Vegas tales part two
Dec. 18th, 2014 05:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
peterbirksTravelling from Lewisham to Gatwick Airport used to be a relatively simple task: you got anny one of eight trains an hour to London Bridge and any one of six trains an hour to Gatwick.
That was before the serious upgrading of London Bridge got under way. These days getting to Gatwick from Lewisham requires superhuman patience and logistical genius.
This time I was sure that I had got it right. Even though Thameslink wasn't running through London Bridge, the Southern services were. So, I arrived at London Bridge at about 7.25am and bought my Southern Rail ticket to Gatwick, before proceeding at an orderly pace to Platform 12. twostation staff what was happening. "Fire on rail side at New Cross" I was informed. Now, in the old days, Thameslink would have provided a back-up. But now the choice was either to make one's way to Victoria, or head south to Elephant and Castle where, I was assured, the Thameslink trains to Gatwick would be stopping.
So, off I trudged. I told myself that I needed the exercise, so I walked.
Actually finding Elephant and Castle station is not that easy when the shopping centre is shut. I walked around for a bit, passed a couple of late late night clubs (where people were still being frisked going in -- an interesting noting point for future reference) and attempted to find some station staff to tell me whether or not the Gatwick trains were stopping there. The timetable informed me, not (Monday to Friday only, it claimed), all of which was a bit disconcerting, as it was now 8.10am.
But finally I saw a train appear on the electronic indicator, a mere half an hour from now. Great.
Luckily I always allow plenty of time, so I consoled myself that I merely had a wait on a cold elevated platform in south London rather than in a warm coffee shop in Gatwick airport.
+++++++
I obtained much consolation when I discovered my plane to be half-empty and my own row of four centre seats to be completely empty. This enabled me to get a bit of sleep, although my prejdice against Virgin Atlantic was confirmed by the four people (two couples) who decided that they were going to get up from their seats and have a loud Essex-type conversation about anything and everything while drinking the free booze and blocking the aisles as if they were in a Romford pub. Sigh. British Airways in future, even if the fare is higher.
I watched three movies (well, 2.5). The "0.5" was finishing off "A Most Wanted Man" which I had seen in part on the flight back from Phoenix. Quality movie, but not particularly engaging.
I very much enjoyed "Lucy", the latest from Luc Besson, which has been slammed by the critics. Of course, it doesn't make any sense, but Besson is more about enjoying the imagery than nitpicking the plot.
"Guardians of the Galaxy" was great fun, top-notch comic adaptation. I'm looking forward to seeing both this and "Lucy" again.
+++++++++
I've been here 10 days now and I have qualified for three freerolls at the end of the week. I played for an hour in the Flamingo this evening and for two hours in Harrah's this morning, and there was no easy money. Mostly locals, either grinders or young professionals who have moved down a level. There was also a young drunk at a nearby limit table, so I gave up the game and came up here.
That was before the serious upgrading of London Bridge got under way. These days getting to Gatwick from Lewisham requires superhuman patience and logistical genius.
This time I was sure that I had got it right. Even though Thameslink wasn't running through London Bridge, the Southern services were. So, I arrived at London Bridge at about 7.25am and bought my Southern Rail ticket to Gatwick, before proceeding at an orderly pace to Platform 12. twostation staff what was happening. "Fire on rail side at New Cross" I was informed. Now, in the old days, Thameslink would have provided a back-up. But now the choice was either to make one's way to Victoria, or head south to Elephant and Castle where, I was assured, the Thameslink trains to Gatwick would be stopping.
So, off I trudged. I told myself that I needed the exercise, so I walked.
Actually finding Elephant and Castle station is not that easy when the shopping centre is shut. I walked around for a bit, passed a couple of late late night clubs (where people were still being frisked going in -- an interesting noting point for future reference) and attempted to find some station staff to tell me whether or not the Gatwick trains were stopping there. The timetable informed me, not (Monday to Friday only, it claimed), all of which was a bit disconcerting, as it was now 8.10am.
But finally I saw a train appear on the electronic indicator, a mere half an hour from now. Great.
Luckily I always allow plenty of time, so I consoled myself that I merely had a wait on a cold elevated platform in south London rather than in a warm coffee shop in Gatwick airport.
+++++++
I obtained much consolation when I discovered my plane to be half-empty and my own row of four centre seats to be completely empty. This enabled me to get a bit of sleep, although my prejdice against Virgin Atlantic was confirmed by the four people (two couples) who decided that they were going to get up from their seats and have a loud Essex-type conversation about anything and everything while drinking the free booze and blocking the aisles as if they were in a Romford pub. Sigh. British Airways in future, even if the fare is higher.
I watched three movies (well, 2.5). The "0.5" was finishing off "A Most Wanted Man" which I had seen in part on the flight back from Phoenix. Quality movie, but not particularly engaging.
I very much enjoyed "Lucy", the latest from Luc Besson, which has been slammed by the critics. Of course, it doesn't make any sense, but Besson is more about enjoying the imagery than nitpicking the plot.
"Guardians of the Galaxy" was great fun, top-notch comic adaptation. I'm looking forward to seeing both this and "Lucy" again.
+++++++++
I've been here 10 days now and I have qualified for three freerolls at the end of the week. I played for an hour in the Flamingo this evening and for two hours in Harrah's this morning, and there was no easy money. Mostly locals, either grinders or young professionals who have moved down a level. There was also a young drunk at a nearby limit table, so I gave up the game and came up here.
