Not fair...

So you know I went away and you know I flew and you’re all itching to know if my metalwork sets off the arch in the airport. Right? Well, I still don’t know and that’s the truth of it. Yet again, lost in the miles and miles of passageways that are Heathrow airport, I was using my wheelchair to get around and believe me, a big lump of metal like that is bound to set of those detectors, without the added complication of any screws and stuff inside your back. In Heathrow I get waved though with just a cursory body search (which means that that there were no rubber gloves or little rooms involved) and that was that.

Coming home from the States, homeland security are a bit more involved, making you take your shoes off and everything so I felt certain that I’d find out something. Well, as expected the arch went off so I went for the pat down. The poor bored lady was telling me I’m going to touch you here and I’m gonna use the back of my hand here and so on and I tried to engage her in polite conversation. I asked her if she was bored with saying the same thing day in day out. I asked her if she was having a nice day and if she liked the hot weather. I really, really tried to be nice to her and then just as she told me I could go I hit her with the whammy question “ can I have the wand thingie?” and she said there was no need. No need? What about my curiosity - isn't that need enough? That is so not fair! - and I still don‘t know if I’m going to set the detectors off. Anyone got a 'Bounty Hunter'??

As an aside to all this, I had to take my shoes off. All my belongings, including my cardigan had to go through the x-ray machine. My wheelchair and cushion were swabbed for explosives and I was thoroughly patted down. Did they discover the pouch that is built into the underside of my wheelchair (and is part of the standard fittings)? The pouch that contains a small tool kit, puncture repair kit and a pump which looks remarkably like the barrel of a gun (when viewed through a steamed up window without your glasses on obviously). Did they heck…..

One last thing, for those of you who have been holding their breath and keeping their fingers crossed for the FIL. He is improving - still ventilated (although with much less support) and we had the news today that he has been able to get out of bed and into a chair for a while. This is a real step forward and we feel much less worried about the future. Thanks for all the support folks...