The Flight

Going through security was a bit daunting on my own. Something made the big scanner go bleep; so I had to take off my shoes and stand on one leg while I got patted and scanned with the hand scanner.  Then just when I got myself all sorted out to walk off into duty free I was called back to have my hands swabbed for explosives – of course it was negative.  I wonder if they thought I looked like a terrorist!

The flight from Heathrow to Istanbul provide and evening meal as we landed in Istanbul at 11.15 pm. I wandered through the international transfer which was quite straightforward and they were already checking in for the onward flight. I had bought myself water for each flight at Heathrow but was a bit miffed when they said that I had to throw my water away because security.

The next flight which took off at nearly 1 am also offered an evening meal but no breakfast. I was very tired, hungry, hot and thirsty by the time I got to the hotel at about 9.30am, but managed to get a bit of breakfast before I caught up on the 2 hours sleep I had during the flight.

All in all a bit stressful but I'm here safe an sound. I think the worst bit was disembarking at Entebbe airport without any contact lenses (as I thought I would try to get some sleep) and then not being able to see the signs that tell you where to go and what to do. I felt such a twit as I'd packed my glasses in the suitcase. Still it makes you realise what its like to be at the mercy of other people in a completely alien environment - which is what often happens to people when they come into health care.