I must admit that travel no longer holds the appeal for me that it did. Perhaps Osama can add me to his count of the victims of global terrorism?

In truth, it’s not the risk that may be present in other countries that puts me off travelling (I think I’m probably at greater risk at home in the UK), but the (seemingly) pointless additions to existing security arrangements. To start to list them -

Restrictions on hand luggage,

No liquids through security (but I can buy whatever I like in departures! - how hard would it be for a terrorist to get one of his mates a job in duty free and smuggle through whatever liquids or powders he needed?),

Checking the soles of my shoes,

A bevvy of security people staring at me intensely as I pass through customs,

Arriving ridiculously early for flights….

…That list is enough to put anyone off and that’s just a start!