Gatwick departures board

When you have relatives who retired to what Nigel Molesworth once called “the s. of France”, it’s only polite to pop down and check on them once in a while. Make sure the contents of their wine cellar aren’t cluttering the place up. That sort of thing.

This is especially true when it is as if someone has flicked off the switch labelled “summer” in the UK and it’s starting to get a bit fresh outside in the mornings.

I didn’t write much about my last visit down here (although I did include a Molesworth reference in that post too) - but that time, I didn’t have a hire car, and it was way too hot for much other than reading a book. This time, things are different on both fronts and I will share some pretty pictures with you as I do a few day trips. In between reading books. (vive la différence!)

Based on personal experience in 2025, I can now report that Birmingham, Heathrow and Gatwick all have the new scanners which put an end to taking liquids out of one’s hand luggage. I breezed through security at Gatwick in ten minutes, not having to remove my watch (but still my belt).

The smooth experience was promptly blunted by EasyJet announcing a 45 minute delay to my flight. 45 minutes which I could have spent in bed if I’d checked - Gatwick might as well be on the moon if you live in Oxford, so I’d booked the in-terminal hotel rather than a middle of the night taxi.

We did make some of it up in the air, though, and it almost took longer to prise my rental car out of the desk than it did to fly down. More on that soon.