Certainly a different day

Once again a long sleepless night till it was time to get up and on the move. Changed and headed off to the Airport, where I accidentally left my specs in the car !!! this was to lead to fun and games for a "semi blind soul" for the rest of the day.
At the airport, had to do a physical check in as I had no current passport with it being lost enroute to the SIA ( and still no acknowledgement to my correspondence to them). BUT my ticket was issued so I headed for the lounge hwere I met my former boss, chris Reed and his wife who were heading off to their holiday home in Cyprus.

Flight took off on time, and being a sparkling crystal clear the views were absolutely stunning - heading west and looking north we could see the River Forth way up towards Stirlin , the new Kincardine Bridge , with the old one open to let a ship through, then across the long valley from Stirling towards Loch Lomond As we passed over Glasgow, a clear view west along the Clyde out into the Firth of Clyde with clear views north to Balloch, Helensburgh, Faslane, with a snow capped Ben Lomond in the distance. As we turned southwards heading over Prestwick we could see the Isle of Arran and way beyond in the west, the length of the Mull of Kintyre then south eyeing up Ailsa Craig, in the distance out to Stranraer and then the Solway Firth.
Over the Lake District, Scarfell, and even as far as Barrow in Furness, before Morcombe bay and then again in the distance, Blackpool Tower, Lytham St Annes, eventually Liverpool, over the Manchester ship canal, before we headed into cloud before landing at Birmingham.

From the airport it was by train to New Street Station , quick change to another and out to Five Ways Station followed by a walk along to the Grosvenor Suites.
This is some place, the main Masonic Centre for Birmingham and Warwickshire - lots of different lodges and Chapters meet here, a full banquet suite, bars, restaurants , and the room we had our meeting in held about 250.

There were three grades of the degree taking place this afternoon, with candidates from all over the world - quite impressive, but at the same time rather impersonal, compared to the normal style of initiation. However, thats the way they wanted to work it.

I then had a couple of hours to get back to the airport, via New street again and a very crowded train out to the airport.
the BMIBaby flight north was a real hoot, with the Chief Steward, a character and a half who had the whole flight laughing, and then proceeded to extract lots of cash from the passengers to go towards this years Children in Need appeal.

Just watching the news about this baby of Baby P. who was murdered by the mother and the so called wrong doing by the social workers and doctors. There are witnesses who sat and watched this child being tortured and did nothing. Just what will happen to those involved in Harringay Council- and then again, we have Mrs. B. who was suspended because a clerical assistant told lies about her - just where is the equality, common sense, etc. BUT that is the City of Edinburgh Council and not Harringay.

Then we have the Sharon Mathews story - which just makes the job of the Police a nightmare, when parents are abusing, kidnapping, and then screwing the system - how can you win ?
So on that cheery note - plus the recession, credit cruch, etc, I will no doubt have a sound nights sleep.