Classic or social commentary?

Last day in Malta. As is usual on last days there is the packing, the checking of the passports and tickets, the transport, the double checking that nothing has been left, the weighing of the cases, the checking (again) of the passports and tickets, the check in ( where you find the airport scales seem to add an extra kilo to what you have weighed); the waiting; the flight etc etc.

All of that happened today but with 2 additions. Our flight was at a reasonable time so we had the chance to get up at a civilised hour and even have 20+ minutes to sit and read.

It also allowed me time to get up early (6am UK time) to look out for the sunrise. There was an irritating higher level cloud just where the sun was rising so didn’t quite get the shot I was hoping for. But the schooner sailing serenely into the harbour made up for it.

The social commentary point was on the elderly and infirm travelling. - see extra. My wife has required wheelchair assistance through airports for several years as she cannot walk any great distance or stand for any length of time without experiencing pain. So we are well used to the generally excellent services at airports ( the Spanish from our experience are the best). In recent years we have seen not only the numbers using the services increasing but also the age and frailty of the travellers. This group in the extra which does not include my wife or another traveller is the contingent heading to Birmingham and Edinburgh. Lots of oganisation and people required to get everyone to the right place and on time. But we’ve never seen so many staff together at once. And there were about another 6 to 8 flights going out from the airport this lunchtime!