Virginia took me to Trumpington Park and Ride and I boarded a crowded National Express coach headed for Heathrow. There were more than a few people who felt they deserved an empty seat next to them, I didn’t blame the guy who said he had a stroke. I found myself sitting next to a definitely obese woman, I couldn’t do up the seatbelt as I would have been arrested for molestation. Happily a lot of passengers left at Stansted and I was able to get more than half a seat to sit on.

The coach enjoyed a rest in the M25 car park which caused concern if we were going to miss our flights. We almost got involved in an accident we saw caused by a lorry charging  down the inside lane hitting a car trying to switch lanes into it. Our driver however safely got us to Heathrow and the delay was welcome as I found when I got there that I had to wait ages to check bags in! I had to check my dark glasses off to be able to read the information boards.

Toilet gurgling but clean. Helpful staff when I checked my big bag then went through security - one’s allowed 2 litres of water now apparently which is kind! Had to remove my belt partly even though it’s plastic.

On the plus side there was a spare seat next to me on the flight from Heathrow to Madrid which is always to be appreciated. Less appreciated was that they didn’t hand a single peanut or drop of water. Some passengers did get shown a menu and ordered off that, they didn’t ask me if I was interested. So when we arrived in Madrid as part of the mad dash to board for the flight to Lima I got a packet of nutella bars not expecting much on a flight leaving at midnight local time. It was a mad dash, a long way to walk and an involved security check. This check operated differently to Heathrow, I could keep my belt on but electronic devices had to unpacked. But I made it to gate S9 / S10.