Round The World and other travels

It was the start of another big trip yet, deceptively, it seemed rather more routine. Regular readers of these pages will know that I have developed a fairly standard timetable for my many weekends away : down to London on the Friday evening, out to the destination first thing Saturday and back home probably on Sunday evening. As this first leg of this trip was just another Friday night shuttle down to Heathrow, it was tempting to think that I'd be back home in a couple of days. Until, that is, I glanced down at my loaded suitcase! In any event, whether or not it was a normal Friday evening, it certainly hadn't been a normal Friday. This was the final day of a contract that I had been working for the previous 18 months, in familiar and friendly surroundings. After a most enjoyable farewell lunch with about 20 of my colleagues, it had been a case of tidying everything up and handing work over in the afternoon. In many ways, I suppose it's good to clear the decks like this before a major trip - less chance of niggling worries while you're away!

After taking my leave of the office and making a quick visit home to complete the shift from work mode to holiday mode, I set off at about 1740 for EDI. It was a relatively easy drive along the M9, despite the ghastly weather conditions : high winds and driving, sleety rain. Yuck   As I arrived at the Secure Airpark, the wind and rain seemed to step up a gear, but of course I refused to let it get me down. In no time at all, I had my own personal shuttle bus round to the terminal where, on arrival, I had my first experience of what will presumably be a new ritual - fighting through crowds of smokers standing just outside the door. That's right : this was my first time at the airport since Scotland's new anti-smoking laws had come into force. It has always bugged me that smokers insist on standing right outside offices and other buildings and seem to lack the imagination to, say, go for a little stroll. Still, in this weather, I would probably have huddled in the doorway too.

As EDI has been piloting the new BA regime for domestic flight check-ins, I used a self-service kiosk to issue my boarding pass - I had, of course already OLCIed - and then it was simply a matter of dropping off my suitcase and making my way upstairs, where Security was mercifully quiet. I made a quick stop at the Travelex bureau and then it was straight to the BA Lounge, which was unusually quiet for a Friday evening. Despite being so quiet, it still managed to look scruffy, as is the norm these days. This is such a shame, as three or four years ago I always thought it was a very pleasant place to start a trip. Not now! Let's hope refurbishment is on the cards.