Finally Arrived!

Yes, that is right, I have finally arrived in England! I flew in to Heathrow London Airport yesterday morning at about 7:30 am. I flew from Colorado Springs at 11:39 am to Chicago International Airport, then had a 2 hour layover until 5pm when I boarded and got settled for the 8 hour flight. Fortunately, I had an easy time at O'Hare, we landed on Concourse A, and I just followed the mob of people where I then took a bus to Concourse C on the other side. Luckily my gate was right next to the food court! Once I arrived to the gate and got settled, my Aunt called and informed me that my cousin was actually flying into the same airport that day, so we ended up having just enough time to grab dinner before my flight! The plane was really big and really nice. I don't think I have every been in a plan that big before! On my way back to my seat I walked through first class which made me wish I had a seat up there! Everybody had their own reclining/chaise lounge as a seat, cup holders, magazines, (probably their own mini bar...) and big T.V's with remotes. I bet they slept well on the flight over! I sat in economy next to a nice, lively woman named Rebecca who was on her way to meet up with some friends and follow a band around England, Ireland, and Scotland for the next week. We all had our own mini televisions with different movies playing on every channel. Was a great time to catch up on movies I've never seen! Once arrived, I went to baggage claim and picked everything up, then realized I couldn't carry all 4 bags...some nice airport employee noticed my struggle and brought me over a trolley =) Unfortunately I was on my own because Jonny wasn't allowed to pick me up til after I went through UK Customs. There I stood in a line for about five minutes, answered some questions, flashed my visa, and went on my way! Jonny was waiting for me just around that corner and then we went out to find the car. Poor Jonny thought he was going to be late picking me up ,so forgot to check and see which area he parked at! Its ok though, gave me ample opportunity to stretch out my legs after the long flight!
We then decided to drive back to the base hotel, I was completely out of it from the flight and time difference, and Jonny told me that there is actually a congestion tax to bring your car into London city limits. We decided to save the London excursion for a day I wasn't cranky and fully coherent! The drive back to base was about 2 hours and the scenery was lots of green English countryside! Couldn't see many of the villages, as the roads we were on were almost bordered by giant trees or really high bushes, keeping everything behind them covered. Nothing about the ride home seemed all that strange until we would get to a round-a-bout...everybody drives so quickly through those, and I would definitely get all tensed up when we would enter one "the wrong way". Once we got to the hotel I was so completely exhausted, so I took a nap for a couple hours, then woke up around 3ish to a VERY hungry husband =) We drove over to the BX and grabbed some Charley's hot sandwiches and wandered around for a bit. Then we went back to the hotel and I fell asleep at about 6:30 and stayed completely out until 8am! Definitely needed that! Today when we woke up, we dove right into the English experience and had breakfast at a drive through Burger King! Not a whole lot of options on base...so the "experience" might have to wait until tomorrow! Since we are still staying in the hotel, we spent the day trying to get everything situated with our overseas housing allowance, but unfortunately the finance office closed today at 11, so we didn't get everything accomplished we had hoped. But it worked out ok, we spent the day playing around base and getting some basics that we will need when we get our housing worked out. We also made a trip to Feltwel in hopes of finding a sofa sleeper, so enjoyed a nice drive and had a chance to check out some English countryside! Passed a few old churches in the fields and drove by Lakenheaths flight line where all the F-15 planes take off on our way. We saw two of the planes take off on our way back...EXTREMELY loud! They take off pretty frequently, so you can always look up and see groups of 2 or 4 planes in the air. They actually have "viewing" areas right off base where people can go and watch them take off and land. Luckily we have a front row seat at our hotel as well as by the fire department Jonny will be working at. I'm hoping to get over there and take some pictures before long, I told Jonny I feel right out of a Top Gun movie! He laughed... =) Tomorrow Jonny begins his First Term Airman Course where he will be training and learning new information about process and procedures around the base. So while he is doing that, I will probably spend the day in the finance office working on our travel and housing reimbursements so we can get moved in! Tonight we might go to the Enlistment Club for a celebratory drink, and explore some villages and local stops this weekend! More photos to follow! Happy Thursday!