Car arrived at my sisters house bang on time at 6:45am, though I did question the hour and 15 minute time estimate to get from Hampstead to LHR before 7am on a Sunday. As it was the journey took about 40 minutes. Whisked straight round to the drive through check in (I had not used this facility since my first UC flight back in 2002) and was very pleased to be ushered into the departure area, from where it was a quick escalator ride to fast track, which was [:D]
Of course having arrived so early I now had lots of time to kill in the lounge [8D]. First up, breakfast, had the full English with an excellent cup of tea, while I started reading the paper. Then I dumped my bags and wandered back into the terminal to shop. Picked up a nice single Malt with cash from my sister for my birthday [:D] and headed back to the CH.
Next up, time for a shower. Feeling refreshed I sat at the bar had my first champers of the day [:D] and read some more.
At 9am it was time for my Rhinestone Cowboy. Great way to kill 30+ minutes. Nice relaxing shoulder massage, followed by a facial and a shave. Shave could have been closer but who really cares.
After that I went back to the bar intending to have some coffee, instead the stunningly beautiful bartender, who shall remain nameless, talked me into an espresso martini, excellent [}:)]
Suitably prepared I followed everyone else to the gate for boarding. Gate 34 was our gate and for once, there was properly demarcated priority boarding with a staff member actually enforcing some discipline. Good, I like to be as far removed from the rabble as possible [;)]
Had 4A on the upper deck and was very happy with the seat condition. Staff were less friendly than on the way out, but efficient. I did not on either flight get any of the food service, in particular Freedom menu problems that others have had. In fact I was specifically told I could order when I wanted. That may have had something to do with it being the dreaded Meditteranean menu.
In fact thougn I had the Fruits de Mer Thermidor, which was pretty good and Italian Bread Pudding which wasn't bad. Later I had the Ham and Cheese toasted sandwich and a Cappucino cake, yum. During the flight I did ask for a cup of Hot chocolate, which was no rpoblem to prepare apparently, the FC also brought some chocolates with it, very nice. Managed to see episoes 3-6 of State of Play and 1-4 of Green Wing, of course the only problem with such good entertainment is that you don't want to sleep.
As we were preparing to land, the lady next to me, suddenly made a fuss that she hadn't been woken for her meal! So there was much running around finding a couple of sandwiches and a cup of tea for her. The FC had in fact asked if she had everything she needed when meals were being presented and the women said she was fine, so a miscommunication, but the FC handled it very well.
Limo waiting at SFO for the hour or so ride to Napa, back to DW, the dogs and cats. And work [:(!]
