Page 21 - BPW-UK - E-news - Edition 110 - March 2023_Neat

Judith Crowe remembers Belfast …

Snow, delays, strikes, then the cold, the rain, never mind missed flights, de-
layed luggage, unexpected overnight stays at Heathrow, with an early morning arri-
val into Belfast only 12 hours late on a crisp but sunny morning!

Stormont in the snow was picture perfect; Customs House a delight to visit. I
was cold and wet most of the time, but it was the best conference in a long, long
time, and seeing people again was so much fun and long awaited. Naomi Long was
an inspirational Gordon Holmes speaker, but then all the speakers were just that.
Belfast did us proud, it's a vibrant city.

Giant's Causeway was not what I expected, but at least it didn't rain that day
and it was, at last, not cold and only a little windy even though everyone not used
the winds that we get here thought it very windy!

I chose to fly with British Airways Toulouse/ Heathrow/ Belfast City, rather than
Ryanair to Dublin, and I must say BA were the tops, along with the wheelchair assis-
tance they arranged in all airports - try whizzing around in a motorised train of
wheelchairs in Toulouse - never to be forgotten! It was quite a
surprise to find that Heathrow still only has push along ones! Bel-
fast wheelchair assistance was so friendly and efficient.

On the return it was my luggage rather than me which did
not make the connection to Toulouse, though we were late leaving
Heathrow! Turned up the next morning, so I could drive it home
at least! It was a memorable suitcase, a black one, cross strapped
with our lovely BPW UK blue luggage straps as it was!

But what was the most perfect, most remembered part of my trip?

It was a moment in Heathrow, on the return, whilst waiting to
get the lift down to the gate .. my wheelchair was stopped next to a
BA stewardess, who was also waiting for the lift, and we started
chatting (those who know me know I chat with anyone!!) She
turned out to be French, called Sandrine, but with perfect, unac-
cented English! on which I complimented her. Just then two more
ladies in uniform arrived, not stewardesses, but indeed our Captain
and First Officer.
I explained that one female pilot was not a surprise these days, but that two
was a joy, saying that it was the perfect ending to my trip, and immediately ex-
plained why! This proves we are getting there, finally, I said. Then I asked if we
could have a photo together. Sandrine, the French stewardess took the
photo, and then joined her colleagues in the lift, whilst I had to wait for its
return as it was too full by then to fit me and the wheelchair plus helper in.
Boarding was chaos, as the plane was late, and the call to board for all was
made before all wheelchair passengers had been boarded, that is, me! We
had to struggle to the front of the queue to get me on board. Sandrine
looked at my ticket, said she might have a better place for me - my
booked seat was half way back in cattle class - if I did not mind a window
seat. Of course not, I said, and she put me into row 3 of business, saying,
you'll get a glass of wine that way! Just such a perfect ending to my travels!