Welcome home!

When I arrived in Edinburgh, a banner with the Homecoming Scotland logo next to the luggage carousel reminded me that I was coming home. And while I waited for my luggage, I fantasized about the special welcome waiting for me behind the "Nothing to Declare" doors. A bagpipe band? A complimentary haggis? Oh, what would it be?

Nothing. Oh, well. Maybe they'd got my arrival time wrong.

I made my way to the car rental centre. The man at the car hire company didn't seem to be having a good day and was finding it difficult to be friendly. He didn't smile once, and spoke only when absolutely necessary. He told me that I had been given an upgrade to a bigger car. When we were almost finished with the paperwork, I reminded him that I needed two child seats. He almost rolled his eyes.

"I've only got one. Oh, hang on: I'll go and get another."

Eventually he returned with the second seat.

"I'm not going to charge you for the seats. I've already booked the amount from your credit card — and I can't be bothered."

He couldn't be bothered — to charge me! How unprofessional.

Was I bothered? No. An upgrade and two free child car seats weren't a bad welcome home at all!