Yes, UK border control is so easy these days! Of course it's best at somewhere like Glasgow, where they don't have many transatlantic flights. But even at Manchester this spring, the machine didn't work properly, and it was STILL faster and less stressful than it ever is at Toronto. It's not as bad as the US, I think, but the signs that say 'Welcome to Canada' are obviously lying.
Tip for flying to NYC - go via Dublin. We flew from Newquay to Dublin, you pass through immigration in your layover in Dublin, thus using what would be 'wasted' time anyway, and emerge at JFK domestic so you walk straight out. Makes a weekend trip super easy, we also flew a no frills scandi airline, maybe norwegian. As you say, take your own sandwich, headphones and blanket and you're winning.
I've heard this tip before, but never thought about it - now I like it. My husband has an Irish passport, so in theory the kids could also get one, which would make their entry into the States much easier, but this is such a good hack.
I would definitely definitely do this next time. The queue was SO slow and SO hot and SO long and then someone spilled their coffee, and another girl was shrieking about having left her passport on the plane which slowed the whole thing down even more. It was TORTURE. So yes thank you for the Dublin tip!
Also available through Shannon airport- they were the first airport in Ireland to offer US immigration pre-clearance. I couldn’t believe the queues when I first went to Canada; my whole transatlantic travel life prior to that had been a breeze!
Can I be cheeky and note that beauty experts tell us that to drink plenty to avoid dry skin and lips :)
Also, our ancestors didn’t experience the central heating, air conditioning, car air etc that we do. And plenty of travellers through the centuries have carried their own cups. (Not necessarily leaking ones, though. 😉)
Re the Stanley cup and staying hydrated - I don't remember ever drinking water when I was a kid, maybe a gulp here and there when I was hot, but since my kids have been young, the minute we have left the house they'll be asking for water - they'll leave the tap behind, get in the car and immediately be dying of thirst. What is that about?! I started trying to leave any water behind, encouraging them to drink before we left, but then it was just like I was willingly aiming for them to die a slow death (their words) so had to revert back to lugging litres of water around in any bag I have on me. I am trying to up my water intake (I'm 48, I think it's what we're meant to be doing) and have bought a Owala version - it's really pretty and not a Stanley, so I feel like I'm bucking the trend but still staying hydrated. Winning.
Re lip balm - Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream hasn't left my side since the early 90's .
OOOOOH I forgot about 8 hour cream - thank you! And yes I laugh a lot about children constantly lumping around great water bottles. I would understand it if we were living, say, in wartime and the infrastructure was dodgy. But it's really not that bad in SE London.
51 here and agree about rarely drinking water as a child. There was water on the table at my primary school at lunchtime, served in coloured metallic aluminium beakers (cold, and tasted v much of aluminium) though I can’t remember if drinking it was mandatory in the same way that clearing your plate was mandatory (a lifelong loathing of stewed plums, prunes, liver, and Spam fritters as a result of that). A fair amount of squash was consumed and I drank at least a pint of milk a day until I was 19. Water on its own? Ewwww!
Not sure that Spam ever went away. Urgh, I can still recall the smell and the grease oozing from it when you pressed it with a fork *gags slightly*. You can certainly still buy it in the supermarket.
Morning! I also buy dozens of lip balms and would love to know which is your favourite? (Mine *was* the Nivea Lip Ball in raspberry and apple which has been maliciously discontinued and left me desolate.)
Also, I’ve just ordered lots of those Victorinox knives you recently recommended. You’re an influencer now! 😎
No way! Oh Jill I'm so thrilled re the knives. And my mum will be too. Honestly I use them for everyyyyything. And ah right on the lip balm front, the absolute best one I have which lives on my bedside table so I don't lose it is a Terry one. Terry rose balm or something. Luckily given to me by a beauty editor pal because it's madly expensive. Otherwise I mostly stick with Carmex. But I just LOSE them all the time. They must go to the same place that hair ties end up.
Ah no mine is in a little pot? I also bought one from Sephora when I was in Miami by Fresh which is some kind of 'healing ointment' and I like it a lot.
Ooh, just looked up the little pot and fainted at the price! But have ordered a Nivea lavender one and a couple of the delicious peach flavoured Nivea ones from Boots to keep me going! X
Never let anyone ruin NYC for you! It’s not worth it. I’m glad the trip through Central Park was fab…Onwards and sideways but a little bit upwards I say. And yes, Benedict Cumberbatch surprised me with his height the other day too. He came into the restaurant I work in with Ed Norton {Also surprisingly tall} and I told Sister with Massive Laugh {Tall actor always looking for other tall actors} that he was about 6’2”
I got all excited thinking the heading meant you got to watch a new Norse tv channel on the plane that involve sperm!! Oh well it was great anyway!! But please English people don’t come and clog our airports, I noticed this going to Dubai this year it was discombobulating 😂
Love your posts. With you on lip balms used to be a vaseline gal (those cute little metal tins) but read somewhere that it dries lips out & so shifted to Lanolips - it's fine but in a tube, would prefer a little pot. With you also on the soldiers' sperm (the joy of Substack that these 2 subjects can be discussed alongside each other!) I think the scenario in Ukraine is preferable with consent of the living person. My thoughts, like you, are with the child that results. We seem to live in a child centric universe for much of the time and yet little consideration is given for the emotional baggage a child being born from this scenario may have to carry.
Ha well, I thought I'd give him a week off. And I went yeeeeeears ago but would LOVE to go back. Maybe for the inauguration and special coverage of that?!
“Everyone” will be in DC for the inauguration……… Go a week or so later and report on the views then. That might be a more interesting time. Trump analysis of course might be different. Hope Dennis was pleased to see you.
Yes, UK border control is so easy these days! Of course it's best at somewhere like Glasgow, where they don't have many transatlantic flights. But even at Manchester this spring, the machine didn't work properly, and it was STILL faster and less stressful than it ever is at Toronto. It's not as bad as the US, I think, but the signs that say 'Welcome to Canada' are obviously lying.
Hurray, only three and a half weeks to go, what a cheery though. I don't mind the cold but the dark is just miserable!
Also, people lugging that much water around are they doing marathons or ultra exercise all day, absolutely bonkers😊
Tip for flying to NYC - go via Dublin. We flew from Newquay to Dublin, you pass through immigration in your layover in Dublin, thus using what would be 'wasted' time anyway, and emerge at JFK domestic so you walk straight out. Makes a weekend trip super easy, we also flew a no frills scandi airline, maybe norwegian. As you say, take your own sandwich, headphones and blanket and you're winning.
I've heard this tip before, but never thought about it - now I like it. My husband has an Irish passport, so in theory the kids could also get one, which would make their entry into the States much easier, but this is such a good hack.
I would definitely definitely do this next time. The queue was SO slow and SO hot and SO long and then someone spilled their coffee, and another girl was shrieking about having left her passport on the plane which slowed the whole thing down even more. It was TORTURE. So yes thank you for the Dublin tip!
Also available through Shannon airport- they were the first airport in Ireland to offer US immigration pre-clearance. I couldn’t believe the queues when I first went to Canada; my whole transatlantic travel life prior to that had been a breeze!
I so enjoy your weekly musings, Sophia!
I share your Ma's obsession with the light levels in the winter! The shortest day can't come too soon!!
AMEN! But soooooon...
Can I be cheeky and note that beauty experts tell us that to drink plenty to avoid dry skin and lips :)
Also, our ancestors didn’t experience the central heating, air conditioning, car air etc that we do. And plenty of travellers through the centuries have carried their own cups. (Not necessarily leaking ones, though. 😉)
YES good point, not cheeky at all. I still think Stanley mugs are a bit silly though...?!
Re the Stanley cup and staying hydrated - I don't remember ever drinking water when I was a kid, maybe a gulp here and there when I was hot, but since my kids have been young, the minute we have left the house they'll be asking for water - they'll leave the tap behind, get in the car and immediately be dying of thirst. What is that about?! I started trying to leave any water behind, encouraging them to drink before we left, but then it was just like I was willingly aiming for them to die a slow death (their words) so had to revert back to lugging litres of water around in any bag I have on me. I am trying to up my water intake (I'm 48, I think it's what we're meant to be doing) and have bought a Owala version - it's really pretty and not a Stanley, so I feel like I'm bucking the trend but still staying hydrated. Winning.
Re lip balm - Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream hasn't left my side since the early 90's .
Great piece! x
OOOOOH I forgot about 8 hour cream - thank you! And yes I laugh a lot about children constantly lumping around great water bottles. I would understand it if we were living, say, in wartime and the infrastructure was dodgy. But it's really not that bad in SE London.
51 here and agree about rarely drinking water as a child. There was water on the table at my primary school at lunchtime, served in coloured metallic aluminium beakers (cold, and tasted v much of aluminium) though I can’t remember if drinking it was mandatory in the same way that clearing your plate was mandatory (a lifelong loathing of stewed plums, prunes, liver, and Spam fritters as a result of that). A fair amount of squash was consumed and I drank at least a pint of milk a day until I was 19. Water on its own? Ewwww!
I feel like I read that spam was coming back recently??! Possibly a press release from Spam Ltd though.
Not sure that Spam ever went away. Urgh, I can still recall the smell and the grease oozing from it when you pressed it with a fork *gags slightly*. You can certainly still buy it in the supermarket.
Morning! I also buy dozens of lip balms and would love to know which is your favourite? (Mine *was* the Nivea Lip Ball in raspberry and apple which has been maliciously discontinued and left me desolate.)
Also, I’ve just ordered lots of those Victorinox knives you recently recommended. You’re an influencer now! 😎
No way! Oh Jill I'm so thrilled re the knives. And my mum will be too. Honestly I use them for everyyyyything. And ah right on the lip balm front, the absolute best one I have which lives on my bedside table so I don't lose it is a Terry one. Terry rose balm or something. Luckily given to me by a beauty editor pal because it's madly expensive. Otherwise I mostly stick with Carmex. But I just LOSE them all the time. They must go to the same place that hair ties end up.
Gah, I have the By Terry if it’s the liquidy one - it’s too sticky for me! The search for perfection continues…
Ah no mine is in a little pot? I also bought one from Sephora when I was in Miami by Fresh which is some kind of 'healing ointment' and I like it a lot.
Ooh, just looked up the little pot and fainted at the price! But have ordered a Nivea lavender one and a couple of the delicious peach flavoured Nivea ones from Boots to keep me going! X
I really like Argan + from Waitrose but I think Amazon has it too.
Moira, thank you - that’s a new one on me! Have just ordered the rose one from Amazon - how exciting! X
I’m using that at the moment as they were out of stock of the plain one. It’s lovely too, with a slight tint.
And like magic, mine has arrived. I love it, and have never used an oil one before. Tastes delicious! (Now you’re an influencer too!)
I'm REALLY delighted that this has happened!
Go me!!
Never let anyone ruin NYC for you! It’s not worth it. I’m glad the trip through Central Park was fab…Onwards and sideways but a little bit upwards I say. And yes, Benedict Cumberbatch surprised me with his height the other day too. He came into the restaurant I work in with Ed Norton {Also surprisingly tall} and I told Sister with Massive Laugh {Tall actor always looking for other tall actors} that he was about 6’2”
I got all excited thinking the heading meant you got to watch a new Norse tv channel on the plane that involve sperm!! Oh well it was great anyway!! But please English people don’t come and clog our airports, I noticed this going to Dubai this year it was discombobulating 😂
Ah sorry - I guess the closest thing would be that Netflix doc released earlier this year: The Man With 1000 Kids. If that helps?!
Love your posts. With you on lip balms used to be a vaseline gal (those cute little metal tins) but read somewhere that it dries lips out & so shifted to Lanolips - it's fine but in a tube, would prefer a little pot. With you also on the soldiers' sperm (the joy of Substack that these 2 subjects can be discussed alongside each other!) I think the scenario in Ukraine is preferable with consent of the living person. My thoughts, like you, are with the child that results. We seem to live in a child centric universe for much of the time and yet little consideration is given for the emotional baggage a child being born from this scenario may have to carry.
Isn't it a joy? I love Substack for that space! And I totally agree re the baggage. It would be...a LOT.
I think you mean sliver of tissue not slither😉
Ha whoops I absolutely do - thank you! Can we blame...jet lag?!
Hope Dennis had a nice time. No mention of “This is what I took back for Dennis….. “
Really Sophie? any one would think this column is all about you! (giggle)
In all honesty , you should really try DC next time you go to the States.
p.s. When I saw the title I thought you had changed newspapers…….. 😱
Ha well, I thought I'd give him a week off. And I went yeeeeeears ago but would LOVE to go back. Maybe for the inauguration and special coverage of that?!
“Everyone” will be in DC for the inauguration……… Go a week or so later and report on the views then. That might be a more interesting time. Trump analysis of course might be different. Hope Dennis was pleased to see you.