The Stig has landed !!

Good Man Fonters !!!!

What a boy ! Not only did my man not winge too much about humping my entire ski kit to a foreign land but took upon the role of executive James to the Stig to extreme proportions !

After being delivered to T4 for a final beer with Gazza I wandered through passport control armed with my usual 54b boarding card wondering what on earth I was doing, being on my jack jones for the first time in weeks !

Heading towards Wetherspoons for one last hit (where many a Vancouver trip had kicked off before) my head began to spin a bit with the reality of all that I was about to do and the whack to the head that this was likely to be the last time I see England in ............... who knows how long !!

After saying my farewells to family on the phone and chatting with a couple of you all too soon it I heard the call for BA085 to Vancouver and it with that I steeled myself for the creep down to my favourite back seat spot next to the bogs ! Half way down the gantry though my world changed for the better with the slight feather touch of an angel on my arm in the uniform of a BA dispatcher.

'Excuse me Sir......... are you the gentleman emigrating with us today ?'

'Ah yes' was all I could mutter.

Calmly taking my boarding card off me and scribbling out 54b all I heard was....

'Then all the very best good luck Sir and enjoy your flight'

Before getting chance to glance back at where my new home for the next nine hours might be another soft hand placed a flute of champers in mine and guided me to the oasis of 5A !!! Oh you dancer !!!!! Now never one to miss out I was as polite as I could be tucking into all that First Class had to offer. In turn specifically:

1) Post take off G+T 2) Selection of Canapees 3) Water cress soup 4) Glass of Burgundy 5) Lobster and crayfish salad 6) more Burgundy 7) Rack of Lamb 8) just a wee bit more Burgundy then 9) Fig tart and ice cream 10) you need to open another bottle of Burgundy ??... oh go on then 11) Gorgonzola 12) its not bad this Burgundy you know luv .... 13) Esspresso 14) G+T 15) G+T 16) G+T ..............(a little KT Tunstall on the ipod) 17) G+T...... what do you mean twenty minutes to landing !!!!!!!!!

Ooooooh ya bugger !! I've gotta pass customs inspection in this state ?? Why didn't you tell me ???

You will all be sad to find out no doubt that the interorgation passed without incident and I was allowed in with open arms !!! Whahey !!!

On a more serious note..... huge thanks to Doogie for a champion effort and being a true friend putting himself out to such extreme lengths to make the transfer not just bearable but a ******* hoot !! Mate your beers will always be on me in Vancouver ! (provided I get to choose the venue) . Thanx buddy !