Day 4 - The Longest Day

I am sitting at my desk on the 4th floor of the Hotel de Paris Monaco. With the French windows open I can hear the fountain in the Place du Casino playing its sweet music. I can also hear the cries of children as they play near the fountain, and can see flashes from cameras as tourists snap their loved ones standing next to the latest Ferrari or Maserati parked outside.

My view from Hotel de Paris Monaco

Today has been a total nightmare and it started the moment I left home.

The cab driver (who reliably informed me that Uganda was a cleaner and much safer country than England) belched and grunted his way to London City Airport. What really upset me, and what he didn't understand, was that opening the windows as you drive through the Rotherhithe Tunnel is akin to smoking 20 Gauloises Bleu simultaneously. By the time I arrived at the airport I was coughing, spluttering and in need of an oxygen boost.

I dislike everything about London City Airport; it's grubby, claustrophobic and very unfriendly. Many of this afternoons flights were delayed, ours by nearly two hours. I feel for the passengers of the BA flight to Frankfurt that was cancelled at the last minute; one woman was openly weeping!

After we had been mugged with excess baggage fees (we were ONLY 78kgs over!) and each given a late departure token (which bought a quarter of a stale sandwich and a slight stomach cramp) we settled down for a long wait in the departure lounge surrounded by depressing city-types and those who really "didn't care" about anything.

Two hours after a bumpy and service-free flight (well there was some service but I have had better at McDonalds in Victoria Station) we touched down at Nice Airport where after a short wait Cyril the driver arrived to drive us to Monaco.

30 minutes later and here we are. I say "we" but Tim and Tom are staying at The Fairmont, two minutes walk away while I am resting up in the "palace" that is the Hotel de Paris.

Tim and Tom looking tired

I am tired and it's late, so a quick meal with the boys and then it's off to purr-dom; the real work starts tomorrow.

Weather: warm and ok

Song of the Day: Mad World (Tears for Fears)