Seeing the World

When I wrote down my bucket list in January I included a couple of UK attractions.  London Zoo and Stonhenge.  I’ve actually done both of them since.  The former being pretty average and the latter pretty cool.  I certainly appreciated the ancient circle more than I did as a kid.

I’ve since mused about taking the time to see other attractions that don’t need a passport.  A day on the Settle to Carlisle railway will happen.  They even ran scheduled services with a steam train recently.  The Giants Causeway is another must do – and I can earn a handful of Avios if I hop on a Flybe plane!  I also mused about having fish and chips in Whitby.  Sometimes the simple things can make life good.

Today I’ve decided to visit Northampton to watch the football.  It’s not the sort of thing I’d usually do on a Tuesday night (football is, Northampton isn’t) but I thought I’d take the chance to see a bit more of what these islands have to offer.

After a look online I found myself struggling for interesting stuff in Northamptonshire.  And I’ve got a lunchtime CT scan so my current plan is to drive to from the hospital to my bed and breakfast, secured with a free night from Hotels.com, have a bath and then head to the Sixfields stadium in the hope of a little more goal action than the last two games have provided.  I’ve woken up a little itchy, the side effects of my medication.  The bath together wirh my special prescribed lotion will be much needed after the drive.  Not my normal pre-match routine.

The journey home has the current idea of stopping at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park for an hour or two.  Nothing challenging, but quite an interesting break to the drive before I head out for a wild night in Halifax with work colleagues who’ve not seen me for a few weeks.  And won’t see me working again.

Hotels.com gave me an interesting offer by email yesterday.  Write a review and accrue double free nights next time you stay.  My initial thought was to utilise the offer in Australia in Brisbane, where I’ve got six nights booked in November.  Cancel that.  Rebook it with my loyalty code.  Earn 1.2 free nights instead of 0.6 free nights.

It’s never quite that simple though.  Fortunately I read the small print and saw a “stay by the end of April” clause.  If there had been further availability at the Iceland hotel, I’d have done the cancel and rebook thing there.  No such luck though, so to benefit from what seemed like a great offer I needed a new booking.

Instead, I’ve booked a bed and breakfast near the North Yorkshire Moors for a couple of nights to explore York, Whitby and the moors themselves.  Sneakily the offer doesn’t allow me to use TopCashback.  Irritatingly the cost of not using that form of rebate discount is pretty close to the value of the extra 0.2 free nights accrued.  So what looked like a great offer initially is only an adequate one in reality.  The equation of cashback v free nights is similarly unexciting for longer stays too.  Something is better than nothing though and this mob is usually better than booking direct.

Still, it’s persuaded me to do something I should have done since I moved to Yorkshire and as a result I will be seeing a bit more of the White Rose county.

It’s not Lancashire though.

That Exciting Moment When a Flight Price Alert Comes Through

I’ve only been using Google Flights for a few weeks and it’s been invaluable for highlighting fares in Chile that Skyscanner failed to identify.

Prior to that, I was looking closely at a number of Dublin to west coast USA routes, frustrated that the £1,000 a head business class sale prices simply weren’t materialising this year.  Although my interest in the trip dropped after I booked Chile, I’d forgotten that I’d activated a price alert function for one route.

When the email arrived earlier, I thought I might go for something in September if the fare was right.  So with joyous anticipation I opened the email to discover travel for two that had been under £3,000 was now … just over £16,000.

I think I’ll put that plan on hold for now …

Doing Something For Charity?

Since my diagnosis I have pondered doing something to support a cancer charity.  In recent years I’ve donated to most Justgiving emails that have crossed my work laptop, albeit modest donations most of the time.

While some have generously described my approach in this blog as inspirational, the truly inspirational people are those who have gone out and done something to actively raise funds.  A special mention to those who do it while suffering from cancer and those who do it after recovery.  Genuinely amazing.

I’ve decided, however, not to do anything at this point in time.  I’m taking some “me time” to travel and there is a little tiredness around that.  The links below will help you to donate.  Remember the Gift Aid box!  As and when the miracle cure comes along, I’ll change my approach and do something more than just travel and blog.

I have set up direct debits with Gift Aid to two charities.  The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Centre have already helped me out with questions around my medication in a way that my local oncologist couldn’t.  They are the centre of expertise for lung cancer research in the UK and if you feel moved to do something on my behalf then I’d encourage you to prioritise this.

I think it’s fair to say that my Macmillan Nurses have put a more human face to cancer than would have happened without them.  For me I’ve been able to text them to chase a couple of things up or to find out if an insurance company has been in touch.  Nothing major in the great scheme of things, but easier than having to ring a switchboard and go through normal hospital bureaucratic joy.  They also organised transport to and from appointments when I was unable to drive.

While I’m plugging support for the former Record Breakers presenterRoy Castle, there’s something ironic about my friend and work colleague Ed Wood entering the Guinness Book of Records this month.  Ed has raised nearly £10,000 for the main Prostate Cancer charity by attending a league match at all 92 English league grounds (plus Berwick Rangers) in 189 days, knocking an impressive 48 days off the previous record.   You can donate here to recognise Ed’s achievement.   I have!

Charitable activity and charitable giving is often a very personal thing.  If there are other causes you feel are more appropriate to donate to just take a moment or two to seek them out and give something.  Or select a link above.  Thanks.

Countdown to the Northern Lights

The hotel picture shows the lights in all their glory.  It’d be nice to think that was some sort of guarantee.  The current aurora forecast isn’t that promising.  It’s a good job my reason for visiting Iceland is more about the geo-thermal.  The lights are a possible bonus.

Yesterday I took time to check the Trip Advisor reviews of the hotel.  It scores highly, which is reassuring as like everything in Iceland it isn’t cheap.  The stay is away from the lights of Reykjavik because I want minimal light pollution and also found similar quality accommodation to be more expensive in the capital.  I did try my sneaky “what’s the current price” trick where I have been known to cancel and rebook for less in the past.  No such joy here though – the hotel is sold out on all four sites I checked!

One negative review I’ve read commented on the free continental breakfast being disappointing due to no hot items.  While I’m a big fan of dead pig to start my day in a hotel it strikes me as a little harsh to criticise a continental breakfast for lacking in meat and fried eggs.  Although I suppose the hotel sits on the North American tectonic plate so I should really expect pancakes and waffles!  Given food prices in the country I might consider getting a man bag to subtly secrete multiple croissant into for consumption later in the day!

One nice feature of the place that I hadn’t picked up on when booking is free tea and coffee 24/7 in the lobby.  I’ve packed a flask that will be ideal for filling up with this!

I think my packing is complete.  Although I am waiting for a £3.50 pair of long johns to be delivered by Amazon.  Temperatures are forecast to be between minus two Celsius and three Celsius.  As an Oldham Athletic season ticket holder I’m pretty confident I’m hardy enough to survive this even without the planned delivery.

It’s a car hire trip this one.  Winter tyres are included.  Whereas my last car in Malta came in at £16, and I’ve just had 953 Avios credited for that, this one is nearer £300 for five days and will only earn 760 Avios.  Go figure.  But given the locals desire to charge silly money for trips I can do myself, it’s pretty reasonable value by comparison.

Flights are with Icelandair.  The alternative of Easyjet doesn’t include hold luggage and, regardless, was coming in at three times the price of the country’s national carrier.  A no brainer.  It’s a paid for food service on board so I think my newly obtained airport lounge pass will come in handy pre-flight in Manchester.  Alas, those pesky Icelandic chaps won’t let me utilise it on the way home.  So filling up with hotel croissants is the order of the early morning pre-departure.

Icelandair did email me an exciting new concept the other day.  “Bid for an upgrade”.  This rather appeals to my sense of snobbery.  I quickly checked what was included.  More leg room – great.  Lounge access – well I’ve already got that now.  Priority boarding – nice to have but it doesn’t really justify paying money for.  So I thought I’d attempt a low bid of £20.  I clicked through to discover a default price off £255 each leg and a slide with a minimum bid of … £120.  While I like the sense of fun and anticipation in this concept they can sod off.  I like posh flying but business class to Iceland is very different to long haul business class.  And tripling the cost of the flights just isn’t worth it for this trip.

I think I’ve covered everything off.  CT scan tomorrow followed by a trip south to Northampton.  Not quite as exciting as doing something from the bucket list.  Hopefully both will end in a win for me.

My Cancer and The God Question

I’ve paid what I consider to be my fair share of life’s inevitable taxes over the years.  The NHS is currently rebating some of that with a rather expensive life extending drug.

The other certainty this earth offers is, however, a bit closer to reality for me than I expected at 49.  My demise within the next 29 months is set statistically at 50%.  There’s an 86% likelihood of not being around in 2022.

As a child I have vague recollections of my Mum being a Sunday school teacher.  I’m not sure how long that lasted because I also recall being packed off to church with my sister while my parents stayed at home.  I assume they were reading the Sunday papers because I’d rather not assume anything else.

I think that grounding makes me want to believe that there is a God.  But as I’ve aged I’ve become more sceptical.  Indeed, for the last two decades I’ve declared myself as an agnostic on the rare occasions that the subject has come up.  I understand the concept of faith and have no issue with those who believe.  But for me you can’t prove things one way or the other.  So I’ve been happy sat on my agnostic fence.

A quick dose of terminal lung cancer hasn’t moved me closer to sharing the faith that others have.  I’ve never smoked.  I don’t deserve it.  While I’ve occasionally sinned, I see myself as having lived a life of good intent to others.  If there is a God (s)he’s rather taking the piss throwing this affliction at me.  I’ve not quite taken the leap into the atheist camp yet but I’m a tad closer than I have been.

As and when the disease progresses things might change.  I suppose it’s possible I might identify with religion in some way as I panic about or prepare for what happens after death.  It’s one way of covering my options I suppose.

In reality I think it’s unlikely.  Recyclable carbon at best is probably the most logic end.  But I’ll stay agnostic for now.

Previous article: The Toby Carvery Experience

A regular part of my Saturday night routine with Chris is a visit to the Toby Carvery.  Relatively cheap and convenient.  Neither of us have ever taken to wild nights out clubbing so this is as rowdy as it gets for this lads event!

Having just seen another goalless draw special, albeit with the added excitement of two penalty saves we wandered on down to our usual haunt for food.  While it’s an environment and food that we both like, the service received is usually nudging that of Fawlty Towers.

Pre-booked table.  Wait for ages to be attended.

Shown to table, give the drinks order to the chap who has shown us to the table.

Head off to the meat counter for roast to be carved, self serve veg.  Return to table.

Eat half of meal, suffer dehydration, drinks order turns up.

Somebody interrupts you mid-conversation and apologises for asking you if everything’s ok.  Regardless of anything, we always confirm that it is!

Finish meal.  Wait for twenty minutes for the plates to be cleared by somebody who doesn’t offer a dessert.

Wait ten minutes to be offered dessert.  Another fifteen minutes to arrive!

Eat dessert, wait twenty minutes for the bill.  Let them know I’ve got a discount voucher and an electronic loyalty car on my phone.  I’m a fan of buy ten roasts get one free!

They return five minutes later to scan the discount voucher.  It fails to knock £1.50 off my bill.  Waitress says she’ll get a manager to sort it.

Manager comes over to say she’s knocked £1.50 off the bill but it looks like the voucher must have been used before.  It hasn’t.

I pay the bill and offer the loyalty card on my phone app for scanning.  “You can’t do that once you’ve paid the bill”.  Sweet Lord!

They find a way to credit me another customer’s loyalty stamp.

Similar frustrations occur every week.  We keep going back, it’s almost a hobby going through it now.

In other news, I’m told by a member of UK Border Force staff that I can utilise the disabled lanes at airports.  This might save a lot of time should Friday’s Leeds Bradford passport control pass reoccur.  I’ll photocopy my blue badge for future travel.

Previously: Topping up the Airmiles

I fell asleep early last night.  It seems I missed a spectacular overhead kick from an Inverness Caledonian Thistle player who couldn’t hit a barn door from a yard when he wore an Oldham shirt.

Today will be calmer than the last few.  A home match with minimal travelling.  And despite nine hours deep sleep interrupted by a moment of panic because I hadn’t taken my daily life extending afatinib pill I woke relatively early.

I have time on my hands early morning.  No need to dive into the shower first thing and head off to work anymore.  So I’ve developed a habit of completing surveys to earn Avios.  I’d estimate the value of this to be around £3 an hour, but utilised smartly I reckon I can get that number above minimum wage and perhaps nearer £10 an hour tax free.  Not exactly life changing, but it fills the time and might just dig me out of a hole if one of my ambitious ploys to position myself in Milan (to get to Chile) or Helsinki (to get to Australia) goes wrong and needs fixing.  Last minute flight booking is usually very expensive.  Avios flight booking isn’t.

I ran out of Avios in January while booking my internal flights in Australia for this winter’s Ashes trip.  All the Qantas availability was business class so used up more points than anticipated.  I’m slightly amazed to realise that within six weeks I now have 10,000+ which is more than enough to buy a return flight from London to Warsaw.  Or Geneva.  I’ve never done Switzerland!

Those 10,000 points have come from two sources.  A friend letting me steal £10 of her Tesco Clubcard vouchers got me 2,400 and the rest have come from eRewards surveys.  If I was working or raising a family there’s no way I’d be doing this!  I’ve also discovered that I get higher rewards by transferring my survey Avios to Iberia rather than British Airways.  This is odd because I can then transfer immediately from Iberia to BA which has better short haul redemption options.

While some might see this as time wasting madness, it might open up some interesting opportunities for new destinations later in the year.  And I genuinely see it as a good insurance policy should one of my more unusual routings go wrong.

Previous article – struggling to get back into the UK

I’m genuinely wrecked.  An early rise, a turbulence affected flight back to the UK and then having to stay on my feet for over an hour to get my passport checked at Leeds Bradford.

The airport provides no seating in the area hundreds of passengers found themselves queuing in today.  When I eventually got into sight of the officers checking passports it amused me and annoyed me in equal measure to see six positions, three manned and three other staff in hi viz jackets directing traffic.  Or rather one of them directing while two of them stood there unable to do anything productive.

Now I spent far too many years as a bank manager and fully understand how staffing skills and staffing numbers can affect an operation like this.  So my irritation was tempered somewhat with sympathy.  But there’s one added dynamic that infuriated me.  Two lines.  EU and other.  Ther “other” line involved a small handful of passengers appearing at random intervals and getting processed immediately.  The EU line involved hundreds of people waiting for approximately an hour simply because our queue was longer.  It’s a little bewildering as to why somebody from, say, Australia should get processed faster than the bloke from Madrid.  Or Leeds.  Or more pertinently Halifax.

Regardless, I did eventually succeed in re-entering this fine nation and headed for the shuttle bus to the long stay car park.  To realise it had left 15 seconds earlier.  A few more minutes wait and I did eventually get on and off.  Another observation being that it’s a longer walk to the disabled spaces than most of the normal spaces!  Go figure …

Next a journey to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary to collect my cancer drug.  A 45 minute drive normally.  A journey from hell today.  As was the trip from hospital to home.

Once home I look to sort out bags for my next three trips.  A night in Northampton.  Five nights in Iceland.  Four nights in Slovenia.  I lose the will to live after one bag.  The others will have to wait.  I’m wrecked and need to learn to manage my condition a little bit smarter.  At least it’s a home game tomorrow.

Previously: My pre-Departure Packing Routine

I don’t consider myself to be a particularLy meticulous person, but self observation suggests I might need to rethink that perception.

On arrival, I took the essential stuff out of my bag.  Toothbrush, toothpaste and deoderant ended up in the bathroom.  My change of socks and undies were placed on the spare bed next to me.  Wallet, passport, EHIC card and medication sit happily next to the bed.

In the far corner of the bedroom sits my bag and most importantly my phone and iPad charger plugged into the wall.  I’ve not utilised drawers or wardrobes because it would be too easy to forget things left in them.

I started packing the day I landed.  I didn’t realise this at the time.  Within my hand luggage I have a series of supermarket bags for life.  One with clothes.  One with electricals.  One with crisps and chocolate (insurance against a late arrival and nowhere being open).  One empty.  Oh, and the clear liquids bag with tiny toothpaste and deoderant.

My clothes bag within a bag kept scarf and gloves in it throughout the trip.  The weather forecast was mild so I didn’t remove them.  But the once empty bag was filled with used clothes every day.

When I leave later this morning I’ll have added my PJs to it and it’s job done.  As soon as I’ve brushed my remaining pegs and sprayed deoderant the bathroom stuff will be in the clear bag and ready to whip out at airport security.  The medication next to my bag consists of cancer drug, tiny scissors and surgical tape to keep my Bell’s palsy eyelid pinned down at night.  As soon as I get up the scissors and tape get bagged.  The afatinib cancer drug lives in my pocket with my passport.  If anything dramatic happens such as hospitalisation or arrest those stay with me!

The final things to go into my bag will be iPad and charger.  Because I want to squeeze every drop of charge into my devices just in case I have 12 hours to kill in a departure lounge somewhere!  After all, my phone died on Wednesday causing me unexpected chaos!

Am I OCD?  Slightly mad?  Or just organised?

I bet I forget the slippers!

Bratislava Over and Out. Next Stop Iceland.