Day I (extension) Next stop Luton
We are going to stay in a hotel near Luton Airport. This airport is well known for charter flights and at its peak 10 million passenger a year pass through it. It is one of the cut price airlines hubs so it still maintains a decent throughput of passengers most of whom “think” they are going somewhere for 1 UK pound although you and I know it will probably end up costing as much as all the other carriers.
The airport was made famous in England by an advertisement for Campari which had a model called Lorraine Chase who was asked by some handsome young rake “Were you truly wafted here from paradise” to which she replied in a strong cockney accent “Nah Luton Airport” this place is mostly seen as a reference point than an end point so this is only my second time trying to find it.
Luton is normally a place you would drive “through” via the motorway rather than driving “to” but there is a method in my madness as will be revealed later. Not that I have anything against Luton it is fine I think but it is neither one thing nor the other. Too far away from London to be included in the conversation but not far enough away to have a real identity of its own .Anyway by now we have the GPS up and running so we can find our destination without out further forages into the countryside nice though it is. I know from experience where there is an airport there are hotels so I managed to get a very good deal on a couple of rooms.
It is only when we have checked into our destination and returned to the car for our things that I realize exactly how full it is. In fact one might say it is fit to bursting. There are folding chairs and small mattresses, food stuffs of various origins (although my pies are being kept close to me in case of emergency situations). Pillows and suitcases and sleeping bags and bottles of different alcoholic beverages. Perhaps Jo thinks there is a national shortage of these or we may encounter some climatic abnormality which would precipitate the need for them but I am reminded that whilst England has a lot of different types of weather it is quite temperate so maybe these are to cover the “just in case” there is an apocalyptical scenario we are covered for a day or so.
Ten minutes of trying to uncover my case leaves me slightly lightheaded and whatever is left which is most things gets covered by a blanket which rather than hide everything only servers to announce that this car is full of stuff. Well is anyone fancies breaking in and stealing a set of folding chairs or a pillow then their need will be greater than mine.
The hotel is slightly faded although it has all the facilities needed and even has a fan in the room as obviously air-conditioning had not been invented when it was constructed. The lack of sink plugs in the bathroom and the soap dispensers screwed to the wall speak of the type of previous clients of which there must have been many given the scars on the bottom of the doorway gouged deep from countless cases. I add my personal mark to the door as I enter and unfold one of my better suits which had been crammed into the bottom of my case. I am on an extended trip and will meet up with Judi for a wedding in Wales in a week’s time so if I can get it hung up I might just get all of the creases out.
We plan to meet at 8 pm in the bar so enough time to collect myself and get organized. Don’t unpack the bag as we are only here one night so drag out the wash kit. This is always wrapped up in a “Gap” bag as one never wants to find the various liquids seeping through onto ones clothes does one. Clean shirt for the morning, shorts and flip flops. Ok done now for dinner.
I grab a couple of menus (with pictures) to aid us and given we are in England where you get your own drinks (you could die of thirst waiting at your table) I approach the bar. As I try and pay the exorbitant price for a white wine of indeterminate heritage and a pint of warm flat beer (oh to be in England) the girl behind the bar (who must have eyes like a hawk) says that’s a Moscow metro ticket and she is correct it is with a wad of different banknotes I am trying to sort out be denomination on the bar. She then explains she is also a Muscovite and we chat for a few minutes about how long she has been in England and what is going on back home. She then expands the conversation by calling in her friend who is Ukrainian but speaks Russian as they all tend to do. This is all getting quite bizarre and a little like a language lesson so I break off and return to the table we have seconded on the “Patio” and by now the fizz on the wine has died down somewhat and it may be drinkable. “If that’s champagne it’s in the wrong style of glass” Jo stated. “You should be so lucky” I reply.
We pass an hour or so catching up even though we only saw each other 3 or 4 weeks before, there is always something to say about families. Jo is hoping to get some more background on mum on this trip from mum’s sisters, even though you are brought up with them sometimes you don’t really know your parents and once gone you lose the ability to ask so I suggest a list (its Judi’s training that does it) so we won’t forget what to ask.
There is some function in the conference center of the hotel which finishes and a flood of young girls spills as if a dam has burst into the foyer and onwards onto the patio. To a girl they are dressed for a night at the disco including heels they are not used to (and seem to be on the point of falling off) and hair which is incapable of independent movement due to the gel and spray holding it place. Not sure what the event was but these girls could have been in some fashion contest except everything is a little “overdone” and none of them look very comfortable in their regalia. Lots of giggling and texting going on as one would expect from this generation of future leaders of our country. (that’s a worry)
Enough of this it’s been a long day and time for bed, arrange an 8:00 breakfast which is when they open.