Holiday Thoughts

Having received quite a few postcards from relatives and friends in various parts of the world, it got me thinking how the world has shrunk. Sixty or so years ago there were very few people who ventured abroad for their holidays, and in my grandparents time a "trip to the seaside" (Morecambe, Blackpool, Filey, Scarborough or Bridlington) took on a journey of epic proportions. Most people at that time would have travelled to their holiday destination by train. (This was the glorious time before Dr. Beeching got his axe to work, and decimated our railway system.) Cases were carefully packed, straps fastened around the outsides and they were then taken down to the station. Most cases would fit on the luggage rack which was above the passengers heads. Anything of "outsize proportions" would be relegated to the Guards Van, to be collected at your railway station holiday destination.

Sometimes I wonder if we have made any progress, when I read about today's air travellers arriving at their holiday destinations, and their luggage flying on to somewhere else, and often taking in excess of three days to be reunited with its owners.

Our youngest daughter and her fiancee are at present sunning themselves in Runaway Bay Jamaica, where I am informed the temperatures are in the eighties, and the order of the day seems to be sunning oneself either at the poolside or on the beach. At least their luggage arrived with them!

Our Eldest daughter's husband has just returned from three days in Amsterdam - on business. I've not heard that he has lost any of his luggage, although short hauls can be just as efficient at losing luggage as long hauls!