Day 711 – Late night pick-up

Nothing so sleazy as you might be thinking. Actually, my Dad from the airport on a delayed flight from Amsterdam. Delayed initially by several lockdowns, then by Omicron, and then by one of Schipol’s baggage lifts malfunctioning.
Each of the delays thankfully being somewhat less severe than its predecessor.

But it was a really late night last night and then something of a “normal” school morning this morning, albeit with additional grandparentery. So tonight will simply feature a low key braai (it would be nice if the southeaster would relent for the evening while we’re at it, please) and – I’m imagining – an early bedtime for us all, meaning that tomorrow and the forthcoming days can be enjoyed without this deathly, sleep-deprived hangover feeling.

And then we can get on with enjoying some quality time drinking wine doing the things that we enjoy and creating lasting memories.

And drinking wine.

More micro in the news

I had literally an email about yesterday’s post, in which I lamented the frankly appalling image of microbiology in the news. And it turned out that the email was sent regarding a speling errer in the post, which I thought I had, and have now, corrected.

Still, despite the lack of support from the 6000 miles…  reading public, I set out with renewed vigour yesterday in an effort to find and document a better side of my favourite branch of science in the media.

I failed.

The most recent stories I could find which involved Microbiology were this one:

which included this line:

Staphylococcus aureus, which causes a range of conditions including MRSA, was found three times more often on the surfaces of air dryers compared to paper towel dispensers during an international study.

Well, MRSA is Staphylococcus aureus, it’s not ‘a condition caused by’ Staphylococcus aureus. It’s almost as if the S and the A in MRSA stand for… ag… you get my drift.

Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect anyone?

Anyway – the upshot of this whole thing is that there are fewer bacteria that are going to kill you while you’re in hospital if people use paper towels than if they use jet air dryers.

We found multiple examples of greater bacterial contamination on surfaces, including by faecal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, when jet air dryers rather than paper towels were in use.

Nice. [dry heave]

And remember, folks: Hand dryers also terrorise the vulnerable.

… And this one:

No issues here though, because the chances of anyone picking up a virus and transmitting it to anywhere around the world in this scenario is… oh… is actually really high. Could there be a worse place for nasty viruses to be found? This is literally how pandemics start. Or at the very least, it’s how they become pandemics.

Not great.

The image that Sky News chose to illustrate this story is interesting.

Now, I’m not someone who travels an awful lot, but I’ve done my fair share of flying, and that looks highly illegal. I’m pretty sure that whoever’s plastic security tray that is, isn’t getting their stuff back.

But then, considering that it’s now all – from their Old Spice stick deodorant to their Maybelline foundation (mmm) – covered in nasty viruses from the tray anyway, maybe not getting it back is actually quite a good thing.

Perhaps the best professional advice I can give is for you to pick your hand luggage up from the plastic security tray, and then go and immediately wash your hands in the first public loo that you can find.

Unless there’s an air dryer in there, of course.
In which case, you’re already as good as dead.

At an Airport

The Airport Lounge Scene

[Boldly and theatrically] “Ah. The wonder of travel! The thrill of flying! Destination: UNKNOWN!”

“We’re going to Port Elizabeth.”

“What?”

“Port Elizabeth. We’re flying to PE.”

“Oh. Right… Thanks.”

 

Yep. I have mastered the basic vowel sounds in order to communicate with the locals, and I Googled “donkey driving skills” for the cart we have hired.

We’ll be fine.

Right?

I can remember when

It’s not quite like that airport in Gibraltar (?) where they shut down the road because it’s halfway down the runway, but…

imageWhen they landed these little Short 360s (or anything else on this runway) at Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man, they had to shut the back road through to Derbyhaven.
I learnt to drive along this road, albeit without the distraction of overhead traffic or the local Rozzers.

Paris Airport Private Transfer

Nothing better than a decent trip to the airport. Someone to carry your cases, no worries on parking, pick you up from your door, drop you at the terminal.
What’s not to like?
Many places around the world offer this service, but if you’re in Paris (as I sometimes am, and as you sometimes surely will be too) then look no further than the very reasonable Paris Shuttle to get you to OLY or CDG. [Sponsored post.]