Running (late) to Reigate
Plenty of running, recovery and regaling before getting in the car and heading up the M4 around mid afternoon.
Our old friend Blackjack has been showing a few electronic twinges of late, much like the rest of the family, full of cold, but he transported us to the Cambridge Hotel somewhere between Reigate and Gatwick. Entertained on the journey by a Saturday afternoon of sport, glad we did a run or two this morning rather than incorporate a detour to Loftus Road as might have been under consideration. Anyway, we got to our 70's themed hotel, nay hotel that hasn't been updated since the 70's but efficiently checked in and leaving our car here for the next week or so. It's called the Cambridge Hotel http://www.gatwickcambridgehotel.co.uk/
Thought we'd take an early dinner in our Fawlty Towers style hotel, no sign of any wilderbeast sweeping majestically across the plain, we were slightly concerned
As it happened, the food, whilst not high quality, was filling, and a bit of a throwback to simpler, but fulfilling times. A shared mezze starter was probably a little adventurous but got us into the mediterranean mood. Peri Peri Chicken not quite nandos but tasty breast floating in surprisingly tasty sauce/gravy with old skool chips. And then piece de resistance, sherry trifle with definitely a tin of fruit salad in Cybil's wine glass. All good, washed down with a couple of Bulmers, 3am start tomorrow, so all set ... 7.5/10 for the first meal of the hols, lucky I am in a good mood.
(Carys)
So, approximately 2 hours after we said we'd leave, we actually did head off - since there was some kurfuffle with jackets needing to be washed and dragging suitcases downstairs. However, we did, in the end, leave the house, with fear of forgetting to close a window, or leaving the passports behind.
The car journey went reasonably quickly, quicker than i thought it would, since we were driving all the way to Gatwick. i think it's odd, that we have driven to one of the furthest airports in the area, and we're going to be going on one of the shortest flights we've been on in recent times. I'm excited though, as I've never been to Gatwick airport, and I can't wait to see how it compares to Heathrow.
Airports excite me, even if you have to be in them at 4am to catch a 6am flight. I find it fun walking around a semi-empty airport, surrounded by people who look like zombies, hungry for sleep rather than brains.
Anyway, we arrived at the airport hotel and I was pleasantly surprised. From what I'd originally heard, we were staying in some sort of a room above a pub, so this accommodation has exceeded expectations. The food was great, I've set a mini goal for myself to try and eat 3 vegetarian meals on this holiday - which I'll try to keep you all updated on. I got meal 1 crossed off with the first meal of the holiday, a delicious penne au gratin.
We'll be waking up in a few hours again, so I'm off to bed.
Our old friend Blackjack has been showing a few electronic twinges of late, much like the rest of the family, full of cold, but he transported us to the Cambridge Hotel somewhere between Reigate and Gatwick. Entertained on the journey by a Saturday afternoon of sport, glad we did a run or two this morning rather than incorporate a detour to Loftus Road as might have been under consideration. Anyway, we got to our 70's themed hotel, nay hotel that hasn't been updated since the 70's but efficiently checked in and leaving our car here for the next week or so. It's called the Cambridge Hotel http://www.gatwickcambridgehotel.co.uk/
Thought we'd take an early dinner in our Fawlty Towers style hotel, no sign of any wilderbeast sweeping majestically across the plain, we were slightly concerned
As it happened, the food, whilst not high quality, was filling, and a bit of a throwback to simpler, but fulfilling times. A shared mezze starter was probably a little adventurous but got us into the mediterranean mood. Peri Peri Chicken not quite nandos but tasty breast floating in surprisingly tasty sauce/gravy with old skool chips. And then piece de resistance, sherry trifle with definitely a tin of fruit salad in Cybil's wine glass. All good, washed down with a couple of Bulmers, 3am start tomorrow, so all set ... 7.5/10 for the first meal of the hols, lucky I am in a good mood.
(Carys)
So, approximately 2 hours after we said we'd leave, we actually did head off - since there was some kurfuffle with jackets needing to be washed and dragging suitcases downstairs. However, we did, in the end, leave the house, with fear of forgetting to close a window, or leaving the passports behind.
The car journey went reasonably quickly, quicker than i thought it would, since we were driving all the way to Gatwick. i think it's odd, that we have driven to one of the furthest airports in the area, and we're going to be going on one of the shortest flights we've been on in recent times. I'm excited though, as I've never been to Gatwick airport, and I can't wait to see how it compares to Heathrow.
Airports excite me, even if you have to be in them at 4am to catch a 6am flight. I find it fun walking around a semi-empty airport, surrounded by people who look like zombies, hungry for sleep rather than brains.
Anyway, we arrived at the airport hotel and I was pleasantly surprised. From what I'd originally heard, we were staying in some sort of a room above a pub, so this accommodation has exceeded expectations. The food was great, I've set a mini goal for myself to try and eat 3 vegetarian meals on this holiday - which I'll try to keep you all updated on. I got meal 1 crossed off with the first meal of the holiday, a delicious penne au gratin.
We'll be waking up in a few hours again, so I'm off to bed.
Only two hours late, out of the house - and no return trip for the passports, bags. This is a high achievement compared to previous years 😉
ReplyDeleteGreat photo of the four of you in the car, well managed family selfie.
Carys mentions vegetarian food, Spain used to be really bad for that - but seems to have improved in recent years.