BETTER TO DEPART THAN ARRIVE?

Well, Heathrow`s Terminal 5 turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Architecturally, it might be `interesting` and functionally it might work ok but it`s all glass, concrete and steel and seems to lack any `warmth` or any feeling of being welcome.

Some of the flight arrival info boards were just plain wrong, which added to my first time confusion and I was underwhelmed with the car park charges - £6.00 for just over an hour? No thanks. Maybe too it was the atmosphere that clouded my perception, but the arrivals hall seemed largely to be populated by dark suited men holding up cards with people`s names on, whilst at the same time holding plastic cups of coffee (possibly cups of plastic coffee) and with things stuck in their ears which glowed blue lights every now and then. Most surreal. You can tell I`m from the sticks and from another age - thank heaven.

Maybe the departure bit will be more forgiving - I`ll find out on Sunday - and it may be that. like Portsmouth, Terminal 5 is a better place to leave than to arrive.