Lately, in London

At the airport
self check-in machine-"You are too early to check-in for your flight."
me- "I think the machine is not working. It says it is too early to check in".
BA lady- "Oh, don't worry, just go to the bag drop."
me to Bag drop lady-"I think the check-in machine is not working. It says I am too early."
Bag drop lady-"You are too early to check-in for your flight. A day early."
me- (Oh dear!) "What day is it?" (Why did I ask that?)
Bag drop lady-"Thursday."
me -"Yep, that's the day I was planning to fly on." (Oh God-am such an idiot!)

So, 5 days in London town. Exhausting, but oh so much fun. Plus, I must have lost about a stone due to sweating so much...score!!

I even got in a wee trip to the seaside at Poole - it felt like a proper holiday. (Well that is after I was given my visa for the land of sand-and what a palaver that was!I may tell you more about it, but if I don't, you haven't missed much-it is all such boring bureaucracy that is just bollocks.)

Magic Moments in Uganda

You'll have seen Uganda in the news recently. It is after the Bin Laden and the Royal Wedding, in really small print.

In short, people in Uganda are not happy at the moment. The cost of fuel and food has risen and the people want to show President Museveni, that they are unhappy. They wanted to 'wak to work'. A peaceful protest that wasn't allowed, fueling more anger and unrest. (The BBC can fill you in on all the finer details).

Talks of the President's costly inauguration party, which is set to be held this month, is the cause of much head-shaking and sighs. It makes me think of  the last time I was at the coast in Kenya, speaking to some locals about their neighbour...again much head shaking (they obviously think that Uganda has a lot to learn...from them...!?)

So, yes, Uganda has it problems, sometimes.

But I have had a few 'I LOVE Uganda' moments recently.

One was when I arrived at Entebbe airport for my flight to South Africa recently. I left my Yellow Fever certificate at home...dddduuuuhhh! As I had done no research into my holiday, I hadn't realised that it was a requirement for South Africa. Eeek- a moment of panic. No time for a trip to the hospital and no time for my house-boy to boda it over.So... a quiet word, $50 dollars placed in my passport and... voila! A new (albeit dodgy looking!) certificate.

I love Uganda!

Airports, Aeroplanes and African Coffee!

Airports, for me, signal the start of a mini adventure. I am not a business traveler, I do not clock up the miles to get anywhere near past a Blue loyalty card. Actually, I still enjoy just going to the airport to pick-up/ drop of friends and family; I start getting excited about my next trip!

I am not yet bored by air travel, I still want to dress for the occasion and wish it really was the 1950s so that I could wear high heels and Jackie Onassis glasses ( remembering that I am not Victoria Beckham, so doing this in 2010 would look rather ridiculous!)..but am happy when splurging on a new pair of comfy(yet flattering..eh, no!) tracky bottoms for a journey instead! I still get a thrill sitting at the bar in an airport ordering a glass of white wine …and even more of a thrill when I pop into the Mulberry store and buy a bag that matches the said tracky bottoms!!

I enjoy making-up stories of all the people I see coming and going to and from exotic places. All airports have their own highlights; Zanzibar has their outdoor check-in and chalk written departure black board, Heathrow, its caviar bar and SHOPPPING, Dubai, the Irish Village…and Entebbe International, Uganda…has a brand new African Coffee Shop!

Yes, well, quite…air travel from Uganda now suddenly doesn’t quite hold the same excitement! Good job they upgraded me to First class! I’m off for more champagne…it must have been the Mulberry bag!!