I was so tired last night that the second my head hit the
pillow I was fast asleep. And what a
great sIeep it was. We didn’t wake up
too badly at all after all the wine we consumed and both Kate S and I were glad
we got a few waters in after the main course last night, as it could have been a
lot messier. I think I either maybe
getting older or maybe just wiser with my drinking not wanting to have ‘that’
feeling the next day when you wake up feeling like crap. It’s an awful feeling and I think I have only
had it once when I was home and previous to that it would have been my Scotland
trip-we drank like fish on that tour. I
was booked on a 12.03pm train from Brighton back to London today, so we had a leisurely
breakfast at 9.30am with Mike and then we were on the road at 10.45am for the 35
minute dive back to town.
After saying goodbye to Kate S at the station and the
promise to catch up again during the week, I only had 20 minutes to wait till
my train left. It was perfect timing all
round really. The train was uneventful
and I went back the same way that I had come down the day before. The weather seemed colder today and as we
travelled through the cold and damp countryside I really wasn’t able to see
much with the fog hanging low over the fields.
I am not sure I could live in London based on their winter weather-but
even if I did want to I think I am too old now anyway. It’s funny the thoughts that run through your
head when you have the time to contemplate.
I arrived into St Pancreas at 1.30pm connecting onto the
Tube back to Paddington and finally the hotel again at 2pm. My booking yesterday was in a twin room, so
it was a large room on the lower ground, it was cheaper than the double that
night. Tonight I was in a double and I
was back to the small size which basically had a double bed, a small cubicle
bathroom and just enough room to swing a cat.
The rooms are small, but they are new and in great locations. Tune Hotels.com is a “limited
service” hotel chain claims to provide a claimed “5-star sleeping
experience at a 1-star price” accommodation.
Tune Hotels claims it is aiming for 100 hotels in its global portfolio
by 2015. The limited service model used
by Tune Hotels is similar to the no frills business
model practiced by low-cost carriers such as AirAsia and
has been adapted to the hospitality industry.
As with 'low-cost carriers', Tune Hotels limited service and
pay-as-you-use of add-ons concept omits many traditional hospitality services.
Instead, services and extras are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, including
toiletries, 12 or 24 hours air-conditioning, TV and internet access and also
single or double occupancy. For tonight
I paid 50GBP for the night, which for a new single rom in the heart of
Paddington is not a bad price at all.
When I went back to reception to collect the single bag to swap my
clothes around for my trip to Scotland in the morning I was told that the hotel
chain is opening 3 hotels in Australia next year.
Even though I was tired.
The jacket I had bought with me was not going to cut the mustard up in
Scotland, so I decided to take a walk to Oxford Street, which is only a 15
minute walk and look for a new jacket.
There are 2 shops in Oxford Street that are for the ‘fuller’ woman and I
was able to find a suitable one in the first shop which was a bonus for me as I
really didn’t have my mojo for shopping and I really don’t have the room to be
adding more clothes to my bags.
Proud? I am proud of me, so after
having a good look around the store, buying the jacket, I was on my way back to
the hotel where I was going to mini repack and then hunker down for the
night.
I have finally used all my credit on my Australian sim
card so I am now back on my UK sim again.
I have found the network ‘Orange’ pretty good with coverage and costs
and was happy to be using them again. I
still owe Rach T from my Contiki tour money for topping up my Vodafone account
last year as they wouldn’t accept foreign credit cards online. Big, big mistake and a pain in my arse as I
had to hit up all my British travellers to top up my credit and then give them
money in the local currency where we were.
Paul and Liz were also big cash cards for me as well. I am sure I won’t have issues in Spain and as
for the cruise I am sure when I am in the islands I will be okay and then when
I get into Kenya I will be getting a local sim card there. Ahhhh the joys of keeping in touch while on
the road.
I did some last minute photo loads and then made plans to
meet up with my United Hostees next week and also to see Kate again on
Saturday. I know there are a lot more
people I know in London and who I would like to catch up with, but time and
energy are just not on my side on this trip.
I knew I would be busy for the first few days of getting here, but
seeing it all on paper and then actually putting it all into action is a
different story. So in 5 days I would travel
17,799km to London, 142km from London to Brighton return and then tomorrow I
would be travelling 780km to a small village on the west coast of Scotland
called Taynuilt. That is 18,721km-not a
bad feat in 5 days. No wonder I am
feeling a little tired.
So it’s a goodnight from London town from a weary
traveller. I am looking forward to 3
nights in one place tomorrow, a great new year with new friends (hopefully they
are all nice and they like me) and what will bring in hopefully an exciting new
year for me full of love, laughter, compassion and adventure.
Tomorrow is the last day of 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment