When you sit down in an airport waiting lounge with 500 other people about to board a plane, what are the chances of sitting next to the person you will be sitting next to on the plane? OK that's easy. But I even sat down on the same side of the person next to whom I would be sitting for the journey from Auckland to Melbourne.
As I opened my travel bag my boarding card showed and the shrinking violet on my left announced she was my traveling companion. Which is exactly what she was for the best part of the next 5 hours.
We were at the front of the huge double deck A380 so boarded last. As we left our seats in the lounge TC (I shall call her that as we never exchanged names in all the words that passed between us) looked back to make sure she'd left nothing. I looked round to see what she was looking at and my keys were on the chair I'd just vacated. They'd fallen from a pocket.
From that moment it was as if I had a minder the same age as my son Gaz. I told her the story of Catriona saying that if she held my hand crossing the road people would think she was helping me. She liked that. She was by far the most enchanting and entertaining bossy boots (her words, not mine!) I can recall meeting.
She told me which films I would likely enjoy and whether they were funny or sad or whatever. I had another 14 hours on that plane after Melbourne and with hindsight and having followed her recommendations I can say that she chose well. Some I would have watched anyway: others definitely not.
Thank you TC. You were a ray of sunshine in my journey.
As I opened my travel bag my boarding card showed and the shrinking violet on my left announced she was my traveling companion. Which is exactly what she was for the best part of the next 5 hours.
We were at the front of the huge double deck A380 so boarded last. As we left our seats in the lounge TC (I shall call her that as we never exchanged names in all the words that passed between us) looked back to make sure she'd left nothing. I looked round to see what she was looking at and my keys were on the chair I'd just vacated. They'd fallen from a pocket.
From that moment it was as if I had a minder the same age as my son Gaz. I told her the story of Catriona saying that if she held my hand crossing the road people would think she was helping me. She liked that. She was by far the most enchanting and entertaining bossy boots (her words, not mine!) I can recall meeting.
She told me which films I would likely enjoy and whether they were funny or sad or whatever. I had another 14 hours on that plane after Melbourne and with hindsight and having followed her recommendations I can say that she chose well. Some I would have watched anyway: others definitely not.
Thank you TC. You were a ray of sunshine in my journey.
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You're a lucky guy to get all the free advice!
ReplyDeleteI was Red; especially as it turned out to be so good.
DeleteIt makes the airplane journey go faster when you get a good and chatty companion.
ReplyDeleteGood being the operative word Ruby! A bad and chatty companion can be hell.
DeleteGood to know your journey started off in good company!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I must admit I'd feel a bit uneasy, knowing that the person sitting next to me had such a clear view of what was printed on my boarding card. So, if I had been reading or writing my personal journal, or typing messages on my phone to my loved ones, she would have been able to see that just as clearly, wouldn't she.
As you know Meike you are fairly squashed together in an airport departure lounge. The figures on the boarding card are quite large but, yes, I think you are correct and your next door neighbour could read what you were reading or writing on most passenger vehicles (unless you can travel first class).
DeleteOh my, Lady Bossy Boots sounds delightful....glad that you had a nice TC while on the flight.
ReplyDeleteIf we could only choose who sat beside us on the plane, when we make our seating selection. It would be nice to have a little snippet description of all the passengers, so you could choose your seat wisely.
Chatty folks and noisy children I'd stay far away from....
She was delightful Virginia. It made the journey go just that bit more quickly.
DeleteThe modern day version of "Brief Encounter" perhaps?!
ReplyDeletePerhaps if I'd been 30 years younger I might have felt like that Spesh!
DeleteReminds me of a lecture I once listened to on appreciating chance/brief encounters like that... Long ago now and I've forgotten the details but it became a reminder that still keeps popping up now and then. (That even people you meet very briefly and never see again can have impact on your life.)
ReplyDeleteSorry Monica. It's a long time since you commented on A Chance Encounter and although I'd read the comment I've spent very little time in Blogland since. I remembered your comment last evening after a discussion with a friend. Chance encounters really can change one's life or at least how one looks at life or a particular aspect of it. Sometime, however, they just leave you with a memory of a fleeting moment of joy (or, unfortunately, occasionally, unhappiness). All, however, are to be treasures of memory.
DeleteHow nice! What a relief you liked her bossiness, and found it charming. The alternative is rather gruelling to contemplate! I had a lovely talk with a young Israeli on a plane not long ago, and he quite convinced me I should go to Latin America, where he'd just spent a year having the most amazing time. OTOH I have in my time gone to LA next to a drunk who spent the whole time boozing and became impossible by the time the flight was 3/4 through... and I once flew through a thunderstorm with an ex pilot by my side who took great pleasure in explaining eveything that could go wrong with planes in storms. In fact, he was so annoying that it had the contrary effect of making me feel tremendously brave and blase! :)
ReplyDeleteSo by now you will be back in Scotland. I had better look at your other blog now...
Sorry Jenny. It's a long time since you commented on A Chance Encounter and although I'd read the comment I've spent very little time in Blogland since and I'm missing it. I used to fly a great deal more sectors every year than I do now than I do now (although my flights tend to be much longer now) and I am fortunate in that I cannot recallever having sat sitting next to anyone unpleasant and rarely next to anyone chatty.
DeleteAt least you weren't bored on the plane. What a long ride though! I have flown to Japan from Rome and it takes 14 hours too.
ReplyDeleteCaramella I wish you many more long and pleasant journeys in your life.
DeleteThat is always nice! Congrats! Enjoy home!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cat.
DeleteMiss Bossy Boots sounds like a good companion for you on the flight.
ReplyDeleteShe was Terra. It made the first three hours simply fly by (sorry, I've just realised what a terrible pun that was).
DeleteD'uh. Here I am checking up on you because it's been 2 weeks since your last post, and had to feel delighted you'd been in action as recently as three days ago (reply to comment above), before I remembered you will have transferred to your Hebridean blog.
ReplyDeleteTrue Katherine but I've spent far too little time in Blogland myself these last few weeks.
DeleteAlways great to have a TC to travel with!! When I flew home from London in 2010, I had a couple of great TC's which did make the long journey go so much faster!
ReplyDeleteIt can be Liz. I'm not always in the mood but this TC was particularly enchanting.
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