We have arrived at around 6:40 PM , it was like midday, the queue at the immigration was very long with only couple of them working, slowly more officers arrived at the immigration counters which was a relief, and of all the immigration officers i was called by a lady officer. It is a jinx, i never get through with a lady officer. I was rejected student visa for australia by a lady officer, i was rejected a H1 and three B1 visas all by lady officers at US consulate, and now i am standing before a lady officer at immigration in London Heathrew airport. She interrogated me as if i was a murder suspect and let me through after what i thought was eternity, but technically it was a couple of minutes. I was glad that i broke the jinx, i was looking for happy moments ahead.
The next one hour or so was spent waiting and searching for my baggage which had its own mind and did not take the same flight i took to London from Dubai. Those were not the happy moments i was looking forward to. So we filled in a complaint and came out, our taxi driver was there waiting for us, he was sorry i didn't get the baggage and assured that i would get it in a day. I thought, "nice man". Then he drove us to Havant which is about one and half hour away and i kept falling in and out of sleep.
It was around 10:30 by the time we reached our guest house which belongs to an elderly lady. It was very cold and she offered some hot chocolate to which we thanked her and said that we really are very tired and wanted to hit the bed. She showed us our room. There were three of us , the other two shared a big room and i got a small cozy room all for myself.I was glad i packed couple of nightwear and inner wear in my laptop bag giving my wife a deaf ear. I changed into some comfortable clothes and got under the covers.
I woke up to the chirping and other melodious sounds made by birds, it was 7 in the morning and when i pulled the curtain off, the view was simply spectacular, a small garden in the backyard, lawn, garden chairs and tables, flowers blooming, lush green trees everywhere, birds singing in the trees, as if they are happy to see me, cloudy skies, cool breeze i just loved my first English Morning and then i was sure that happy moments are ahead. I am leaving day after tomorrow, and indeed these two weeks gave me a lots of happy moments to cherish.
BTW the luggage arrived that evening, before we returned from our London trip, yes the very first day after we landed the three of us went on a day long trip to London, to Portsmouth harbour the next day, and thats another story.
The next one hour or so was spent waiting and searching for my baggage which had its own mind and did not take the same flight i took to London from Dubai. Those were not the happy moments i was looking forward to. So we filled in a complaint and came out, our taxi driver was there waiting for us, he was sorry i didn't get the baggage and assured that i would get it in a day. I thought, "nice man". Then he drove us to Havant which is about one and half hour away and i kept falling in and out of sleep.
It was around 10:30 by the time we reached our guest house which belongs to an elderly lady. It was very cold and she offered some hot chocolate to which we thanked her and said that we really are very tired and wanted to hit the bed. She showed us our room. There were three of us , the other two shared a big room and i got a small cozy room all for myself.I was glad i packed couple of nightwear and inner wear in my laptop bag giving my wife a deaf ear. I changed into some comfortable clothes and got under the covers.
I woke up to the chirping and other melodious sounds made by birds, it was 7 in the morning and when i pulled the curtain off, the view was simply spectacular, a small garden in the backyard, lawn, garden chairs and tables, flowers blooming, lush green trees everywhere, birds singing in the trees, as if they are happy to see me, cloudy skies, cool breeze i just loved my first English Morning and then i was sure that happy moments are ahead. I am leaving day after tomorrow, and indeed these two weeks gave me a lots of happy moments to cherish.
BTW the luggage arrived that evening, before we returned from our London trip, yes the very first day after we landed the three of us went on a day long trip to London, to Portsmouth harbour the next day, and thats another story.
good thinking, i'd have never thought to pack extra clothes, but then i alwasy have something or th eother in my carryon.
ReplyDeleteIt really seems like the your "English morning" was a perfect welcome for you...after the luggague and lady officer ordeal.
I truly wish you enjoyed all of it. Write more of ur expriences there.