That's it then

Last Friday, Barbara and I were up early to catch a plane at Humberside Airport. I was finally going for my final act as a seafarer. Maersk aka Nedlloyd in Rotterdam have a yearly jubilee and pensioner's party and we were invited. We were at the airport at 7.45, two hours before the flight. We were able to check in straight away. So what to do for the next two hours. The answer was a bacon buttie in the cafe. Ever since a report a few weeks ago knocking the bacon banjo, Barbara has been looking for an excuse to have one. Wish she'd have picked a cheaper venue!!
The flight across was excellent. We touched down 45 minutes after we took off and only taxied a few minutes. So that we were in the terminal less than an hour after take off and before the schedule arrival time. Getting our luggage and then the train were equally pain free. There were a few sudden stops on the train but we were in Rotterdam and caught a taxi to get to the Golden Tulip Hotel by 13.30.
We went up and unpacked and then went for a walk to get something to eat. We finished up just round the corner at the Brasserie Jungle. We spotted Pork Sate on the menu and plumped for that. A good move. It was really delicious. A good start. Replete, we went back to the hotel and had a bit of a zizz!
We had received instructions to assemble in the foyer at 1815 so we went down and met up with the British contingent. Amazingly I knew all of them. Two captains and three chief engineers. Once more, we were polarized by nationality. I am the only one who sailed with the Dutch but I didn't know anyone. There was a bus laid on to take us to the venue, het Zalmhuis.
We were the last off the bus and so last through the cloakroom and up the stairs so we were last to have our photographs taken. I had taken a large bag of Walker's Cheese and Onion crisps for our personnel superintendent, Jeannie. She is an ex pat and I have spoken to her but not really met her. However, I thought it was her next to the photographer so asked and it was. It meant I was able to get rid of the crisps and share a joke so the photos should have been okay.
The party was up on the second floor and was very well organised. There were drinks and hors d'ouevre served on Chinese soup spoons. I caught up with several of the office staff I had met when I was on the Partnership at Work committee. We were soon called to our table which was hosted by Jeannie. Entrees were served and then the presentation to jubilee staff, 25 years and 35 years. The soup course was served next and then it was the pensioners turn. We all got a fountain and ballpoint pen set. Very nice indeed. The food was excellent. The main course was a deer steak which was really delicious. The sweet was a selection of different pieces. Each course was served with a different wine and there were no empty glasses.
All good things have to come to an end and the party ended at 1130pm. As we were leaving, our partners were given a small lucky bag of coffee, biscuits and chocolate. The bus took us back to the hotel where most of us headed for the bar to continue the night so it was 1.30am before we got to bed.
The next morning, we took it easy and had a leisurely breakfast before checking out and walking to the station. We had lots of time because we weren't flying until 1645. We wandered around the airport and then headed for the departure area. It was chaotic. There were three desks open and queues of 25+ at each. We joined one and about 20 minutes later the stewardess came down the queue and told us that she was closing the desk and we should join a different queue. We had been toying with the idea of taking our relatively small case as hand luggage but Barbara had her scissors. She suggested we dumped them so we did and went the hand baggage route. We had no problem.
Once more the flight arrived early and we waltzed through the formalities and we were home by 1710. We sagged for the rest of the evening
Sunday was catch up day and Church day. Mind you we spent the afternoon filling in our visa forms for our holiday. We couldn't send off for them before because we required our passports for the Rotterdam trip. I have dealt with bureaucracy most of my working life so probably overegged the pudding with the details. We went and posted them on Monday morning so we now wait and worry!