Flying

Living in the west, I take it as given that all airplanes are air worthy, irrespective of their age or if they are a little tatty around the edges in terms of presentation. This is important to me as I fly quite a lot.

If I have a choice of airline on a route, what influences me is Service; not the food or drink or even its delivery, but how the attendants and pilots communicate with me. I like to be welcomed by the person in charge of the plane, and for them to tell me what to expect, a few bumps here, a few bumps there, an apology after the fact, if it was bumpier than expected; to explain where we are on route and point out things of interest, even if it is cloudy or you can't actually see the things of interest at 35,000 feet.



All this reassures me, I feel a part of their world, a team member, that we are in this together and everything is going to be ok. It costs nothing and the return is enormous, as I will continue to patronize those airlines that make me feel good about flying with them.

My top 3 in no particular order

Jet Blue
Alaska Airlines
Virgin America

With Love

Head Shots - Dont judge a book by its cover, people do, get over it

I was on a flight from Las Vegas to Seattle, passing the time by flicking through the in-flight magazine. As usual, adverts littered the pages with articles on various travel related issues. One advert in particular jumped out at me. "Psychiatric Counselling for Executives". It was not the subject matter that grabbed my attention, it was the photograph of the, I assume, service provider, Dr. Whatever-His-Name-Is.

I have always found it strange that people would place a photograph of themselves on their advertisements, as if it is some sort of hook to get people to think "Hey, I like the look of that person, that's the kind of person I want to deal with." They are everywhere and more noticeably on giant billboards as you drive along urban highways. These huge pictures of people, smiling invitingly, trying to give out reassuring vibes of trust and solidarity "Like you, like me."

I remember listening to one of those self help CD's many years ago and a section dealt with this issue specifically. The advice was, if you are going to use a photograph of yourself, make sure its one that's not that great- after all, you want people to be surprised on the upside and not on the downside, when they actually meet you. WHAT!!!? I would have thought that if you were going to display yourself in that way, you should make it look great!! you want people to come to see you surely, don't worry about how surprised they are going to be when they do.

Dr. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, change that photograph or better still, leave it off altogether. I am sure you are very nice person and good at what you do, but your photograph does not reflect well on you. In fact, it represented to me what an executive with psyciatric challenges may actually look like. STOP!

With Love

White socks and shoes

I shall never understand people who wear polo shirts, long shorts and shoes with white ankle socks. It has nothing to do with each constituent but the combination, and especially white socks and shoes.The fact that ones fashion sense insists on ensuring the shoes coordinate with the color of your shirt is really not an excuse.


Unless you are Michael Jackson (RIP), my advice would be to rethink your wardrobe, or at least stand in front of the mirror before you step outside, and ask yourself, "does this look good?" If the answer is yes, then go for it, as the world does need balance and laughter is a good medicine.

Also, please do not consider that by placing a baseball hat, with the peak facing any direction, on your head will detract from your feet. A misconception of the highest degree, for you are the ultimate of court jesters.

If you are reading this and thinking "yeah man, too true, too true. That's why I wear trainers with my socks and shorts." Oh! God help us.

With Love