Work travel – Page 2 – Neil Baldwin's blog : Warning contains walking, technology, photography, holidays.

Priority boarding chaos.

After a great weekend with glorious sunny warm weather, I was surprised to see the forecasts for Monday and Tuesday, in Portadown, minimum temperature of -2 night and rain during the day! I had to get my winter coat out.

There was madness going on at the airport, I had to queue to buy a priority boarding ticket, if you could have seen the queue to get through security it was well worth the £4, the queue was longer than I have ever seen it, right down the escalators round the and about 40 yards back into the hall in a queue about 6 deep. The golden ticket got me swiftly through, but not before the woman in the lift who had been extolling the virtues of the priority queue and how organised she was pre-booking at £3, spent 5 minutes looking through her folder for here priority proof of purchase and boarding card not very organised!

There was some confusion as we were herded by the Easyjet queue system because the queuing poles and tapes naturally sent people (without advice from the Easyjet staff) down the special assistance section, which soon became full. There were quite a few confused faces at the beginning until everyone got the right idea and the normal people queue, started to fill up. Note I now consider my self a normal person, no speedy boarding for me anymore, who needs it? I was at the front of the normal people and would get a seat towards the back of the plane, which according to my good friend Rory is statistically the section where most plane crash survivors are seated.

I had a twitter conversation with @mike_lambert who seems to spend his life at Luton and Schipol airports, apparently the priority boarding was closed, even the machine I found open, in the past, I must make a point to save a £ and pre-book the priority lane in future, it is only going to get worse through the summer.

During the flight there was some confusion over our itinerary when the pilot announced that we were over the Isle of Wight, a few minutes later he came back on the tannoy to put our minds at rest we were over the Isle of Man. Not sure who was the astute person who noticed that, I some how filter the messages, and the details of what is bellow is filtered out. Perhaps I should learn to listen more carefully, one day I could miss an important detail?

An uneventful drive to the office and an equally ordinary day at the office was followed by a short drive to the Hotel. After the busy weekend it would be and early night, so I had a shower and went down to the eatery, for some sustenance.

My choice was Traditional Fish & Chips with mushy peas, and it was delivered in the usual swift fashion, where I swear the chef can mind read because the food is clearly cooked to order but always very quickly. Perhaps they have an army of chefs all just waiting for the next food order. I was in bed and asleep by 21:00.

After a goods night sleep I opted for tangerine segments, eggs and mushroom, with coffee and toast. Then checked out and headed to the office for 08:00 for another ordinary day at the office. I left at 15:10, arrived at the airport at 15:50. Security was a breeze compared to Monday at Luton.

I wandered down to the quiet end of the airport where there is no queue for a coffee, and overheard that the Luton flight would be departing from that end of the building, so I stayed put and waited for the flight to be called. When things work out like that it is a good day.
The weather was typical for the time of year with sun followed by dramatic rain storms, I was told the weather in Luton was terrible.
I is amazing how much heat you can generate in your Blackberry battery by sending a large email, I took a picture od the clouds over the runway and after about 15 minutes of sending the back of my phone was really quite warm! It just goes to demonstrate why there is such a difference between the talk and standby times quoted by the phone manufacturers.

They announced a 20 minute delay for “operational” problems, but a check with @easyjet on Twitter got a response that it would be 10 minutes late, I wander who would be correct, the people on the ground I suspect.

The plane used for Easyjet flight EYZ184

First they checked our boarding cards then let us wait on the stairs, then they had us stand on the tarmac for 10 minutes, at least it was not raining! They were boarding someone in a wheelchair via the lifting vehicle, so that messed the speedy boarders up, they had to enter via the back but as they got to the steps the cattle class boards got to use the front steps. The captain announced that the operational problem was an aircraft swap, perhaps they couldn’t start the other one.

The flight was a bit bumpy as we hit turbulence closer to Luton, when we landed at 18:45 it was chucking it down with rain. Was home by 19:45 for a home made frozen curry and a naan.

Miscellany or musings

If you read the last post you will know I am travelling today, and I am obviously inspired to write as this is the second one and it is only 08:26 in the morning. I am sat on an easyjet flight.

The trip to the airport was full of surprises. I missed the parking bus so walked to the terminal. I noticed in the verge what looked like an orchid but it was blue, I must investigate. The priority lane has become popular and I ended up queuing, but still had time for and express and a pain au raisin.

The flight was called on time departing from gate 18 the closest one to the terminal building. I am definitely convinced that speedy boarding is a waste of time. I was at the front of the queue and got a window seat near the back, with little effort, and none of the rush you have when you have Speedy boarding and feel you must be at the front to get the seats you have a right to because you paid extra.

The plane was at 2/3 to 3/4 full. The rain had cleared the atmosphere and the views from the window of the aircraft were great. The Irish sea still looked a bit choppy and we hit some turbulent air as we left the west coast over Liverpool. I also noticed that the Rape crops are starting to flower, it is surprising haw much of the English country side is taken up with it. Does it go to human consumption or animal? I have had cold pressed oil but I prefer the flavour of olive oil.

Arrived only 10 minutes late, and picked up the hire car. The weather in Northern ireland was similar to the mainland typical spring blueskies with big cumulus clouds threatening, a down pour.

Meetings went well, and it was soon time to head back, I left a bit later than I would have liked, so did not bother to fill the car up, luckily for me the petrol gauge was the LCD block type and had not registered any usage so I got away with it. No sooner had I got through security the flight was called to gate 18, don’t you just love it when things run smoothly, (that comment may have been a bad mistake!).

Easyjet plane from gate 18 Belfast International

The flight was quite crowded, more than 95% full, they were looking for volunteers to put baggage in the hold free of charge, to ensure enough room in the overhead lockers. You could tell we were running to capacity because the steward was making announcements to the effect “hurry up and stow you baggage, then sit down so we can take off” but using the politeness only air stewards are capable of.

Despite no speedy boarding I got a decent window seat near the back. I managed to drop my pen twice whilst seated, it can be very difficult to retrieve anything from the aircraft floor once seated. If you lean forward hand have long enough arms then you can just about reach the floor, if the item is any where other that where you feet go forget it, the item is lost. I was lucky twice I dropped my pen and twice I was able to retrieve it.

Apparently we flew over Liverpool at 37,000 feet which compared to Everest nearly 30,000 feet is pretty high, the sun was shining we were way above the clouds, I could see some bubbling up into storms but nothing really very big, so I guess the weather below was probably quite pleasant. The captain announced that we were 20 minutes ahead of schedule, they day just got better and better.
If I was a real writer I would now have to turn this post in to a story where everything was going well then… But I won’t.

Business trip part deux

Just when you thought it was all over, here is the second part to my business trip. I usually try to make two days of it because there and back in one day means getting up at 05:00 and returning home at 23:00 which is a good 18 hour day.I woke up by my phone alarm at 06:55 and so quickly check the BBC news with it, not much to note except on the technology page. Seems Samsung and Apple have been told to meet up and resolve their differences in the presence of a magistrate. About time too the whole patent war thing is stifling innovation, and competition, and it is only the consumer who is losing out.

For breakfast I had a bowl of fruit, mushrooms and eggs complete with some toast. I skipped the coffee because it never tastes good, and I can get one at work soon enough. The usual eclectic mix of elevator music from many eras was being played in the back ground. It is a long time since I have heard Alan Parsons Project “when I’m old and wise?”

Weather was typical April shows when I left the hotel after checking out. The day could turn out to be a busy day we are rolling out Office 2010 to all our users, mostly citrix. Despite everyone attending a refresher conversion course there is bound to be some carnage for our helpdesk.

As expected there were some teething problems but a couple of hours most things were fixed or under stood, things had settled by lunch time. I was on the 17:15 flight to Luton so left the office at 15:15, everything is an hour later now the clocks are on summer time.

Airport security was busier I guess because it is later and a more convenient time to fly and because we are heading into spring. I distracted myself by typing the blog entry and the wait seemed trivial. I was through with an hour before the flight was due to take off.Being busier I skipped the queue in Starbucks and for went a coffee. Whilst queuing to pay for a paper in W H Smith I spoke to a young guy trying to decide whether to go for an additional white chocolate truffle bar, I warned him about the damage it might do to his teeth, he agreed. Turns out he was on a day trip from Edinburgh to the Titanic exhibition in Belfast, in my time a school a day trip never involved a flight. I wished him well.

Someone was maintaining the flight information board and I was able to get a sneak peek (see picture). Seems they use Danware to remote control the devices which run Windows Embedded.

Unusually the flight was called at departure gate 26 new for me and the end furthest gate in the airport, so I was again able to get to the front of the cattle class queue. The flight looked like it would take off on time.

There is a sign at the departure gate which list some of the things you can’t take on a flight, these include fireworks, and gas cylinders, as you would expect, but what about poison, what does that cover? There is probably chemicals in the electronic kit you can take on aircraft such as laptops and mobiles, that contain poison. What about the lithium in the batteries and the exotic chemicals in the chips they contain?

We boarded at 16:51 there were loads of speedy boarders, and looking at the cattle class queue it looked like the flight would be quite busy. Then I had a stroke of luck the front boarding steps were closed but opened as I got level, I managed to get a front row seat. Who needs speedy boarding!

Business trip to Belfast

That time has come round again for the month business trip to Northern Ireland, thought I would share some thoughts with my regular readers while I sit in airport lounges. Flight was at 07:50 so planned to leave 50 minutes later than the usual 5:15 but I woke up early and left the house just after 05:35.

Traffic at Luton was light and I was quickly able to park up and get the bus to the main building.

Priority lane tickets have gone up by a massive 33% to £4, but I still think worth the money. This trip I have decided to do without Easyjet’s speedy boarding, which if like me you can get to the gate quickly is not really of much value.
I grabbed and espresso and a pain au raisin from Pret a Manger, and settled down at a table waiting for the flight to be called. They have changed the flight information displays you now get a carrier logo and expected gate opening time which allows you to plan your coffee and/or comfort breaks.

We were allocated gate 11 which is the furthest gate from the lounge, which for me is good I have long legs and can walk fast so usually manage to get near the front of the queue, today was no exception 5th. Not many speedie boarders today less than 10.

When I travel I like to check in as much as I can on the social networking app is becoming more popular recently. It works like this, you use an app on your phone to check in to venues based on those in proximity to your phone. If you check in more often than another user to a venue you become the mayor and can sometimes get discounts at a venue. It has not really caught on in that sense in the UK yet. Badges are also awarded for visiting types of venue or events, for example “the great outdoor” “jet setter” wino etc etc.

We boarded the plane at 07:30, I chose a seat one row from the back on the right hand window, and I had the whole row to myself, my decision to dump speedy boarding was justified. According to my good friend Rory the back of the plane is where most survivors of plane crashes come from, with speedy boarding I tended to go for the front row where there was extra leg room, so dumping the extra charge might just save my life one day!

I managed to grab back a few mayorships while waiting, W H Smiths, and Gate 18, I also lined up the Baggage reclaim by checking in, and tomorrow I should nail it with a second check in two days.

The plane departed a few minutes ahead of schedule, the trip along the runway was a bit wavy while the pilot/computers struggled against the wind to keep on the straight and narrow. One airborne things settled down and we were up above the clouds in the sun.

My usual way to while the time away on the flight is to attempt the advanced Sudoku puzzle in The Independent before the plane lands which I managed about one time in every three. Today went to form I got right down to about 10 squares unsolved and made a mistake! One of the things I find frustrating about Sudoku is that once a mistake has got into the grid it is nigh on impossible to work back to where it all went wrong.

The pilot announced our descent into Belfast and that we would be on stand almost 20 minutes early, that is always good news, but very loud when you are sat in the row near the speaker, which they insist on having at the highest volume.

Peugeot 106 was the weapon provided to me by Avis, the friendly car rental company, after being in a queue of two people. Was soon on the road to the office, and got there before 10:00 the traffic was pretty quiet.

Spent most of the day in meetings, and help colleagues with things whilst I was on site, and left work just before 18:00 to go to the Seago Hotel.

I had a quick shower and headed down for some food. The selection is pretty good, and the service is super fast and very friendly. I went for the Seafood medley but substituted the boiled potatoes for chips I’m afraid. I soon polished the meal off then headed back to my room for an early night, to make up for the early start.

Belfast again

First trip to Belfast for 2011 today, so an earky start for me, far too early. Straight forward drive to the airport but loads of standing water and fairly heavy rain. The terminal was fairly empty but the queue for security was long, so I paid the £3 to jump the queue.
I realised I had forgotten to bring a pen with me to do the Sudoku puzzle, which the Independents advanced one is my challenge for the 1hr flight. W H Smiths wanted £3 for their cheapest pen which I declined, I did a scout round and found a “Great Britain” pen in the tourist shop for £1.49 so I settled for that one.
The flight was on time but we were bussed to the plane so the speedy board was looking at risk. Easyjet have a cunning strategy for the situation they get only the back doors of the bus opened and ask us to board the bus and move to the front, then at the aircraft they open the front doors first, simple.

Storm bound

The big storm is on and I am waiting for EZY196, which is delayed. My colleague Paul who is waiting for the flight to Heathrow is also delayed.
They made and off to people on Pauls flight £200 plus £400 BMI vouchers, plus flight for tomorrow if they for go their flight today.
Paul was tempted I guess I would have been too! Even if you have to pay for a hotel that is a fair offer.
My flight eventually got called, we are running 30 minutes late.

Signal Crayfish

You may remember that earlier this year I posted a blog entry about finding a claw of a Signal Crayfish on the canal tow path on the walk to work. Well this morning I found a whole live one, I have posted a video of the blighter on you tube for you all to see. They are quite vicious so I handled him with care, whilst getting the footage. If I waved a hand above him he raised his claws, and I suspect that he would have nipped me given the opportunity.

On the way home I came across a man in an inflatable boat with an electric engine, he seemed to be putting out fisherman’s keep nets. When I asked what he was up to he told me he was catching signal crayfish to turn into bait for fishing with. Apparently the harvest was variable sometime many sometimes only one or two per net. I wished him luck and went on my way.

Oh and for the record I had a couple of birding moments today, first a sparrow hawk was chasing a swallow/martin outside my office window, then on the way home two grey heron were chasing each other round and about.

Gorgonzola and caramelised onions

I am stuck at the Seagoe hotel in Portadown, Northern Ireland and tonight was my third night. I have been working my way through the menu, I don’t eat meat but I do eat fish so the options can sometimes be limited.
Monday was fish and chips, Tuesday King Prawn stir fry and tonight was a revelation.
I ordered the fritata with gorgonzola and caramelised onions. The combination was a synergy, the sweet onions counter balanced the gorgonzola perfectly. Gorgonzola being a strong cheese can often over power everything but it did not.
The fritata was actually more like an omelette but it was delicious.

Close encounter with a hare

My walk to and from work takes me along a strecth of the Aylesbury arm of the Grand Union. The farmers have been recently cutting the grass to make hay and I noticed this morning that this means that the hares have no where to hide, and so it makes them easy to spot. In one filed I saw around 6 or 7 all sat together in a group, in a field next to the A41 Aston Clinton bypass.
Whilst I was walking along the canal tow path I noticed ahead on me a hare, which I assumed was running away from me because he had spotted me first. On close inspection it turns out he was running towards me, so I stepped back towards the hedgerow and stood still. Eventually he came to within two metres of me, but seems only slightly phased by may presence. He kept on eye on me whilst he sat there wondering whether he should gamble on past or turn back. He turned round, wandered off and eventually disappeared in to the hedge.

How to tether you blackberry to your windows 7 machine

Stuck at Belfast City I thought I would have one last go at this. As you can tell by this post I was successful.
From this page here are the important bits.

1. Pair your blackberry to your windows machine, via bluetooth.

2. Set up an Internet APN.

Click Start > Settings > Control Panel
Double-click Phone and Modem Options
In the Phone and Modem Options window, click the Modems tab
Select Standard Modem and click Properties
Click Change Settings
In the Standard Modem Properties window, click the Advanced tab
In the Extra initialization commands field, type the following under CODE:

at+cgdcont=1,”IP”,”internet”

Click OK.
In the Phone and Modem Options window, click OK.

3. To configure dial-up networking, complete the procedure that is appropriate to the operating system you are using:

Click Start
Select Connect To
Click Setup a connection or network
Click Setup a dialup connection
In the Dial-up phone number field type *99#
Type the user name web and password web
In the Connection Name field type BlackBerry
Click Dialing Rules
Make sure the profile created in Task 2 has been selected, and then clickOK
Select Connect to establish an internet connection.