Is it something I said????

I tell you what, after a day of battling airport security, Slough never looked so good. I must have a magnet attached to me. Pick me! Pick me!

I had to fly to Leeds today for work. I don't mind the city in all honesty. It has a kind of edgy feel to it, which I quite like. It's just the flying. I started early this morning, making it into Heathrow with plenty of time spare. Cool, I thought. I'm going to get a coffee and have a snooze somewhere. Alas, not to be. I first encountered the check in for BMI...some Eastern European lady demanding I produce a passport...but it's a domestic flight!!!! Ok, convinced her at last, scouted around the Brady Bunch on summer holidays and made it to a spare automatic check in.

Next stop, security. A somewhat over zealous body pat down...ewww...and then my laptop scanned for bomb stuff...whatever..

So that was the first leg...Then there was the return journey back to London...

Before I get there, I must digress at this point and make a further observation. I now know where the 2/3 obesity rate for the UK comes from. Leeds, Yorkshire. There are some seriously FAT people in Leeds. Waddling all over the joint. Chocolates and other sweeties all over the desks...And you shoulda seen the fried food at the canteen! Deep fried cheese toasties for crying out loud...repulsive.. I've since found out the Londoners visiting this place go off premises in search of healthier options at lunch time. Mental note for next visit. Still, the food options in Slough are Pizza Express, Nandos and Pizza-A-Go-Go-(figure).

Right, back to the return journey. 5pm. Down tools. Dash for freedom. Jump in very smelly taxi. Get stuck in traffic on way to airport. (Note, there is only 1 road in to Leeds - Bradford airport. Up a narrow high road and past roundabouts feeding on to the motorway, that is still blocked due to flooding weeks ago...sheesh!!)..Pull up into airport. Taxi driver decides to write his life story on the receipt...Literally run into security...wheezing heavily...plastic bag with stolen toiletries from hotel rooms, jacket, laptop, shoes...all in tray... (15 mins to take off)....and WHA THA FU%$!!!!... I get stopped again by airport security...This time the body search was even more personal...And THIS TIME, they did a full bag search...I swear I did my utmost to bite my tongue...I think something slipped out, but my colleague managed to save the day...phew! I just can't believe this.

It doesn't matter what I do, every single airport I go to I get this treatment. I clearly have terrorist written all over me...I swear that the real ones are slipping in behind me while I create a diversion... unbelievable.

Room service

It feels bizarre staying in a serviced apartment. Tonight I can't be bothered with anything. In fact, I've been in a slobbish mood all day...eating junk..yawning profusely.. and there is a visible trail of where I've been since I got in the door tonight. Dirty dishes dumped in the sink, scattered saucepans across the bench tops. Socks left in 2 different locations in the lounge. Clothes strewn across various other locations.

The domestic staff are great here. They've replenished the towels, the bed clothes, the tea towels...and annoyingly put the remote controls away under the tv and neatly arranged the coasters on the coffee table. So I made a mess...(the story of my life right now.

I do have to say one thing. Watching tv tonight I saw that BBC correspondent Alan Johnston had been released. I was so happy to see this, really and honestly moved to tears... It was wonderful news. Best of luck to him and his family and friends.

I'm bored...

Back in the flat. Been in London for the last few nights. And back to London tomorrow night. So here I am, sitting in bed at 7.45pm, dinner already over and sipping on a VAT(Vodka and Tonic...good ole Arthur...)

There's not much to tell really. I'll get some pics up soon. Then you can see the glorious sights I have...some power plant in the distance.

And seriously, the walk back to the apartment from the train station was just so depressing. It's really not that bad. Just straight down Bath Road, flat, boring...and the rain bucketed down on me. I was trying to fumble around in my bag for my brand new leopard print umbrella, juggling the backpack with work files, the overnight bag with my clothes and shopping and the handbag...wearing cheap arsed black pants, green sweater, denim jacket and trainers...I must have looked brilliant. Surprisingly I had no bored asshole motorist toot and yell abuse at me. They even seem too bored to do that.

I'm so glad I didn't buy a plain, boring, black umbrella...

Sigh...nearly 3 weeks down and 13 to go....Can I vote myself out of the apartment?