The Lair

So the airbase took a hit or three. I’m not really up for analysis and what does this all mean and random handwringing. Or maybe I am. At any rate, from a fairly self centered point of view – this is going to suck for international travellers.

See, the airport was hit in 2001. That spooked lots of international airlines, just like Cathay Pacific this time around. They pulled out of Colombo. I’m sure there was some wheeling and dealing involved but they eventually started flying in again. In some cases, it took an year or more before the airline consented to operate the route. But there was a twist in the tale. Airlines used aircraft that were probably older than I am. Tattered and sometimes faded seatcovers, no personal video, seats with dimensions where stretching out is a luxury for even a runt like myself. And where the whiff of kerosene and avgas sometimes seeped into the cabin. In short, not the most pleasant flying experience.

And that’s probably going to start all over again. Gah.

And since I’m all about the airline tidbits today – I doubt that this airplane will be visiting the sunny isle any time soon. A double bed and champers? I’d totally fly that. Oh, I mean I’d sleep on the bed, of course. The best thing to do on long airline journeys. Watch movies that I couldn’t be bothered visiting the cinema or renting/buying the DVD for, play some inflight tetris (yes, I still do) and sleep. I’ll even forego the movies and tetris for a comfortable nap or three on a flight anywhere.

Completely unrelated sporting note: they recruited a manager with a crappy record at Middlesborough to coach the English football team. Now, sacking him for poor results will cost the FA £2.5 million. Failing to qualify for the Euro2008 tournament (don’t give me that jazz about having it all to do, we’ve only just started blah blah blah) will cost the FA one hundred meeellllioon pounds. I cleverly deduce that the FA stands to lose £102.5 million quid in a hurry if they don’t do something soon.

In more sport speculation, I wonder how many arms were twisted to clear the Pakistani squad in the Woolmer case. An extremely defensive trio of Pakistanis were interviewed on Newsnight last night too. Ok, so the guy interviewing them was an idiot (leading questions were his speciality) but nobody came out of that room smelling of roses.