Ben, if you're there, I'd like to get your list of food pubs in London. Evidently the email address I had is incorrect, as it came straight back to me. Thanks so much!

I am sorry for the hitch. My address is [email protected]/. Welcome to London.

Ben Haines

Ben, under a variety of aliases, you and we have corresponded over the years. And so we wish to send you our very best Christmas wishes and hope that your health enables you to continue your fascinating travels in 2005.

Ditto & amen.

Yes Mr Haines, Happy Christmas and happy travels

Mr. Haines has provided invaluable info to so many on here - a great ambassador for a great city.
All the best to you Mr. Haines!

And holiday greetings from yet another UK traveller who benefitted from your helpful and spot-on advice! But showing up now with another question (or two)...We'll be sailing out of Southampton next August. Would you know how difficult it would be to get ourselves there from London (with a bit of luggage) - as opposed to using the ship's transfer service (from the Hyatt Churchill in London)? Also - any recommendations of a nice (but not super-pricey) hotel in the general area of (or short taxi ride from) Portman Square? Thank you so much!

Mr. Haines, happy christmas from me also. You were so helpful on my last trip to London. In fact I'm sure that it was partly due to the great information you have dispensed that my daughter loved London so much she has decided to spend a semester doing an itnernship there. She arrives January 5th and in the packet of information I have put together for her are many tips from you. So I'll take this opportunity to say thank you and happy christmas.

Yes, Mr. Haines, happy holidays to you and a healthy and prosperous 2005. I'm very grateful for your kindness.

Mr. Haines:

The Merriest Christmas and Happiest New Year from another admirer! Your help with our train reservations from Prague to Vienna and Vienna to Budapest last year were extremely helpful.

Yes a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to a generous traveller.

And thank you for recommending Southwark Cathedral to my husband for his worship during his recent term in London!

Ben Haines is one of the Knights of this board. Happy Christmas, Sir Ben, and may you soon be on the road again!

BC

I'll add a Happy Xmas to Ben, Siobhan, and all the others that post regularly (or even irregularly!) to this forum.

We are a very strong, friendly (for the most part) and supportive board. We all deserve a Happy Holiday Season!

{{{hugs to all}}}

Another wish for a Happy Christmas - from someone who first 'met' you on the Thorntree. You are an inspiration!

Thank you all for these kind messages.

For tuckerdc
This question has come up before now, and six months ago I phoned a little. It is simple and fast to take a taxi to Waterloo station and from there a train runs in 1 hour 16 minutes to Southampton Central station. From the train to the street there are no stairs, and a free minibus drives from station to quay. Both stations have luggage trolleys which you release by inserting a pound coin

I am sorry I am no help on hotels on or near Portman Square.

For Isabel.
Good. Please may I be so inquisitive as to ask what subject your daughter will be reading (ie studying) and in what college ? Please e-mail if you would like the conversation private.

For Giovanna ([email protected])
Again, good. Please can you tell me what surprised you during those two railway journeys ? This may help me write improved advice for other enquirers later.

[email protected]

Happy Holidays Mr. Haines! As with the others I commend you for all the great info you give us about my favorite city. I just finished my 8th visit to London and miss it already! Best wishes for a healthy and joyous New Year.

Ditto -- Happy Holiday, Ben. You've been a tremendous help to me in the past. You're an asset to this board.

Thank you, Ben! I've copied the S'hampton info and will tuck it in the file for next August's visit.

Ben, headed your way, and would be interested in restaurants suggestions. Also, what's the easiest way to Southampton - must make an embarkation by 4 p.m. Thanks.

since I first read this thread, I've been looking for a good quotation to post here on the subject of "helpfulness" or "altruism", but without avail.

Lacking such a clever quote, let me just add my voice to those who have already thanked Ben for his helpfulness on this forum.