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Simon Bradshaw ([personal profile] major_clanger) wrote2004-01-12 06:41 pm

Your Correspondent in Colorado

As you might have gathered if you read [livejournal.com profile] bugshaw's journal I am even further away than usual right now: Colorado Springs, for the next week and a half on Job Related Stuff.

The trip out wasn't too bad - BA to Chicago, then US Airlines to Colorado Springs. Business class is out of the question as an employee of HMG, but I managed to persuade my boss to agree to sending me World Traveler Plus (BA's premium economy) where you get economy service (still very good, mind you) but about 20cm extra legroom, which I really appreciated. I'd planned a 3-hour layover at Chicago to cope with immigration and security, but as it turned out I was through those in 20 minutes and then had a 90-minute delay to my onward flight (not to mention two trips across Chicago O'Hare as our departure gate was changed). The upshot of all this was that on arrival I slept solidly to a sensible getting-up time Sunday, despite the 7-hour time difference.

The weather out here is pretty good right now, even a bit warmer than average for the time of year (about 10C rather than freezing). The view is incredible: Colorado Springs is at the edge of the Rockies, so looking east there is nothing but miles of prairie, but turn around and you're facing Pike's Peak and Cheyenne Mountain.

Best bit of all, of course, will be next weekend when [livejournal.com profile] bugshaw is coming out to join me! It's a bank holiday weekend over here (Martin Luther King Day) and - and this is something I honestly didn't know when I planned this trip! - the local fandom are running a convention. Well, it was just a matter of booking myself into the con hotel for the trip and waiting for the con to arrive on my doorstep... :-)

More later,

MC
ext_5149: (Default)

Welcome, welcome!

[identity profile] mishalak.livejournal.com 2004-01-12 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Welcome to Colorado. The con isn't likely to be huge since this is year one. But I'll be there more than likely starting Friday evening. I'm headed back to Denver on Saturday for the DASFA meeting. I would bow out but it is my reelection and though I react with mock horror I do want to be Director of the club for one more year.

Through in 20 minutes

[identity profile] whotheheckami.livejournal.com 2004-01-12 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Were you travelling on a NATO Travel Order? Or have they gone the way of the dinosaur? They always used to smooth things through US Immigration

[identity profile] purpletigron.livejournal.com 2004-01-12 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Have a lovely weekend! Hope to see you soon!

[identity profile] daveon.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 01:16 am (UTC)(link)
I get upgraded a lot now from World Traveller Plus which is nice - worth keeping a BA frequent flyer card.

[identity profile] green-amber.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Wow that's fab! I look forward to hearing about it all :-)_

[identity profile] soupdragon123.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Why can't you travel Business Class? I work for HMG (DTI) and travel to the US, Vienna and Zurich on BA business class. The fact that the tickets are fully flexible and that you can work in the BA lounge (laptop stations, fax machines, not to mention to the free food and drink) make it a necessity!

When negotiating travel requirements, start higher - demand your own personal Learjet and work down to Business Class!

Soup

[identity profile] lproven.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
Coo, I've been there! While on a trip with [livejournal.com profile] tamaranth to visit [livejournal.com profile] rayb, a sterling chap. Who is extremely unlikely to visit the con.

ISTR a rather splendid preserved steam engine locomotive on the edge of town, which we both explored and took various silly pictures around...

Re: Through in 20 minutes

[identity profile] major-clanger.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I had one and showed it to the immigration officer, who peered at it, shrugged, and processed my passport in the normal way. Perhaps they don't see many at Chicago, as opposed to Dulles where they take one look at it and wave you through.

MC

[identity profile] major-clanger.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
The Queen's Regulations for the Royal Air Force say than anyone on a flight of more than 4 hours flies business class. The MoD Civilian Personnel Manual says the same thing.

Both have been overruled by an order that, to save money, nobody travels business or first class. Apparently there are nasty stories in the papers if taxpayers hear that we're travelling in luxury...

MC

Re: Welcome, welcome!

[identity profile] major-clanger.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Look forward to seeing you! We'll be the, um, ones with the funny accents...

MC

Re: Through in 20 minutes

[identity profile] whotheheckami.livejournal.com 2004-01-13 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm on my second passport since leaving the firm, but my passport must still be flagged because I was called over for "the chat" when travelling to Dublin for TCASU