Apart from convenience for Heathrow there are other good things about our location. A pub more or less round the corner. Does have outside tables but we appear to have brought Cypriot weather with us. Full sun and heading for 35. So outside tables somewhat less attractive than they might have been, before evening at least. Also a vegetarian take away with pizza and wraps. And a Tesco superstore about a kilometre away.
Try to arrange outdoor socially distanced meet up with Jenny but proves too complicated. Jenny’s schedule naturally fuller than ours but most problems covid related. Need a place with outside seating. Also nearby parking (for Jenny). Don’t want public transport to get there (for us). In the end we give up and settle for phone chat.
Small fridge in the room so we go to Tesco for a little food. Seems to be a fair escalation in prices in the past year. Expect the shock effect of fruit and veg prices after five months in Cyprus but quite a lot of items that are marked 50% off seem to be the amount they used to be when they were full price. Interestingly there are a number of signs along the shelves that proclaim a price has been matched with Aldi. Aldi and Lidl have done wonders for UK supermarket competition.
Go to top up the iphone with a voucher from WH Smith. No mobile reception on either mobile in the room. Try the hallway, where it is adequate. So down to the front desk to explain the problem and accept the offer of a different room. Room #2 a weirdly precise copy of room #1 right down to the Welcome Jaworski on the flat screen of the tv. Almost feels like an old episode of The Prisoner. Difference is that this room has a window opening to the outside world and not the inner courtyard.
The difference has a benefit other than mobile reception. We’re on the flight path for Heathrow. Must be great insulation, though. No sound at all gets through but we do get to watch planes coming past the window, looking enormous and landing gear down. J points out that they’re obviously higher than our third storey room as we are looking up - slightly - to see them, but it hardly feels like it. And their silence makes it weirder.
Grateful for the air conditioning as actual temperature high exceeds forecaster’s promises/threats. London final highest 37 - at Heathrow. Hottest day in 17 years.
Try to arrange outdoor socially distanced meet up with Jenny but proves too complicated. Jenny’s schedule naturally fuller than ours but most problems covid related. Need a place with outside seating. Also nearby parking (for Jenny). Don’t want public transport to get there (for us). In the end we give up and settle for phone chat.
Small fridge in the room so we go to Tesco for a little food. Seems to be a fair escalation in prices in the past year. Expect the shock effect of fruit and veg prices after five months in Cyprus but quite a lot of items that are marked 50% off seem to be the amount they used to be when they were full price. Interestingly there are a number of signs along the shelves that proclaim a price has been matched with Aldi. Aldi and Lidl have done wonders for UK supermarket competition.
Go to top up the iphone with a voucher from WH Smith. No mobile reception on either mobile in the room. Try the hallway, where it is adequate. So down to the front desk to explain the problem and accept the offer of a different room. Room #2 a weirdly precise copy of room #1 right down to the Welcome Jaworski on the flat screen of the tv. Almost feels like an old episode of The Prisoner. Difference is that this room has a window opening to the outside world and not the inner courtyard.
The difference has a benefit other than mobile reception. We’re on the flight path for Heathrow. Must be great insulation, though. No sound at all gets through but we do get to watch planes coming past the window, looking enormous and landing gear down. J points out that they’re obviously higher than our third storey room as we are looking up - slightly - to see them, but it hardly feels like it. And their silence makes it weirder.
Grateful for the air conditioning as actual temperature high exceeds forecaster’s promises/threats. London final highest 37 - at Heathrow. Hottest day in 17 years.