Sunday, January 5, 2020

First flight.


Heathrow airport at six thirty on a weekend morning. Hospitals and airports share that same harsh neon light. Angus was supposed to be on the last flight yesterday but the poke, prod and pummel surgeon had different ideas. The departure gate filled with a hundred or so teenagers heading off for a skiing holiday in Andorra. The boys have that noisy start of day enthusiasm peculiar to seventeen year olds. The girls look at them with studied disdain . Overnight the ' Please allow extra time for security on flights to the US ' signs have appeared.

You know that you're flying a British airline when trays of bacon rolls await early morning flyers in the airline lounge. The bacon rolls are served in a variety of different buns - plain, wholemeal and granary. This would appear to be a selection that most early morning snackers would find redundant.


While waiting Angus finds an interesting ad for a trip to Chernobyl. Would you really want to stay overnight in the exclusion zone ? The name of the travel agency does little to instill confidence.


Back at The Rickety Old Farmhouse Sophie makes it plain that part of her flock has gone AWOL twice in a week and that this sort of behaviour is unacceptable.


Angus receives the full on PONette glare.


She is told that no more absences are planned. That, an ear scrunch and a rice cake seem to make amends.


9 comments:

catherine said...

Sophie has truly mastered the "we are not amused" stare!!!!

Lisa in France said...

Thank you for the photo of the bacon rolls. I have a weakness for British police procedurals, and no matter who the author, the detectives in these novels all seem to eat bacon rolls, often stale. I've always wondered what they were, although looking at your photo, it seems quite obvious now. The Chernobyl poster is really quite shocking - I can't think of anything I'd less like to do.

Poppy Q said...

I might plan a bacon butty for dinner this week.

I've just read a book on Chernobyl. I think I would stay as far away as possible from that place.

WFT Nobby said...

Bertie views the tray of untouched bacon rolls with incredulity. What's wrong with humans?

Coppa's girl said...

The ad. for the trip to Chernobyl seems to wreak of desperation! Or is it just that there are people who need something so different, no matter how unappetising, that they can boast about upon their return? A visit to the dentist would be more enjoyable!
How long is the extreme time for fights to the US, I wonder?

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
In recent times there has been a growing economy around tours to Chernobyl. Initially an 'underground' thing, it is now quite established and there is growing interest after the 30th anniversary. The book (and tv series) were both worth time spent on them.

Sophie has perfected the art of 'the witherer'; the look of disdain combined with extreme sacrifice! YAM xx

Hailey and Zaphod and their Lady said...

I would travel to Chernobyl. My dad worked at a nuclear plant on Canada for 31 plus years. I grew up near one, toured it. It would be interesting.

Glad you made it back safely.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Just a guess that the airline lounge wouldn't advertise them as bacon butties….

Stephanie said...

No one can glare as well as Sophie. If looks were words . . .
A Chernobyl vacation? It would never have crossed my mind. You do find such interesting items.
Hoping that you will continue to mend and the "twinges" will become part of the past.