Despite a morning of last minute panic of packing, while trying to get the last plants into the house for winter, I still managed to leave home without the boarding pass that I had printed off yesterday. Eunice Thompson saved the day by being able to download the boarding pass onto her iPhone and so we arrived in good time at Heathrow Terminal 3 where we met up with Cliff Thompson and David Neville.
Thanks Angie, for doing the annual airport run. At least next year you’ll be coming with us.
As some of you may know, I’m a bit of a camera nut and for the last 18 months had been searching on Nikon Rumours for details of a new affordable replacement for my D300. Well, about a week ago, the D600 was announced at Photokina in Cologne and said to be available in the UK from 18 September. Usually these are ‘wish dates’ rather than reality. The price was also higher than I was prepared to pay, so imagine my pleasant surprise when Eunice pointed out that the tax free camera shop had it in stock – body only, at more than GBP 400 below UK internet prices. Too good to miss, so I’m dragging yet another camera around.
Nothing else to report, except to say that Emirates gets my vote as my favourite airline. It was my first flight on an Airbus 380 (Thanks to Brian & Rene for spotting my dyslexic keyboard), the double decker monster that has the potential of making boarding and disembarking a nightmare, but it all went remarkably smoothly – well done! Comparatively spacious seating, much better than the usual flight food and excellent soundproofing. A very smooth flight.
Tomorrow we land in Dubai for a 2 hour stop over.
Our home LHR to Dubai
The Cactus Trip Diaries 
Comments on: "Wednesday 19 September 2012 – Amesbury – Heathrow – Dubai" (4)
Hi Paul,
I travelled with Emirates 3 times. Wonderful airlines. You went to South Africa on a 380 nand not 308. Two of the top pilots of Emirates piloting 380s are Maltese and in fact they are the two sons of a very good friend of mine, who also finished as my (boss) headteacher.
Hi Paul,
That would be the Airbus A380. Have a good trip.
D600! So I expect excellent pictures! New lenses too?
The new lens had to wait until I got home – 28-300 mm – I don’t like changing lenses in the field! But the 18-200 mm DX lens worked very well and I quite like the ‘extra space’ in the view finder around the box that shows the image that will actually be recorded, helpful when composing the image.