One day one travel – how many miles can I go?

Seasons greetings ladies and gentlemen, readers of the Fairy GodSister’s blog. Welcome! To the old-timers and the new readers, welcome! You are the reason I write; where would I be without your company?

So, what are your plans for Christmas? Mine? I’ll tell you in a minute.

Greetings from Texas, where I will be spending the holidays. Any bloggers in Texas? Say hello or something!

Now, how about how I got here? We’ll start from Friday, where I had a production meeting, did all sorts of running around, was frustrated by Guaranty Trust Bank (will update that story or do a follow up one in a bit), and lost my way close to midnight in the name of helping a friend.

Saturday, 7am we were on location to shoot my latest project, six short pieces on indigeneity, religious freedom, and belonging. I promise you can have a look when it’s ready! Lost an earring, somehow managed to spoil my HTC, but we had a lovely shoot and I’m really grateful to the cast and crew. Really grateful.

Got home about 9pm, entertained a guest till 11pm, then bedtime. Did I mention I’d been invited to Lagos for a meeting on Sunday? A meeting I couldn’t get out of. So it was off to the airport first thing in the morning. Drove to the airport, caught my Air Peace flight. It was alright I guess, nothing extra. Except for the silly man who wanted to pee just before we landed and started yelling at the hostesses when he was told he had to return to his seat. Silly, silly man, with all his “do you know who I am” foolishness. Yuck.

Insert GSD. Big smile.

Meeting was incredible – great minds, even greater ideas, and the outline of a lot of work that God wiling will lead to a greater, even more prosperous tomorrow for everyone. Amen.

Race back to the airport, big thank you to the gentleman who drove, and for pleasant company. Of course, my 5.35pm flight was delayed. Aero Contractors would have been renamed Chioma Contractors if they were on time! SMH. Finally boarded past 7pm, so I got in after 8pm. Thank God JT insisted I pack before the Lagos trip.

Monday morning. 22nd of December. Was up at 5.25am to put finishing touches to my packing. Packing? Yes. I’m off to London. I’d checked in, so I kinda took my time. Wrong move. Very wrong move.

We got to the airport area around 7.50am, and the queue stretched as long as it broke my heart. And there’s some refurbishment going on at the airport so what should have been a straight drive was windy, tenuous, and slow enough for me to come down, get someone to drag my box, and we raced to BA’s check-in counter.

There was only one lady left, and I was told there was no way I could get on the flight. I was directed to the manager on duty, and I was still telling her how I couldn’t miss the flight (if I had a pound for every time I’ve used that phrase, sigh) when she said, “I’ve already told them to check you in”. Oh!! Thank you God! So they accepted my first suitcase, don’t roll your eyes but my carryon was in the taxi. So I ran out, got it, and ran back. I must have looked like a really crazy lady, sigh. Anyway, boarded, slept. Woke up to eat, slept. Woke up, struggled through Rio 2 (yup, watched it again), Boyhood, and half of The Hundred Hour Journey, and it was sleep, a sandwich, and we’d landed!

Immigration sorted, and I got in a pod to head to my hotel. To be honest, I decided to stay in this hotel because I’d be able to take a pod there. It’s the only hotel accessible by the pod so why not? Plus it was waaaay cheaper than Sofitel and the Hilton which I’d considered, and for the price I paid, it was really lovely! A couple selfies, trip to Dartford and back, and the loveliest chicken tikka masala after, it was bed time!

Morning! How did you sleep? Very well for me thank you… Shower, a bit of work, then it was breakfast (my usual omelettes, hashbrowns, beans, and sausages) and back to the airport in the pod. More selfies! And yup, another trip! Last one for at least two weeks.

Hello Austin!! Ten hours after. With their silly airport without free WIFI. We took a couple selfies, popped into Houston, where we had a lovely dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins – so lovely to see everyone! We gisted, laughed, recounted stories, and now, we’re at another cousin’s house.

Thank you Lord for strength. For safe travels. For safety, especially on Friday night. Thank you for family, for love, for peace, for togetherness. Super grateful Lord! Thank you for a the beginning of a fabulous Christmas!

14th – Of sleep, Viko Car Hire, and more sleep!

Greetings from London! Whoop! The weather is chilly, just how I like it (my skin flourishes in cold weather)! Would have been happier if it was a tad less grey and depressing sha, haba!

I’m looking forward to resting from the marathon three weeks I’ve just had, so grateful I can go away, refresh, and come back.

So, want to hear about the trip (as always)? You know, sometimes when I have an uneventful flight I’m a tad disappointed there’s nothing to write about.

Anyway, so about this one; so you know I got home about 10.30pmish, had yahuza, suya (see why all my #FitFam and dieting will not prosper) and drank my medicine (which I couldn’t find this morning by the way). What I didn’t mention in that one was the fact I decided to ‘lie down for a bit’ when I went into my room. Next thing I knew, it was 3.30am. Of course my boxes were unpacked, I’m not even sure I knew where my passport was!

I began putting things into the chosen suitcases, arranged passports et al, and it looked like I would be ready on time. Time check? 5.30am, the time I’d arranged with a taxi company to get me. And there begins the Viko Car Hire story.

The general idea for Viko Car Hire is that you pay N5000 for them to take you home from the airport, and then your return to the airport (whenever) is free, provided you give them 24 hours notice. Nice deal/business model right? Considering rides back to town from the airport cost between 4000 and 6000 (one-way), depending on your negotiation skills.

I heard about them around the middle of the year, and I’ve used them ever since, with minimal complaint. Here’s the thing though: there’s a difference between the dream and then the people to bring that dream to life (a.k.a the Viko drivers).

I personally think they’ve taken on a few devil drivers recently because in the last two months I’ve been yelled at, picked up late, and not picked up at all.

This particular morning, my driver was running late by an hour and so I rang their care line. They said they’d reach him for me, only for someone to call back and say the driver said he’d rung my number and spoken to a man the night before who he told his car was bad so he wouldn’t be able to come take me to the airport. And ‘the man’ (whoever he was) said ok.

Lol. Silliness in the highest – how much more foolish can people get? Here’s everything I did yesterday here. Where is the man he spoke to o!!

I was upset. Sweet baby Jesus I was so upset! How can we be playing this kind of rough play with an international flight?

How did we resolve it? They begged me to come to the airport myself (of course everyone knew the driver was lying through his teeth), and the driver would refund my fare.

Got to the airport (kisses to my sister for dropping me at the junction where I caught a cab) where I got the staff of Viko to sign something saying someone would refund my money. Rubbish.

Boarded the flight, buckled myself in, covered my feet (I can never sleep with my feet uncovered, even in scorching weather), and I slept. Immediately. After speaking to my friends and loved ones of course (if we spoke or chatted this morning you’re in the number, he he he.) In my book of life ke nan.

So I slept til it was food time, somehow I’m unconsciously programmed to wake up to eat when I’m really hungry, and meal over, I slept a bit and then watched Rio 2. Loved it, it was just incredible! Can’t wait to buy it for Boo Boo, I know he will thoroughly enjoy all the singing and dancing in the movie. Cartoons are the way forward jor!

Err, want to see the official trailer for it?

Went back to sleep immediately after, and then the lady beside me woke me to take my snack pack and some juice. And I went straight back to sleep. Next time I woke up, we’d touched down – I’m sure the lady beside me would have been wondering if there wasn’t anything wrong with me! And no, they didn’t forget me on the plane either!