I don't even remember how many of them there were. We are now something between 10 and 12 hours sleep better off, so next time I see anybody I'll their eyes more closely. Or am I getting mixed up with Norfolk, except I thought theirs was fingers?
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