1 EAGLETON NOTES: Back in Scotland

.

.

Saturday 19 March 2016

Back in Scotland

However you look at it it's a long flight from New Zealand to Scotland. I left Wendy and Martin's at around noon on Wednesday 16 March NZ time and arrived at Anna's in Glasgow around noon on Thursday 17 March UK time. NZ is 13 hours ahead of Scotland so the journey took 37 hours. Of that about 28 hours was spent on planes and the rest in terminals and lounges and cars.

In my early long haul travelling days I never slept and between the two countries I actually read each of the books The Glass Palace and Wild Swans on two single journeys. (Two books that I would heartily recommend). This time I slept 6 or 7 hours on the leg from Melbourne to Dubai and another couple of hours on the leg from Dubai to Glasgow. I am extremely fortunate in that I have never suffered, as many people do, from jetlag.

For many years I flew Air New Zealand and felt a considerable loyalty to the airline but their insistence on trying to route me via LA (my preference being Hong Kong) and latterly with no code-share partner between Glasgow and London travel became irritating. So about 5 years ago I did something I'd not done since 2005 and trawled the other carriers for fares. I discovered that Emirates not only flew direct from Glasgow (removing the need to transit via Heathrow) but were about half the price of Air New Zealand. I've been flying with them ever since. 

My preferred eating on the journey:


The first priority yesterday (and today!) was to go to Café Torino for a bacon roll breakfast. Bacon rolls seem impossible to get in Napier so I was really wanting one and their bacon rolls are superb: good bacon on a good quality crusty-topped roll washed down by excellent coffee. 


 
What do Emirates and Café Torino have in common? Excellent, friendly staff.

27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thanks Carol. I love NZ but it's always good to be back in Scotland.

      Delete
  2. Glad to hear such nice things about Emirates. I've never flown them, but it sounds as if we should give them a try if they go where we need to be. Your bacon roll sounds fabulous. One of my favourite things too. xoxox DeeDee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DeeDee I've been very happy with Emirates. It's good to hear there are other bacon roll devotees ot there. Come to The Woodlands in Stornoway and be equally impressed.

      Delete
    2. Thanks! Maybe one day I will! xoxox DeeDee

      Delete
  3. That's good news. So glad you managed to sleep and had no ill effects this trip. Enjoy your treats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Pauline. I'm amazed that I had such good sleeps but grateful.

      Delete
  4. Good that you're back safe and sound. Your travelling food looks very healthy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Red. Yes it was healthy and enjoyable.

      Delete
  5. Just the Minch to brave now. The weather has been "scorchio."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well Adrian at least I'm crossing the Minch by 'plane and not ferry although the ferry should be very pleasant at the moment.

      Delete
  6. Both my wife and I have been under the weather for a couple of weeks, and the one thing we're both really looking forward to is a BACON SANDWICH. I shall buy the bacon tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry to hear that you and Lady Magnon have been under the weather.I hadn't picked that up from your blog (but I am a journey from NZ behind at the moment). I do hope that you have and enjoy the bacon sandwich sandwich very soon.

      Delete
  7. Your preferred eating in flight could very well be the reason you don't suffer from jet lag. Light fare that doesn't weigh heavily in the stomach. Just a thought...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You may well be right Lee. I rarely drink alcohol when flying either (perhaps I should fly more frequently!) although I did accept the glass of bubbly and a small red wine on the last leg this time.

      Delete
  8. I agree with Lee, your food pictured looks light but healthy and delicious. This looks like a special ordered kind of meal to me, not the meal that they usually serve! Is it a fruit and cheese plate?
    (Richard has to order a gluten free meal, but it is just as bad as the regular one that I get!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kay it was a choice from the standard menu but without the main course.

      Delete
  9. Oh! And glad you had such a good journey back to Scotland! Say hey to Pat for me! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will do that Kay. Pat traditionally picks me up from the airport when I arrive in Stornoway (which will be tomorrow - Tuesday - Afternoon).

      Delete
  10. The days of long haul flights are coming to an end for us oldies. Emerates sound like a good alternative. Singapore airlines are hard to beat too.A bacon roll sounds delicious but a deviation from the healthy looking fare on board.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diane no air travel is fun these days and long haul is even less fun. I'm afraid that bacon rolls don't count as unhealthy in my book (probably because it's a book I choose not to read.).

      Delete
  11. Your in-flight meal looks delicious, very much my kind of food! I'd be very happy with that. "Main courses" are sometimes over-rated, aren't they.
    Good to know you're almost back home now. Extremely long flight(s) are what truly puts me off visiting places I'd like to see.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Meike long flights are not fun and probably never were. However the overall experience used to be more relaxing.

      Delete
  12. Welcome back, Graham. That food looks very posh. Were you flying first class? It's something I've always wanted to do....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Business Class Frances. My days of economy class for long haul are over.

      Delete
  13. Gosh you're back in Scotland already...time sure did go by quickly.
    Home food makes coming home all that more special....your bacon roll sounds tasty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Virginia I was only away from Scotland for 6 weeks and away from the Island for nearly 8.

      Delete

Comment moderation is activated 14 days after the post to minimise unwanted comments and, hopefully, make sure that I see and reply to wanted comments.