Bus Class

 A few months ago I applied for and won a scholarship to a Governance course at Oxford so here I am back in the UK. The course does great things for my board director CV and Oxford is a safe bet to deliver a high quality course, but…. Governance. I’m not quite really sure how many posts there will be this week! 

Although it’s a familiar trip by now, the transit is still brutal. A train to Sydney, a plane to Singapore, then London, then an hour by road to Oxford. My flights were in the good seats, but thirty five hours door-to-door takes the glamour out of drinking champagne while flying over Venice. Still, there were some nice moments- a hot stone day spa treat in the First lounge, delicious prawn wontons in Singapore, with silky casings and crunchy chilli oil dressing, and a handwritten welcome note from the customer service manager on both flights. 

In a moment of frugality, clearly reflecting the hazy decision making that comes with exhaustion and minimal sleep, I elected to catch the bus from Heathrow to Oxford. This is not a mistake I will repeat. The bus station was not salubrious and it was a 45 minute wait for the bus.  Quite a contrast to go from my lux plane nest to a tatty bus smelling faintly of chips, vinegar and unwashed socks.  To add insult to injury, the cost saving wasn’t even material. Damn. I did get 2000 steps in walking from the terminal to the bus station, so there’s that. 

QF1 gets in at 6.30 in the morning, so I had tried by a series of emails and phone calls to secure a room at my Oxford hotel either the night before or via early check in, so I could shower and rest once I arrived. After five “Not possibles” I gave up, sweet talked the last person into leaving a note at reception about it and entrusted it to the universe.

The universe smiled on me, and the delightful man at reception called housekeeping and asked for a rush job. I was a bit teary with gratitude and then somehow was telling him about my wedding anniversary (today/yesterday depending on where in the world you are ) and Jason and he came around the counter and gave me a big hug.  

 Within half an hour I was in my room for a shower and a little nap. I’ve had a good wander around the town and am out for dinner tonight with my course cohort. More about that tomorrow.