Wednesday 31st January 2024

The eagle-eyed among you will recognise that this is not Reykjavík.

It is stand 17 in the Heathrow Bus Station. We are waiting for a bus to take us for a hotel for the night, before trying to fly north on the morrow.

A storm with blizzards meant the flight didn't happen today, and the adventure we have had is one worth telling.

The alarm went off at four, and after quickly dressing, packing, we walked to the car and drove to Terminal 5, parking the car, dropping our cases off and walking to security.

No queues there, so through in 5 minutes, and into Ramsey's Plane Food place, mainly because it has seats at that time of the morning.

We had breakfast, and so were ready for the 07:00 take off time. Only there was a note that the gate wouldn't be announced until 08:10, 70 minutes after we were due to fly.

Nothing happened, so at half eight, I looked at my work mails, and there from BA was the news that the flight was delayed. Until Thursday due to storms.

Go to customer service and they will issue hotel vouchers, etc, etc.

There were seven of us, lead like errant sheep from one desk to another as our progress in leaving the country was erased

Finally, re-entering the country via the e-gates, and going to the bus station to wait for a bus to our hotel.

A short drive from the airport, only five minutes, and the hustle, bustle and noise was left far behind. Out hotel, a dreadful faux neo-classical thing, was functional, it manned by two rude staff. No please or thanks yous.

The room was fine, with our room having the only round window, being in the middle of the plinth on top of the columns.

Opposite was a pub. Which was also a Thai restaurant, so we went there for lunch, and was quite down-at-heel looking, but the food was good, and the beer cold.

Back home for an afternoon snooze, well earned, so as the sun set, we closed our eyes for some three hours, waking up at half six, in time for a "buffet" dinner, down in the hotel "restaurant".

Which wasn't so bad, just the surroundings, and most guests were like us, had expected to be in Iceland by then.

Back upstairs to listen to the football, but bailing with Liverpool thrashing Chelsea 4-1, the result a done deal.