Banger

Some notes on my journey from Dar es Salaam to Amsterdam through the night:

• Someone nearby had a very phlegmy snoring style. Sleep was off the table.
• I watched Oppenheimer. I can tell it’s an excellent piece of cinema, but I’m not sure why it got quite the level of worldwide acclaim. It droned on a bit.

After my transit and onward flight to the UK, I was greeted by the green, green pastures of Manchester Airport. Showing up on the longest day of the year at the tail end of a heatwave didn’t seem the worst way to start my leave. Conna say fairer than that. Although the media insisted it had been a very hot day, warmth and evidence were in short supply. Odd.

Obviously the passport e-gate at the airport did not work, which seems to be the case for 90% of people, so instead I was able to have a nice chat with the border official about working in conservation. His niece has done work experience at Chester Zoo in the rhino section, as I did in 2006, but has struggled to get a permanent zookeeping job. I asked him to urge her not to give up on her dreams.

I made it to Crewe and met the parents for the final leg back to their gaff. Whereupon my mother soon got me working to move some stuff around in the loft, and I sifted through some things I’d ordered to theirs. The day was topped off with some bangers and mash, which was a delicious welcome back meal that I had requested.