I’m early enough that I can walk right up to the check-in desk. The formalities take only a couple of minutes, my checking luggage being a single bag that’s well below the weight limit. I’m informed that there is a short delay, but that they hope to get away without too much difficulty.

I head upstairs and straight to security. I take a moment to get my laptop out of my backpack and leave the main compartment open in the tray. It’s always easier to let the staff see what the camera and lenses look like, as I’m almost always stopped for an additional check. I get it. The camera bag is packed with dense electronics, glass and metal. It isn’t something that can be easily distinguished on even the best x-ray system. Also, I’m used to it, because it does happen almost every time I take my camera on a plane.

Today, the bag is further inspected by a former school-mate. One of the problems of living in a small community, I guess. Everybody knows everybody else. She is efficient and thorough, but while working asks how I am and where I’m going. Thankfully, she doesn’t mention Simon or anything about the inevitable press coverage that went with it.

“Well, a safari certainly explains this lens,” she tells me when she is examining the big 150-450mm telephoto that I bought a couple of years ago. “If you don’t get some good shots with this, there’s no hope.”

“Well, I’ve never been on a safari before, so I don’t really know what to expect. It’s good to have a little insurance.”

“Well, have a good trip, Mark.”

“Thanks. I’ll try my best.”

Grabbing a soft drink from the café, I find a quiet seat at the eastern end of the departure lounge where I can look out over the apron towards the runway. At least I can see the end of the apron, even if the runway is out of sight in the mist. Let’s hope it thins out before the day ends. I’m also in a position to clearly see the departures screen and keep track of events.

I have at least two hours, so I take out my laptop and connect to the airport wi-fi. I take a long look at the weather and then fiddle with some code for a while.

The satellite imagery of our area does indeed show that it should clear in the next few hours. I’m not supposed to be working, but it is really something to pass the time. Honestly, I’ve never been really able to be productive on a laptop. I far prefer to have two large screens when I’m coding because it makes keeping track of the UI and the code much simpler.

This modern development stuff just needs so much more tracking of components and integration. As soon as a web-based interface is required, that almost guarantees that you’re working in at least three different languages and probably two separate environments. Throw in graphical elements and you’re getting far beyond what can be comfortably managed on a single screen.

So, I’m really just playing about on the laptop to kill some time. I have a few ideas for the Wilson project and I figure that, while I have spare time, I can at least make a little progress. Our safari itinerary doesn’t really have any proper rest days, but most days involve a rest period during the heat of the day that I might need to spend working.

With only about a dozen or so flights a day, the airport isn’t ever particularly busy, but there is the constant buzz of people getting refreshments or responding to the occasional slightly muffled announcement. Today is a little unusual, I suppose, as my flight to Manchester isn’t the only one that has been disrupted. Still, a glance out of the window now reveals the edge of the runway visible in the distance and this change is soon accompanied by the announcement of boarding for the next flight to Liverpool.

I’ve never been a nervous flier, just a generally nervous traveller. I’m not worried about getting on the plane, or even about the actual flight, just about the success of the journey itself. It makes it all a bit easier when, like this, a journey is broken up into smaller parts that can each be completed more readily.

Finally, about an hour and a half late, boarding is called for my flight and I quickly repack my laptop and make my way to the gate. A quick glance out of the window as I wait in the queue shows my suitcase gliding up the conveyor and into the hold of the small turboprop aircraft that is about to whisk us off on the thirty-minute flight to Manchester.

The wait for my luggage in Manchester seems interminable, but at least the flight had been uneventful. I guess that less than thirty minutes in the air doesn’t really give you much time for any drama. Honestly, it always surprises me when people bother to get a drink or a snack. There’s not really enough time to eat a packet of crisps or drink a cup of coffee.

I've my itinerary and details with me, so I’m quite surprised to find someone holding a card with my name on it as we exit to the concourse. He’s a short, slightly rotund, plain-faced man in his late thirties with a slightly receding hairline and close-cropped blond hair. His clothing decisions seem to be based on a combination of maximum comfort and a certain safari vibe that probably doesn’t really fit his body shape or age.

“I wasn’t expecting to be met,” I tell him as I approach.  “Is there a problem?”

“Oh, no. I was coming over to meet a couple of other guests and thought I might as well gather you in as well when I found out your flight was running late. It’s no fun being delayed.” He has a distinct southern accent, not quite Essex or estuary, but not London either. “I’m Ian Jones. Peter is travelling with the group leaving from London and I’m here, obviously.”

I take his offered hand and respond with a match for his firm grip. “Well, I’m used to delayed flights. It’s an island living thing, I guess. It is nice to be met, though.”

“The others should have landed. Are you okay to wait for a few minutes?”

“Of course. How many of the group are meeting up here in Manchester?”

“Seven. The two who we are waiting for are the last of us. If nobody objects, we’ll arrange to have dinner together this evening and I can go over a few of the basic rules and details of the itinerary.”

“That sounds great. I’ve never been on a trip like this before, so any support will be welcome.”

“No problem, Mark. We’re used to dealing with primarily first-time travellers. Not that we don’t get some regulars, but there’s always a mix of the two. That’s why we have two of us as guides. It helps to give everybody who needs our time a fair crack of the whip. The main thing it to remember that we’re here to help. If you need anything, advice or otherwise, just ask.”

“Well, Ian, at least this explains why we’re meeting here in the UK, rather than when we land in Nairobi.”

“Yes. Immigration formalities in Kenya are simple enough, but a little daunting if all you’ve experienced is a trip to Europe in the past. Just walking through with a flash of your passport really doesn’t cut it in much of the rest of the world.”

Our conversation is curtailed by the arrival of our other travelling companions. They are very clearly a couple and both in their early twenties. The man is tall, almost ridiculously so and the woman is much shorter. Both are athletically built and seem to be overflowing with energy.

Ian is, once more, business-like as he makes brief introductions and guides us all outside to find the courtesy bus that will take us to our hotel. The wait is a short one and the ride to the hotel – probably less than 100m from the terminal in a straight line – takes only a couple of minutes, the driver weaving expertly around the tight twists and turns of the airport campus.

I’ve stayed at this particular hotel before, and, while it isn’t my current favourite, I have no issue with the choice. The reception team clearly know Ian well and the formalities are quickly dealt with. I’m the odd-numbered guest, so I get a single room for this one night. Ian assures me that it is a luxury that I will not see for the rest of the trip and this isn’t unexpected.

Ian suggests that we meet in the bar at about seven, reminding us that dinner will be at eight. I make my way up to my room and, connecting my laptop to the free wi-fi, settle down for a quiet couple of hours.