Day two Arrive in Uk

After a couple of hours’ sleep we were up and checked in by 2.45am. We waited in the Emirates lounge until we flew out at 5.15am. Emirates business class is the best!

Flight went like clockwork with no delays and we managed about six hours sleep in bursts. Lots of entertainment choices - I even watched Casablanca. We spent a couple of hours in the bar area talking to George from Melbourne. He went to Melbourne High and was a most interesting businessman and lovely person.

Stopover in Dubai was smooth too. Plane on time and having the wheelchair meant we went directly to the lounge and were there in about 5 minutes. It would have taken us longer to find. Able to have a coffee and relax before being taken to board.

Arrived on time in London to find a wheelchair and attendant waiting. It was busy but we were through customs, had collected luggage and were at the Avis bus in 45 minutes. Picked up a lovely blue Volvo and with the help of satnav were at Cliveden House, our accommodation for the night, in time for the dinner reservation at 8.30pm. The restaurant was in the old stable building and many of the original features were retained. The food did not disappoint.

Cliveden is a National Trust house just 40 minutes from London (and less from the airport). It was built in 1666 and sits on 376 acres of Grade 1 listed gardens with views of the Thames.

We stayed in the “Warrender Suite” named after Sir George Warrender who bought Cliveden in 1824 after it had been left derelict since 1795 when a fire had destroyed almost the entire main house. He commissioned a Scottish Architect William Burn to rebuild the main block but sadly no trace of his design remains as Cliveden once again caught fire in 1849. Sir George enjoyed entertaining at Cliveden and due to his lifestyle was nicknamed “Sir Gorge Provender”.Read more