Five days in Manchester

[atuk]

No, not a prison sentence but our holiday to Lisbon was not to be due to firstly flight changes, Green then amber, testing requirements and frankly too much damned hassle for a short duty break abroad. So, as we were tied to BA Holidays we chose the U.K. instead with flights from Aberdeen via LHR. Cue a visit to best friends and leave our car there and a lift to ABZ for a night stop before an early start next morning.

A large queue at check in with only one person working with passengers who obviously had documentation issues. This is what airport life is like these days and minimum staff to boot. Thankfully another staff member appeared and things started to move pulling passengers from both queues alternately. Oh how I remember these days at Desk 16 in EDI. Anyway fully checked in and bags deposited off to the lounge for a relaxing breakfast snack and view if a sun basked apron. This in Furrybits! Our aircraft was a bright shiny 320 neo G-TTNL and we were soon seated and strapped in for take off which was after a short run followed by a superb view of Deeside and later on Liverpool and The Mersey 36,000 feet below.

Much has been trumpeted about BA on board fare however “hot breakfast” consisted of hot croissants - ham and cheese or cheese and tomato lifted from their foil wrapping before serving on plates. Quite frankly I’m sure the traditional hot breakfast would have been just as cost effective and certainly give a more efficient cabin service. Anyway into LHR and a proper breakfast in the lounge. LHR is eerily quiet compared to the normal days pre Covid. A short 35 minute flight to MAN on 319 G-EUPO then off to The Marriott Hotel, our base for the next five days.

Oh I forgot the champagne on board and extras for the room - well it was my birthday! We spent Friday in Manchester which Mrs C hadn’t visited for around a decade, Saturday in Wilmslow where we will be travelling to for a family wedding in November the family reunion in the evening, Sunday the Aviation Viewing Park ( the only place where you can buy Flightcheck these days, but also had a vintage Rolls Royce and Bentley event with fantastic vehicles and folks in period dress). They also had a memorabilia table.... I am undone! Vintage Manchester Airport Timetables ,even before the days of Airport Timetables UK which I co-edited for over 25years, £5 the lot. Sold! Afterwards take the bus to Altrincham which we had glimpsed briefly the previous day and lunch plus a wander round the town and it’s Sunday market full of holistic wares, clothes and food. On Monday we visited Liverpool, a first for both of us. I’ve glimpsed views on many an LHR flight from 30plus thousand feet as well as a missed approach on a MyTravelAirways Training day on a MAN-MAN flight some years ago. Cue Northern Trains to Lime Street Station with views of Greater Manchester and Merseyside on the way. I have to say I’m thankful I don’t stay in St Helens - it may have been famous as the home of Pilkington Glass but these days it makes Paisley appear palatial. Anyway to say we were blown away by “The Pool” is an understatement. Architecture, landscape and the Ferry across the Mersey which we took whilst listening to Gerry and the Pacemakers, the only disappointment was the Liverpool Museum which was closed at the peak of the English school holidays. As Arnie said “I’ll be back”.

Tuesday was our return flight on an Airbus 321 neo G-NEOW to LHR very nice but ram jam full. Again a short forty minute flight then our connecting flight to ABZ on another 320 neo this time TTNE with a superb view of Galashiels, Mrs Bearsden take note, EDI, Loch Leven and my one time home of Kinross plus Fitty, Mastrick, then terra firma in Dyce.

Back to our friends house, collect car and evening drive back home to Monifieth. Plus points our airport transfer ( thank you J&A), Meeting my cousin and family again; it’s been far too long but not too long until November, the genuine friendly cabin staff and service, parts of Cheshire which are really lovely ( some houses in Hales Barns and Altrincham would put Chelsea well in the shade). Down points? All are Covid related - minimum airport staffing, no airport transfers to hotel, lack of public transport information and access to personnel, museum closure in Liverpool so stay action isn’t the b all and end all it’s painted to be. Perhaps normal service will resume but right now it doesn’t look likely.

The biggest shock is that me, a Boeing person for decades, is changing. These 320/321 neos are great; quiet, comfy, and the 321 neo is a perfect 757 replacement. I always thought that that would be a hard act to follow but Airbus have got it right. Add in my current favourite aircraft the A350 and Boeing looks lacklustre by comparison. A Ford Anglia compared to a Rover 2000.

[bill]

The biggest shock is that me, a Boeing person for decades, is changing. These 320/321 neos are great; quiet, comfy, and the 321 neo is a perfect 757 replacement. I always thought that that would be a hard act to follow but Airbus have got it right. Add in my current favourite aircraft the A350 and Boeing looks lacklustre by comparison. A Ford Anglia compared to a Rover 2000.

Been telling you all for years. Glad you've seen the light. Nice report by the way.