I wasn't sure where to post this as I've done a composite report of all our trip. It doesn't really fit in the Other Airlines forum and so I decided (having consulted with a higher authority 
) to post in this forum since it was a Flying Club event.
As posted previously this trip was to take Aer John to the Grove to take part in the final of the Virgin Atlantic Swingers Club. He headed off with the blessings of the school and I took time off work and mid-afternoon we headed off to Cork for the start of our adventure
Wednesday 5th October
ORK – STN
FR 906 Dep 17:20 Arr 18:40
We arrived in plenty of time for check-in and the queues were very small. As Aer John was checking in golf clubs he had to go and pay extra for them with the result that the clubs cost more than our own tickets. [:0] It was a whopping €25 (€20 on Aer Lingus and €15 on Easyjet which you pay at the time of booking) We were told that boarding would commence at 16:50. Fine, except that the incoming flight was not scheduled until 16:55. [:o)]
In the departure lounge as soon as the incoming aircraft touched down we were herded in to the usual Ryanair-type pens, before being herded down the stairs to wait for the passengers to leave. Once that was accomplished there was the usual dash across the tarmac with the result that those with young children who were supposed to be pre-boarded were stampeded in the rush. On board the first six rows were cordonned off as this wasn’t a full flight. I tried my usual strategy of taking an aisle seat while Aer John takes a window but this time it did not work and so I had to move to a middle seat.
This was one of the newer Ryanair planes sans seat pockets, tray tables, recline – everything. The top of the seat in front above where the tray table would have been was bright yellow and the safety card was stuck in the middle of that. The seats seemed to be more upright than most and in a rather hard and unyielding leather. They really were most uncomfortable. The cabin crew were all from different areas of the EU - mostly France and their accents made any announcements including the safety demo unintelligible. Worry not, however. Michael O’Leary’s aggressive marketing methods were entirely safe. At regular intervals one of the cabin crew pushed a button, whereupon a tape extolled the virtues of the Ryanair food, Ryanair scratch card, Ryanair phone card, Ryanair rail tickets and Ryanair duty free. I however, fired up the ould Ipod and tried to relax. I had a book with me but didn’t feel like reading. Basically it was a boring tedious flight but it did what it says on the tin and got me from A to B so I suppose I shouldn’t complain.
That evening
The flight arrived on time and I headed for the Hertz desk to pick up the car. I had printed off a Route Planner to my hotel on the AA website and had it in my hand coming from the plane but by the time I got to the desk it had gone missing. I knew however my route was on the M11 and the M25 and I was also aware of the exit I needed but after that I was stuck. [:(] I was staying at the Thistle St Albans and all I knew was that it was in Chigwell Green. On exiting the M25 and following the signs for ST Albans I spotted a roundabout with a sign pointing to Chigwell Green and decided to take that road to see where it led me. The travel gods must have been on my side as the hotel was just at the roundabout.
The staff there were delightful and although I had a route planner printed off from there to the Grove (which entailed going along the M25) they told me a shorter route which would be less congested in the morning. Aer John elected to go into the pool and so I decided to do a dummy run and tried out their route. It took me all of 10 minutes which augured well for the morning.
The Grove
Next morning Aer John was up bright and early. We had been told that the place would be open for us from 8:30 am and that his tee-time would be 10:40. There would also be a driving range available. We left at 8:15 and as the route took us over (or under as the case may be) the M25 and the M1 that part of the journey was slow. I was glad I had done the run the night before given that we were in the middle of the rush hour traffic and so I knew what lane to be in etc. We arrived just after 8:30 and all I could say on my first impressions on driving into the Grove was “WOW!” Obviously the place had been landscaped a la Capability Brown but that landscaping had given way to a golf course.
I don’t know how it is but the moment we entered the grounds around the hotel and saw the VS guy ready to direct traffic I just knew this day was going to be special. We arrived at the Stables clubhouse where Aer John’s bags were taken, tagged and a VS crew member was there ready to escort him in to register. His shoes were still in the car and I forbore to remind him of this as I wanted to see some of the action and we had already been told that no guests would be allowed. Aer John was in seventh heaven. He had registered and been allocated his own personal locker in which there was a golf shirt, a cap, shoe bag, balls, a brush tee (I think that’s all) I was told he was the youngest competitor and the only one from Ireland and they seemed entirely delighted with him. He had been too excited to eat breakfast but food was laid on for the competitors and I was leaving him to it when the organisers invited me to stay and have something to eat. There was a selection of fruit, pastries and of course, the VS signature bacon rolls.
After that Aer John headed off to the driving range and I to pack up and check out of the hotel.
My day
Since guests were not allowed I had arranged to meet a friend for lunch (Globaliser, for those of you who visit FT. We met via another board and have visited each other and other board members over the past five years. Pity he favours BA – but then we can’t all be perfect) After a most enjoyable few hours I headed back (thanks to the brilliant Thameslink service between St Albans and City Thameslink) and thereon to the Grove where I tried to make contact with Aer John.
The Grove again
On arrival in the Grove I was quite content to stroll around the grounds away from the golf course and await events. I had been told I could turn up between 4:00 and 4:30 for prize-giving and that satisfied me as I realised it was a concession to Aer John’s age. However text messages and calls to him were getting nowhere (even though I felt he should have been off the course by then) so at 3:45 I decided to stroll towards the clubhouse only to see him coming in from the course. He told me that he had done well and was currently in the lead with 41 points. I suppressed a desire to turn cartwheels around the place and let him go in to do whatever you have to do at the end of a competition. After all I was well ahead of time and let it not be said I don’t know my place. [8)] So there was I, sitting outside, texting the first news back home, when one of the organisers came out and invited me in. [y] Well! You would have thought I had won the competition! There were cocktails alcoholic and non-alcoholic available for every body and I was invited by a VS crew member for a neck and shoulder massage. I was escorted to the spa (which was luxurious in the extreme) to a massage from an IFBT. There were three of them there that day offering them to all the contestants. Aer John also had a massage and it was at that time I learned he could not be beaten. As you can imagine the phone calls and text messages were only flying between the Grove and Ireland.[^]:D[^]:D
Once everyone was in there was a BBQ and the amount of food was generous to a fault. There were chicken and beef satays, all kinds of salads, prawn and salmon kebabs, steak, burgers and lamb chops and I only discovered the desserts when I was leaving. I’m sure that there was much more but I discovered one thing - you are much more restrained than the Irish! We would have been over that like a swarm of locusts!
I met with Aer John’s playing partners and a nicer group of guys you could not wish to meet. He himself felt totally comfortable with them from the start. He told me that from the first tee he felt he could win it and he never lost that feeling and I think it was in no small measure to these guys. Thank you guys! [y][y][y]
The Director of Flight Operations at VS, Matt Lee was in charge of the prize-giving. Aer John won two UC tickets to any VS destination (where do we go guys?) a golf bag (yeah, thanks! We’ve got to check it in to Ireland) and a golf club. We had a lovely evening talking to everybody and it really was a magical day
The Return
I had decided that it would be easiest all round to book into an hotel at STN and so I had made reservations at the Radisson-SAS. We headed back on the M25 and thanks to roadworks we were seriously delayed. I know we were over time in getting the car back and how much we were charged I haven’t yet looked and I don’t care. It was too good an experience to miss. On the way over Aer John’s phone was hopping and although I had loaded it before we left his credit ran out and so he took over mine! The Radisson at STN is very convenient as it is a brief walk away from the terminal. I enjoyed the hotel – it is a lively place unlike a lot of airport hotel which seem to be just dormitories.
Friday 7th October
STN –ORK
FR903 Dep 10:45 Arr 12:00
The beauty of the Radisson was the short walk to the terminal and to check-in. Again we had to pay for the golf clubs - £17 this time, but fortunately not for the extra golf bag. Check-in was quick and also the lines at security were not too bad. I find Stansted rather a soulless airport. The main concourse is more like a railway station with people scurrying here, there and everywhere and you don’t get the same sense of adventure that you do at places like LHR, and the gate areas are rather bleak. This of course is not helped by the pens that Ryanair has set up so that those in the magic 1-65 can get on first.
This flight was sold out and the passengers as they assembled appeared to fall into two distinct groups – retired middle-aged couples from Germany and Scandinavia and groups of young people descending on Cork for the weekend. I suspect that in the latter group there were a few stag and hen parties, which judging by the noise level on the plane had already started. [:(!]
Aer John snagged an exit row and knowing the plane was full, didn’t even try my strategy of taking the aisle seat and hoping no-one would take the middle one. The plane was an older one with seat pockets and tray tables still in place and was much more comfortable than the one going over.
The flight was adequate. We landed and parked behind EI712 which had just started its engines and so could not exit from the front door. Then we were held on the edge of the tarmac for a few minutes until it had turned and the jet stream from the engines was pointing away from us. Our bags came out shortly after and after a quick hop over to the long-term car park we were on our way home to the congratulations from all and sundry.
It was a terrific trip and I really could not praise the event organisers and Virgin Atlantic enough for the effort and attention to detail that they put into the day. Thanks, everybody [y][y][y]
) to post in this forum since it was a Flying Club event.As posted previously this trip was to take Aer John to the Grove to take part in the final of the Virgin Atlantic Swingers Club. He headed off with the blessings of the school and I took time off work and mid-afternoon we headed off to Cork for the start of our adventure
Wednesday 5th October
ORK – STN
FR 906 Dep 17:20 Arr 18:40
We arrived in plenty of time for check-in and the queues were very small. As Aer John was checking in golf clubs he had to go and pay extra for them with the result that the clubs cost more than our own tickets. [:0] It was a whopping €25 (€20 on Aer Lingus and €15 on Easyjet which you pay at the time of booking) We were told that boarding would commence at 16:50. Fine, except that the incoming flight was not scheduled until 16:55. [:o)]
In the departure lounge as soon as the incoming aircraft touched down we were herded in to the usual Ryanair-type pens, before being herded down the stairs to wait for the passengers to leave. Once that was accomplished there was the usual dash across the tarmac with the result that those with young children who were supposed to be pre-boarded were stampeded in the rush. On board the first six rows were cordonned off as this wasn’t a full flight. I tried my usual strategy of taking an aisle seat while Aer John takes a window but this time it did not work and so I had to move to a middle seat.
This was one of the newer Ryanair planes sans seat pockets, tray tables, recline – everything. The top of the seat in front above where the tray table would have been was bright yellow and the safety card was stuck in the middle of that. The seats seemed to be more upright than most and in a rather hard and unyielding leather. They really were most uncomfortable. The cabin crew were all from different areas of the EU - mostly France and their accents made any announcements including the safety demo unintelligible. Worry not, however. Michael O’Leary’s aggressive marketing methods were entirely safe. At regular intervals one of the cabin crew pushed a button, whereupon a tape extolled the virtues of the Ryanair food, Ryanair scratch card, Ryanair phone card, Ryanair rail tickets and Ryanair duty free. I however, fired up the ould Ipod and tried to relax. I had a book with me but didn’t feel like reading. Basically it was a boring tedious flight but it did what it says on the tin and got me from A to B so I suppose I shouldn’t complain.
That evening
The flight arrived on time and I headed for the Hertz desk to pick up the car. I had printed off a Route Planner to my hotel on the AA website and had it in my hand coming from the plane but by the time I got to the desk it had gone missing. I knew however my route was on the M11 and the M25 and I was also aware of the exit I needed but after that I was stuck. [:(] I was staying at the Thistle St Albans and all I knew was that it was in Chigwell Green. On exiting the M25 and following the signs for ST Albans I spotted a roundabout with a sign pointing to Chigwell Green and decided to take that road to see where it led me. The travel gods must have been on my side as the hotel was just at the roundabout.
The staff there were delightful and although I had a route planner printed off from there to the Grove (which entailed going along the M25) they told me a shorter route which would be less congested in the morning. Aer John elected to go into the pool and so I decided to do a dummy run and tried out their route. It took me all of 10 minutes which augured well for the morning.
The Grove
Next morning Aer John was up bright and early. We had been told that the place would be open for us from 8:30 am and that his tee-time would be 10:40. There would also be a driving range available. We left at 8:15 and as the route took us over (or under as the case may be) the M25 and the M1 that part of the journey was slow. I was glad I had done the run the night before given that we were in the middle of the rush hour traffic and so I knew what lane to be in etc. We arrived just after 8:30 and all I could say on my first impressions on driving into the Grove was “WOW!” Obviously the place had been landscaped a la Capability Brown but that landscaping had given way to a golf course.
I don’t know how it is but the moment we entered the grounds around the hotel and saw the VS guy ready to direct traffic I just knew this day was going to be special. We arrived at the Stables clubhouse where Aer John’s bags were taken, tagged and a VS crew member was there ready to escort him in to register. His shoes were still in the car and I forbore to remind him of this as I wanted to see some of the action and we had already been told that no guests would be allowed. Aer John was in seventh heaven. He had registered and been allocated his own personal locker in which there was a golf shirt, a cap, shoe bag, balls, a brush tee (I think that’s all) I was told he was the youngest competitor and the only one from Ireland and they seemed entirely delighted with him. He had been too excited to eat breakfast but food was laid on for the competitors and I was leaving him to it when the organisers invited me to stay and have something to eat. There was a selection of fruit, pastries and of course, the VS signature bacon rolls.
After that Aer John headed off to the driving range and I to pack up and check out of the hotel.My day
Since guests were not allowed I had arranged to meet a friend for lunch (Globaliser, for those of you who visit FT. We met via another board and have visited each other and other board members over the past five years. Pity he favours BA – but then we can’t all be perfect
) After a most enjoyable few hours I headed back (thanks to the brilliant Thameslink service between St Albans and City Thameslink) and thereon to the Grove where I tried to make contact with Aer John.The Grove again
On arrival in the Grove I was quite content to stroll around the grounds away from the golf course and await events. I had been told I could turn up between 4:00 and 4:30 for prize-giving and that satisfied me as I realised it was a concession to Aer John’s age. However text messages and calls to him were getting nowhere (even though I felt he should have been off the course by then) so at 3:45 I decided to stroll towards the clubhouse only to see him coming in from the course. He told me that he had done well and was currently in the lead with 41 points. I suppressed a desire to turn cartwheels around the place and let him go in to do whatever you have to do at the end of a competition. After all I was well ahead of time and let it not be said I don’t know my place. [8)] So there was I, sitting outside, texting the first news back home, when one of the organisers came out and invited me in. [y] Well! You would have thought I had won the competition! There were cocktails alcoholic and non-alcoholic available for every body and I was invited by a VS crew member for a neck and shoulder massage. I was escorted to the spa (which was luxurious in the extreme) to a massage from an IFBT. There were three of them there that day offering them to all the contestants. Aer John also had a massage and it was at that time I learned he could not be beaten. As you can imagine the phone calls and text messages were only flying between the Grove and Ireland.
[^]:D[^]:DOnce everyone was in there was a BBQ and the amount of food was generous to a fault. There were chicken and beef satays, all kinds of salads, prawn and salmon kebabs, steak, burgers and lamb chops and I only discovered the desserts when I was leaving. I’m sure that there was much more but I discovered one thing - you are much more restrained than the Irish! We would have been over that like a swarm of locusts!
I met with Aer John’s playing partners and a nicer group of guys you could not wish to meet. He himself felt totally comfortable with them from the start. He told me that from the first tee he felt he could win it and he never lost that feeling and I think it was in no small measure to these guys. Thank you guys! [y][y][y]
The Director of Flight Operations at VS, Matt Lee was in charge of the prize-giving. Aer John won two UC tickets to any VS destination (where do we go guys?) a golf bag (yeah, thanks! We’ve got to check it in to Ireland) and a golf club. We had a lovely evening talking to everybody and it really was a magical day
The Return
I had decided that it would be easiest all round to book into an hotel at STN and so I had made reservations at the Radisson-SAS. We headed back on the M25 and thanks to roadworks we were seriously delayed. I know we were over time in getting the car back and how much we were charged I haven’t yet looked and I don’t care. It was too good an experience to miss. On the way over Aer John’s phone was hopping and although I had loaded it before we left his credit ran out and so he took over mine! The Radisson at STN is very convenient as it is a brief walk away from the terminal. I enjoyed the hotel – it is a lively place unlike a lot of airport hotel which seem to be just dormitories.
Friday 7th October
STN –ORK
FR903 Dep 10:45 Arr 12:00
The beauty of the Radisson was the short walk to the terminal and to check-in. Again we had to pay for the golf clubs - £17 this time, but fortunately not for the extra golf bag. Check-in was quick and also the lines at security were not too bad. I find Stansted rather a soulless airport. The main concourse is more like a railway station with people scurrying here, there and everywhere and you don’t get the same sense of adventure that you do at places like LHR, and the gate areas are rather bleak. This of course is not helped by the pens that Ryanair has set up so that those in the magic 1-65 can get on first.
This flight was sold out and the passengers as they assembled appeared to fall into two distinct groups – retired middle-aged couples from Germany and Scandinavia and groups of young people descending on Cork for the weekend. I suspect that in the latter group there were a few stag and hen parties, which judging by the noise level on the plane had already started. [:(!]
Aer John snagged an exit row and knowing the plane was full, didn’t even try my strategy of taking the aisle seat and hoping no-one would take the middle one. The plane was an older one with seat pockets and tray tables still in place and was much more comfortable than the one going over.
The flight was adequate. We landed and parked behind EI712 which had just started its engines and so could not exit from the front door. Then we were held on the edge of the tarmac for a few minutes until it had turned and the jet stream from the engines was pointing away from us. Our bags came out shortly after and after a quick hop over to the long-term car park we were on our way home to the congratulations from all and sundry.
It was a terrific trip and I really could not praise the event organisers and Virgin Atlantic enough for the effort and attention to detail that they put into the day. Thanks, everybody [y][y][y]
