8th May 2022

 Our daughter is on a flying visit from the US for work, but fortunately she’s squeezed an extra weekend to come up to Birmingham to see us. First time in 3 years, so it’s wonderful to see her. But, as usual, Heathrow was a nightmare of long queues, waiting at electronic passport control before standing endlessly beside empty luggage carousels. Departures are even worse. Mile-long walks, shlepping heavy luggage.  Massive shops and restaurants. Covid tests and 3-hour queues at security control where overly-intrusive, prison-like officers search your person as if everyone’s a criminal. A total lack of respect for travellers’ dignity. Oh and beware that insidious hand-luggage belt where valuables often go missing from your bag whilst you’re busy putting on your shoes and belts the other side! Why do we put up with it all? Yes, there needs to be security, but to this extent? Other forms of international transport have nothing like it. In complete contrast, there’s a lovely little airport in Rodez, SW France. You drive right up to the one terminal building, park close and walk into the large reception space. No shops or other razzmatazz. You sit down and look up at the clear departure board then, when called, go through simple security/passport control, out onto the tarmac and onto the plane.   No steps or moving walkways. It’s a building, a runway and incoming and outgoing planes. It does what it says on the tin. Oh for the good old days.