To Beirut

Why is it that mini-cab drivers won't leave the confort of their seats - even when it is evident that there is somebody in the house ? Rather than ringing the front door bell to say that he was there, my book taxi drove off and I had to ring the office !

The early Virgin train was like the Curate's egg - good in places : packed to the gunnels with people but free WiFi. However, I think that the internet connection was being supplied by a snail attempting to keep up with the train. However, it did have its compensations - across the table sat a stunning Gallic looking andronogous girl with short dark hair and large dark sad eyes.

The tube ride out provided even more enteratinment as a succession of girls attempted to apply their make up - the full works of lippy, blusher, mascara, eyebrow pencil etc etc - as we rattled and bumped along. It was a wonder that at least one of them didn't do themselves a major injury - must have taken years of practice not to do so.

The flight was with BMI and, for the first time in years, it was departing from Terminal 1. Once inside, it was indistinquisable from Terminals 2 - 5 - lots of rip-off shops and eateries. The biggest rip off seemed to be the WiFi connection : you could only purchase a whole day at the cost of £9.95. The building did seem to have much more nautual light and less people.

BMI have come along way from its roots - I still remember my childhood plane spotting days when its predecessor - Derby Airways - flew from a small airfield not far from Burton upon Trent - it's now the site of the massive Toyota factory. Back then all they had was a few clapped out Argonauts - now it's just another faceless airline amongst many many.

The flight was normal / boring - with a ceiling mounted video screen showing "The Sorcerer's Apprentice but the food was OK. The pilot reported that Beirut was windy and wet and we had a spirited landing when we apperaed to be caught by a gust just as we touched down : the pilot received a round of applause from some of the passengers - it seems Arabic countries : In Shala "

It was the first time I'd visited Lebanon - a country that had always attracted and interested me. The formalities at the airport were painless and the visa was free -despite what we had been told.

The hotel was only about 20 minutes from the airport and Beirut seems to a typical pan-world city. More road tunnels than Birmingham and representatives of all the major retail chains : Mothers' World, Costa Coffee, Body Shop, Bata Shoes etc etc etc.

There were 8 of us on the flight but the party will be 16 in total - some are already here and others arrive at much too early o'clock in the morning. We will all meet for breakfast at 0730 and, so as it's now 0015 I'm off to bed.