
OK, so thanks very much to Birmingham Airport - after a total no smoking ban lasting some years, they have now in the past year installed a nice bistro outside with smoking facility for those of us poor souls who know we shouldn't, but do ...... - (Many thanks for upholding my human right to partake of nicotine and tar!!!) - and indeed an upstairs area at departures - happy days one might think!!!
HOWEVER
On asking the girl at the bar "where is the smoking area?" - I was told - 'to the left' - and sure enough there was a glass fronted area somewhat like a booth, with two pouffe stools, so off I went, all alone, sat in the ' booth' - lit up,(OK so for a smoking area it seemed odd to have no ash trays or extractors- could have been a sign, but we smokers are used to ' making do' and I thought - clearly they don't want to make smokers too comfortable) - So - whilst relaxing in the booth I decided to re pack my hand luggage - therefore ' bits' of me strewn all over the floor, when a very nice young man came in and said ' this isn't the smoking area it's the cellar entrance'!!!!!!!!
So there I was - exposed for all to see, puffing away illegally and me flight stockings and ' bits strewn all over the place !! Quel Horreur!!!!
There's actually nothing else to be done at these moments except to play the dizzy blonde and senile old Bird ( one benefit for becoming wrinkly)
Fair play to the young man - he was very polite, and escorted me across the crowded bar to the ACTUAL smoking area - an outside balcony - busy with lots of people, and ash trays ! - I did mention sirens and fines, and he comfortingly informed me that he was going to sort the alarms straight away and not to worry - PHEW!!!
Moral of the story??? - the left of the person facing you is not your left!!!! - Make them point!
Many thanks to Birmingham airport staff for their understanding and support.
— atBirmingham Airport.