Welcome to the U.K.

October 20: The immigration agent was annoyed and confused as she tried to handle the growing line at Heathrow Airport in London.

"Who made this extra line? Who said you could do that?"

Those of us in line explained to her that another agent, who had disappeared, had done it. But she wasn' listening.

"All of you in the short line, go here. I'm closing this."

Much grumbling, mostly by Americans, as she closed the shorter line, allowing only the first few to continue.

I used to think the immigration lines at LAX were the worst in the world but this took the cake. Perhaps six agents were handling the ever-growing line of arrivals, while over a dozen counters remained unstaffed. And the line-handler, just seemed to wander back and forth among the throngs, occasionally disappearing.

Slowly more agents appeared at the counters. But it took us over an hour to get through immigration. The first question out of our agent's mouth was "Why are you two traveling together?"

"We're domestic partners." I answered. "He won't let me travel by myself."

This amused him and he cheerily chatted with us, before welcoming us to the U.K.