Thursday 13 July

About 9 p.m. on Wednesday night I climbed into the Hotel’s shuttle and headed out to the airport. Dropped off at the Cathy Pacific check-in I got my boarding pass and proceeded through security. As I walked through the checking portal I was greeted by an alarm bell. My braces caught me out even though I had asked and been assured they would be OK.
Inside the departures I called into the Spaghetti House for meal and cold drink.  I needed the drink because of the high temperatures inside the terminal. The same man as last year showed me to my seat. He didn’t smile and still had the attitude of bored indifference. I had a pizza and cold drink which cooled me a little but I was amazed to see all the staff wearing jerseys.
Then off to gate 33. This part of the terminal was a long wide section, like an open tunnel with regularly spaced sets of small buildings housing toilets and air conditioning units. The direction sign read “Gates 20 to 80”. I had only 13 gates to go but with my bag on a small trolley, a bit like walking frame, and multiple moving walkways it was no trouble.
At 1:10 in the morning the AIRBUS A350-900 rose into the air for the 12 hours 35 minute flight to London Gatwick airport. The flight was uneventful as I slept most of the way until about 4 hours from landing. I checked the in-flight map to find we were somewhere over Russia. Landed about 6:20  a.m. British time and left for Cambridge on the 9:25 a.m. National Express bus. Yes I did look for my hat that I left on their bus back in February 2016 and no it was not there. The bus trip included all the London airport terminals. From Gatwick South Terminal to the North terminal, then Heathrow Terminal 2, across to terminal 4, and around the airport to Heathrow central bus station. Fromt here to Stanstead airport and on to Cambridge. The bus finally stopped in Cambridge at Parker’s Piece a large park area boarded by Parkside and Gonville Place. A short walk along Parkside and Mill Road then a right into Mawson Road then down to number 112 and I was at my digs--the Annexe that I booked through the Internet site Airbnb. The footpath was narrow most of the way but once in Mawson Road it was not much wider than my suitcase. Several times I had to go onto the road, about one car wide, to pass the occasional rubbish bin or parked bicycle.
My accommodation is good and in easy walking distance to the shops and SPRI. The landlady had stocked the unit with fruit, apples and pears, and in the fridge milk, orange juice, butter, honey, and bagels.


The front door into the Annexe with side board including fridge, coffee and tea making facilities, and TV. Then around to French doors opening onto a garden and a the view of neighbours.

Inside again and small two-seater table, the bed and one of the two easy chairs. The bottom section of the bed pulls out to form a double. Continuing around is the door into a bathroom with a shower wash basin and toilet. To finish is a double size wardrobe with a full length mirror.
Tomorrow I start work!