Tube to Heathrow and a session of people watching as we wait first for baggage drop time and then for boarding. The smoothest and most intuitive procedures we’ve seen for obtaining boarding passes and luggage tags as well as dropping off the suitcases. Pretty quick and efficient at security as well. And then the three hour wait. Bit of people watching airside as well. There’s a man in a dress kilt and bonnet, the latter adorned with a small knitted decoration. Unclear what it represents but it does call to mind the old Scots wartime song The Toorie on his Bonnet :
« He left his kilt and sporran/ And off he went to war in/ His red toorie oorie oorie ay. »
Needless to say he frightened the life out of the enemy.
The flight is slightly over an hour late leaving. And British Airways haven’t been what they once were for a number of years now. Gone are the days of sitting back with a hot meal and glass or two of wine included. Now if you wish you can have a small sandwich and a beer for £10. Which would be slightly less insulting if BA had not initially assured us that customers had said they PREFERRED choosing their own sandwiches to the previous arrangement. Survey limited to major shareholders?
Late departure leads to late arrival. A little after midnight so the last scheduled bus has gone. But there are the ever hopeful taxis queued and one takes us to the Sunflower where the old man we think of as The Friend of the Hotel has been prevailed upon to await our arrival. He speaks no English but does remember us well so many smiles and handshaking. And the key.We’re home.
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