Day trip to Basel (well almost)

Sunday afternoon on our way to Basel. First part of the journey was from Hull to London on Hull Trains. Mike likes Hull trains (he should do ,we travel on them at least once a week to London, but never normally on a Sunday). Imogen says he knows all the staff by name I don't think that is true, but they all know me.
Saw my friend Kelly on her last qualifying trip before she becomes a Train Manager. That is the really nice thing about Hull Trains, all the staff are encouraged to get promoted, and especially the nice ladies, several of whom started working behind the buffet and are now driving the trains.
After crossing London from Kings Cross station to Paddington, where my good friend who likes marmalade was found, we took the Heathrow Express to the airport.

These trains are vey expensive, but quick and they have TV on them!
Heathrow Terminal 5 is huge! actually it is less of a terminal and more of a shopping centre with airplanes attached. Mike and I studiously avoided shopping (he doesn't give me enough pocket money anyway).

On the plane Mike felt very left out. Everyone else on the flight appeared to to be watching movies on their iPhones, whilst he was listening to a download of the BBC Radio 4 News Quiz on his 3rd generation iPod Nano. But he was not to sad, the iPod was given to him as a birthday present by Lynn and the children, and has a laser inscription to prove it.
He was however, I notice looking over the shoulder of the gentleman on the left getting an eyeful of the Bourne Unltimatum whilst listening to Sandi Toksvig in his earphones (sad man!).
We took off late, but had a 'tail wind'. That sounds unpleasant to a small bear and potentially very smelly too. However it meant that we landed on time, and went by taxi to a very nice Radisson SAS hotel, with free WiFi (UK hotels take note!!!!) so I could post this blog. Thanks also to Kai the receptionist who let me have a photo with him.

Going to Europe

Sorry it has been so long since I have written. I have been to many places, just I have just been too lazy to write them up.
So to make amends this entry is before I go to look after Mike on two trips.
This weekend we have to fly to Basel in Switzerland, because his meeting is at 9:00am on Monday morning.
It is not only the going out on a Sunday and ruining a day with my other charges that is a pain, we have to fly from Heathrow, which means train to London, cross London, train to Heathrow - with check-in time, that means approximately 7 hours before we get in the air! Only good news is it is a country I have never been before, so I can add it to my tally.
Any we will be back late the following night, so I will be back in Imogen's bed.

The second trip is a long one (well in time anyway) to the EU ICT 2008 Conference in Lyon, France. We don't go until Monday evening, but we don't et back until late Thursday - not good - but Mike says it is work.
I will try to get photos of each trip and let you know what I think.