So here we are, off to the airport again. To be honest it doesnt feel long since our last trip and Im almost wishing I hadnt booked this trip. But book it I did and everything has been paid for so here we are.
I suppose we were lucky that the trains were running as there was due to be a strike today. Our train is on time and it chugs us in to Redhill, one change and we are at Gatwick. Its all pretty smooth.
We are early but check in is open. For once we dont break the machines doing the self check in of our suitcaseyes just the one, were travelling light.
Security is the usual nightmare. The lady in charge of the queue is funnyshes calling out all the things we have to put in a plastic bag, its a great long list and she sounds like a market stall holder barking the items outand only one bag per person mindliquids include, lipsticks, creams, makeup, contact lenses, lip balm, shaving creamcuddly toy? Thank goodness we dont have any, the list seems endless and she tells us all to get it all sorted before we
We get to security and we are directed to queue behind our allocated numbers8 for Ian and 9 for me. Good, that means my stuff will go through after Ians so he can look after it - I will be detained for double checking for certain as my metal hip always sets the alarms off. Well that is the theory. The idiot man next to me in bay 8 is now sorting through the whole of his hand luggage to extract offending items. Didnt hear that woman telling you what to do then mate? Idiot!
So now Im at the walk through arch. Ping! And Im in the queue for further scanning and pat downs while all my valuables are sitting unattended as usual. Today its just another scan and Im allowed to keep my shoes on.
Ian is through by the time Im done and reports that my carry on bag has disappeared. Its nowhere to be seen, not even in the extra checking area. I dont start to panic till I see the idiot is having his stuff double checked and his went on the belt
Eventually my bag turns up and is opened for manual checking. Have we packed any sharp objects? Well not to our knowledge. The guy goes straight to our card games bag. Oh, exclaims Ianits our penknifeits in the pocket at the front of the bag! He then turns to me and says, you have a habit of putting that in there! What? I havent seen that penknife for years, though it is mine - a little Swiss Army affair that I bought for my epic overland trip in 1994. What I fail to understand is that if ‘I put it there, Ian knew exactly what and where the offending item was!
Meanwhile, I get a look of disgust and a patronising lecture off the airport official about not being allowed to take knives on planes. Hes going to take it off me but oh well, its only a penknife exclaims the official. Huh well it might only be a penknife to him but thats a little piece of history I am losing! Ugh, yes its only a penknife.
Im looking at the boards. At least our plane is on time. I pick up a couple of meal deals for the plane. A very nice young man assists me with the self check outs that I always mess up.
We make our way to the other end of the airport (why is our gate always the furthest away possible?) and in no time at all our tickets are checked and were queued up at the doors waiting to board the plane.
We are now in the inner waiting area with all the other ‘speedy boarders. Ten minutes have passed and were still waitingapparently the air con has gone futt. Might as well get out of the queue and take a seatI have a horrible feeling the flight might be cancelled and this is the last one of the day. I dont think we are going anywhere soon.
Two guys in yellow hi viz jackets emerge from the doors to the plane and hurry off through the airport And now they back. Good news? Maybe not, they are carrying take aways - I guess it was time for their meal break.
One hour has passed and now we are finally boarding. Oh well, at least the flight wasnt cancelled.
