Heathrow Airport

My Mum had a cousin who lived in Hillingdon. Her name was Olga. I don't know the story, but it was a while after my Mum moved to London that she was finally given her address and they made contact.

On occassional Sundays, my parents, my sister and myself would get in the car and drive over there. She was married to Eddie and between them they had 4 children, Stuart, Jean Eddie and Ian. Ian was about the closest in age to me. We used have great Sundays there. Olga always struck me as being very glamorous. She didn't have a stunning figure, but she had dyed blonde hair, twinkly blue eyes and a happy smiley face. She was full to brim with warmth and I just LOVED going over there.

For a start, we would have CHIPS for Sunday dinner. My Mum always cooked meat and 2 veg on Sundays, so to go over and have chips for Sunday lunch was fantastic!! Then she would make something scrummy for afters. My favorite was Custard tart.

After lunch we would either get in my Dad or Eddies car and go to Heathrow airport. I had never been on a plane before so to me, if you were getting on a plane then you had to be VERY rich and VERY important. I never thought about where these people were going or why, just that to get on a plane you had to be special! Mostly we would go up to the roof of one of the terminal buildings and sit and watch the planes taking off and landing. Even more exciting was the fact that there was a darlek there and for a coin you could sit in it and get twisted around while it croaked 'exterminate!!!'

Yes, those Sundays thrilled me and somehow it wasn't as exciting when they came to visit us, although, many years later Olga would tell me she used to love coming to our house as she got a roast dinner! I used to love seeing them, she always dressed up to come to our house and her hair was blonde and styled very 40's!

Over the years our families went to each others weddings and gradually the visits dwindled. My Dad didn't have a car for a long time and then the last time we saw them Olga was ill and so was Eddie, but the visit was lovely. Sadly they eventually died and now it's just Christmas cards from Jean to my Mum.

To this day though, if I ever have to fly from Heathrow, I walk in and hold my head up because that 'special' feeling still comes over me. If anyone knows if the Darlek is still there, will they please let me know.