Welcome back to the UK… or “What’s Social Distancing and a Mask?”
A Change of Scenery
In this adventure
- Well, 2020 is turning out to be a fine year for travel…
- Travel preparations
- Off to Birmingham Airport
- LH959 Birmingham to Frankfurt-am-Main International
- Entering Germany
- Frankfurt Airport XXL Tour
- Into Frankfurt
- Hotel: Mercure Hotel City Messe, Frankfurt
- Exploring Frankfurt in these odd times
- Back to FRA
- LH954 Frankfurt to Birmingham
- Welcome back to the UK
- A welcome change
I exited the aircraft and followed the signs to immigration – and boy was there plenty of signs on the way “welcoming” you to the United Kingdom.
Bye, Bye A320neo.
Eventually, the immigration line splits appeared and I took the escalator down to the UK Border …. Where social distancing was not being practised.
At all
What is this hot mess?
Sigh. Signs you’re back in the UK
I tried the automated machines, but they booted me straight away. I, therefore, waited in line for a UK border agent. I was seen to and questioned if I had completed a tracing form. I showed my screen to the agent and they happily let me back in the country.
With that – I headed to baggage claim. For a daytime flight, there seemed to be a lot of people collecting luggage. As well as the barest possible distancing.
Eventually, the rucksack spat out of the belt after 10 minutes of waiting. I made my exit from customs, and back into the United Kingdom.
With me now ground-side, I decided that the best option to get home would be train and bus. I, therefore, headed outside – as the AirRail link was out of commission, with it being replaced by a bus.
People were following this sign indoors…
Woo.
To the public area
A short wait and a semi packed bus later, I was at Birmingham International Station. I went to a vending machine to get a train ticket – although I hate how many ticketing options you can have between the Airport and City Centre. If there’s one fare anomaly that needs sorting out, this is one of them.
Yes.. at least 10 different options between Birmingham International and Birmingham New Street.
I ponied up for a Anytime single back to Birmingham and headed down to the platform. Interestingly, a local train decided to pull out at that moment I arrived, leaving a Transport for Wales Class 158 which was going next.
I hopped on the train, which had around six people on it. For four carriages.
Eventually, the train pulled out for the 10-minute ride tp Birmingham New Street.
Bye International
Bye Birmingham AIrport. See you soon.
Of course, we were held at signal outside the station… because this is Birmingham New Street.
The space in between
After getting off the train, I made my way to the bus for the final part of the ride home. Yes, I could have taken a taxi or an Uber… but I could not be bothered.
A bus showed up straight away. That was the good news. The bad news? People were still treating wearing masks as optional.
A sharp change of what I had seen in the past two days.
The bus made its merry way around the city, before exiting it. I got off at my usual stop, headed up the usual road, made a turn into the flats, and finally – to my front door.
Monday came and my good mood lasted exactly two hours before the grimace returned.
But that of course, is another story.
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