Day 1 - Get Me Away From This Weather

After six weeks of what felt like continuous rain, particularly as I walked a minimum of at least 4 miles every day, this trip could not have come any quicker.

Our 3pm taxi arrived at 3.04pm without an apology for being late. I advised him accordingly which seemed to prompt him to put his foot down through Cuckfield Village, swerving to miss an elderly couple crossing the road who angrily gesticulated at us as we raced past.

At 3.30pm, our National Express Coach duly arrived and transported us via Gatwick to Terminal Two at Heathrow Airport. The 2 hour journey gave me the opportunity to watch the disappointing 2nd half of the England v Ireland Rugby match with lacklustre England losing 21 - 42. On the plus side, the football scores were more to my liking with Brighton winning at Brentford and both Chelsea and Villa drawing.

During the coach journey, we embarked on a picnic of pork pies and crisps, neither of which I had even licked let alone eaten in the last 6 weeks. This was washed down with a bottle of white wine, which again was a treat for me in 2026.

We (I) had been on a strict diet of virtually zero carbs and lots of exercise since New Year.

However, the best bit about this coach trip was that it had cost us just £5 each way with our trusty Blue Light Card.

Upon arrival at Heathrow, we checked in and made our way to the bar. I bought 2 single gin and tonics costing the exorbitant price of £20.20. Luckily for us, we had smuggled half a bottle of gin in a water bottle through security and we topped up our glasses with ever stronger G&Ts.

The Thai Airways flight to Bangkok departed on time (around 9.35pm) and much to our happy surprise it was just about a third full. After dinner and a couple of drinks, Jackie stretched out and fell asleep using my thigh as a pillow.

Song of the Day - Flying Out Of London by The Long Ryders.Baca lagi