This is: Tasmanian Devils (2010)
Although this trip took place just a matter of a few weeks after its immediate predecessor, a great deal had happened in that short intervening period. On a personal level, I had finished one contract and started work on another. Of somewhat wider consequence, the UK had endured a tedious General Election campaign, leading to an outcome that was far from boring: the first hung parliament in 36 years, resolved through the formation of the first coalition government in many decades. The fledgling prime minister was still grappling with the newly acquired reins of power as the time came for my latest adventure to get underway.
It is a simple fact of life when you live on the north-western fringes of Europe that long journeys to interesting destinations often begin with a bit of a whimper. This was to be another of those low-key departures, as my modest objective for the evening was simply to reach London's Heathrow Airport, getting myself into position for what was to come. The first step couldn't have been easier: leaving work at 4pm, I was in my car by one minute past the hour, demonstrating one benefit of working in one of the quieter parts of Edinburgh city centre. It was a bit of a struggle battling through the afternoon school-run traffic towards the airport, but I was soon handing over my keys at my usual long-term car park and riding the shuttle bus round to the terminal building, then following the familiar routine that ended with me safely installed in the bmi Diamond Club lounge and awaiting my flight to London.
(Link to flight log in side panel)
The wait for checked baggage was mercifully short on this occasion, and the good luck continued when I reached the Hotel Hoppa bus stop to find an H1 pulling up. After the usual diversions to T3, one of the Holiday Inns and the Novotel, I found myself in the familiar surroundings of the Crowne Plaza, where I was informed that I was being upgraded to the Executive Floor. I actually had one of the rooms directly adjacent to the lounge and it was noticeably bigger than most of the others. Despite the reasonably early hour and my proximity to the lounge, I decided against a visit, whiling away the time by making a start on this diary and by catching up on the news on TV.
Not the most exciting start to a trip, but as ever, it brought the promise of greater things to come!