The D day

,The day before I flew here was a bit emotional for me. Driving to work for the last time was strange. Working out at the office gym for the last was odd. Saying goodbye to people and giving them hugs were unusual. Later in the day, we went to the going away happy hour at Eclipse Di Luna. It was really of them. Oh my the way, several hours before, I found out that new job is what we all thought. I thought it was going to be more about trading but it's more Cash Management. My boss found out about this after her visit the previous week. I'm fine with it since I need to have cash management experience if I want o move up. I just know nothing about it but I will learn on the job. I got home from the going away and packed more. This is again the time that I wish my mom and sister are with o they can help me pack.

The next day is the D day! I got up early at 4.30AM, not to do Insanity but to do some work before I left. I took Chloe to the vet to get the tape worm treatment, she was excited as usual to see other dogs.  I took her later to Elishia's house. She would stay there until she was picked up the next day by Air Animal. I decided to get pedicure to prep my feet callous free ready to do a lot of walking in London.

Karen came and took me to the airport around 5.30PM. It was quite early since traffic could be a bear during rush hours. I just checked in at the kiosk and paid for my third baggage. I took them to the counter and was hoping Delta didn't ask me if it was a bike....fortunately, he never asked. I saved $150.

How do you pack for 16 months

Right after I dropped off my bike at the oversize counter, Beth and Regina came. We had dinner at the cafe but the security check. I flew from the new international terminal.  Nice open open. I had a good time. We laughed so hard on silly stuff. A lot of inside jokes. It was fun. Around 8.30PM, I felt I had to get going. Boarding was in 20 minutes. It was sad to finally say goodbye.

The security line moved fast. Within 10 minutes, I was at my gate. The boarding was onetime. As a Sky Priority passenger (eh hem), I boarded right after passengers with special needs. International Business class seats are like a dentist chair but more awesome. You can literally turned it to a bed. Fluffy standard size pillow and comfy blanket, yeah not one of those blue or red thin blankets that sheds like a cat. 

Plenty of space

   

I looked around, looked like a lot of people on a business trips. Not long after we took off, dinner menu was passed on. The appetizer was 3 kinds. You didn't pick one but you got all 3. Grilled shrimps with roasted corn, spinach arugula feta salad and potato leek soup.

Just Appetizers

I just ate my shrimps, the soup was a bit bitter and I wasn't hungry for salad.  Actually, I wasn't hungry at all. I just ate because it was in front of me. The main course was served later. You could choose between vegetarian pasta dish, chicken with polenta, and beef. I think Michelle Bernstein was the chef for Delta. I tried the chicken but it was just okay. Everything was served on top os a wooden tray, layered with a think napkin, and the food was served in little ceramic dishes with real silver ware. Dramamine really kicked in right after main course. I told the attendant that I would pass on dessert, which was ice cream and fruit. I was out. 

I woke up around 5AM Atlanta time, so I had 6 hours of sleep, not bad. The smell of coffee and pastries was in the air. I had Egg Quiche, chicken sausage, fruit and two cups of coffee. Good breakfast to start the day. We landed an hour later. Right before then, the attendant was passing some goodies. One of them is the Fast Track card. Fast Track is for a special line at the immigration. There were 100 plus people at the regular line and 20 or so at the Fast Track. Another perk.

Immigration was quick. I headed to the baggage claim area. My bags came out quick but I was still standing around for my bike bag. Finally I thought it had to be taken to a special pickup area or something. I asked an officer and he showed me where to pick up an oversized baggage. I started heading to that direction and he asked me if I was picking up a bike. It turned out they put the bike by the conveyor belt. Luckily he spotted the bike.

The custom, ehhhh practically no custom, because there was no officer standing around and no form to fill out. I passed the declare area for people that have anything to declare, no one was there. Weird. Unlike US customs, they had dogs, opened suspicious boxes and bags etc.

As soon as I passed the main door, I saw a man in suit holding a piece of paper with my name on it. Trevor is the car service chauffeur that is used quite often by the office. He was a middle aged man, nice, friendly and short, no wonder Jen called him the little guy. After he put my stuff in the back of the van. He asked me if he could take off his jacket. I was like what? Of course you can. This is not Secret service. We chatted a bit on the way to London. Traffic was flowing since it was not during rush hours. I called the front office. They said I had to pick up my keys first. The office was super tiny. I was expecting an office with a lobby. 

We found the address of the flat. I used my key to open the main door. I saw stairs going up and a door to a unit on my left. My reservation is for a garden level but there's no stais going down. I tried my key to open the unit on my left. It worked. It must be it then. After Trevor left and all my baggage put inside, I looked around. From one of the windows, I looked down and saw a small patio on the lower level. What? I'm in the wrong flat. I got out from the building, and this is what I saw.

 

Another door below the main door

 

This is my flat

I dragged all my belongings, two 70 lbs bags and a bike down the stairwell. The unit was quite spacious for London. 

Kitchen and living area

Master bedroom 

Patio

I think the flat is 650 sq ft, which is really spacious. When I was looking for a flat, many of them were 400 sq ft. Tomorrow will be another adventure, flat viewing day.