I wasn't going to write again until I got home to London, but it will become clear why I am shortly.
I packed everything last night and got my laundry back from the happiest house keeping crew in the entire solar system...My garments were returned all shrink wrapped and indivdually sealed in little plastic wrappers - even my knick knacks making packing a doddle...so I had another Green Tea, watched a movie although didn't clock the name and sloped off to sleep. The alarms - (yes plural is correct - I set 2 - just in case one doesn't go off) sprung into action screaming from the rooftops and giving me a coronary at 5.30am (and probably every poor sucker on my floor!) - so I had had about 5 hours sleep...
Once showered I checked I had everything and tidied up the room - I know I should leave it for the cleaners like normal people - but I prefer to leave things how I find them - so yes -I made the bed - and my family are now smiling with a knowing approval....
I thanked the reception desk for a wonderful stay - and said I would be back - but in a nice way, not an Arnie from Terminator way - and I meant it - I would definately stay there again.
I rolled out of the hotel and walked 200yrds to Shinjuku South Terminal station - typically the sun was shining and AT LAST one of the ticket guys (because it was a ghost town at that time) came out of his booth and helped me buy a ticket on the Narita express - which I really appreciated - my hands were full! God I'm going to miss that...I'm going home where you have 20 station staff on hand at Victoria station for instance who talk to everyone like a piece of shit....it is a world away and I'm not looking forward to greeting it.
I caught the 6.33am Express and as we rolled out of town I looked out at a bleary eyed Tokyo, just waking up for another busy day and thought back over the last 8 days with great fondness and a satisfying glow.
It has been a real experience for me to explore a new and enchanting country for the first time and on my own - I NEVER GO ANYWHERE ON MY OWN!...not even Waitrose if I can help it! I felt like I was a million miles away from Nikko and those mountain shrines - but hey - I had an airport to look forward too; airline movies that I have seen before and on arrival in the UK - the gnarled M25 - "Road to Hell" to navigate. But none of that however can diminish my time in Tokyo.
...although a call from Virgin at 8am did try my patience- it came in as I was arriving at Narita Airport! A little voice was advising me that my flight would be delayed and would not now be flying until 1.30pm - we should have been flying at 11.30!!..and of course they do not call you until you are about to arrive at the airport - how considerate. Remaining positive I went to McDonalds and had what tasted like bacone and egg in a sweet sultana bun?? YUK!
I chilled out on one of those hard - "We don't want you to sit here to long" Chairs - which gave you arse ache in 5 minutes flat...so after fidgeting on one of those contraptions for 40 minutes it was 9am and the Virigin desks were open - or at least that's when they said they were opening.
I noticed the economy que was frighteningly long already and no-one was at Upper Class Check in - but they had those annoying ticket tapes barriers up everywhere - so although all the staff where at the desks and ready to go - I couldn't get to them - so I slapped back one of these rippon barriers, beamed a smile and said "Good Morning"....a women with the "I've been sucking on a lemon" syndrome - snapped back flashing her beady little eyes by saying "Oh... are we open??" - I was actually taken aback at the agression...it wasn't the japanese way I had become accustomed to...so I responded by saying ..."well your board said you opened 5 minutes ago at 9am - its now 9.05am so you must be open" and I handed her my passport. I got a look but I just stared and smiled....Funny - a week ago I would have taken her head off...I must be relaxing! ...BUT What a rude cow!
Then happily it dawned on me as I walked away she is pissed off because she will have to sit at the desk for 2 hours more than expected because of the delayed flight - there will be an extended check in period - HA-HA-HA - that will teach her! YIPPEE!! -"What goes around comes around baby! SEE YA! WOULDN'T WANNA BE YA. I hope to god she isn't waiting on me in the cabin - because if she is and her attitude hasn't been adjusted - I will keep smiling - but I will be pressing the button for lots of help; tea; fruit; newspapers, snacks; early lunch; early dinner;....no wait...come back I am now a vegetarian...no wait ...no I'm not....ALL this at 20 minute intervals...(adopt American Southern Drawl) "OOOOOOOOOOH She gonna be busy - REAL busy" Chuckle chuckle!
I got my invitation to the club-house - Invitation? What is that exactly? I've paid for it as part of my ticket so why do they call it an "invitation?" IT ISN'T - it's an entitlement isn't it? What's next? "Hello Sir - welcome - We are pleased to confirm we are granting you 2 Rolls Roye Engines that will be affixed to the Plane wings that we are throwing in for free to celebrate our 25th birthday..." ...and if you are REALLY LUCKY they won't turn off the air conditioning half way through the flight when they THINK you are asleep in order to save fuel! Ever noticed why it gets so hot on the planes on those night flights? WEll now you know
Upon arriving I got to the Virgin Lounge which is just a little bit bigger than your average Bento Box. - clean space and polite staff though - but you don't want to be stuck there for 4 hours...which reminds me - SHIT! I am! ...which explains why I am writing a blog today!
Tokyo - I can't wait to come back! - Sweet dreams.
