Dee,

Also looking forward to meeting you at The Ferintosh, and I have to wish you all good luck with 'Tam' - now that IS a marathon! I am having enough trouble getting my teeth around The Address to The Haggis!!!

With belated regard to the matter of the flight: having taken return flights across the pond on four occasions now, I have made up my mind that the fifth, and any subsequent ones, will certainly be at the Premium Economy level or higher, or I will not travel at all! The first time (to Toronto from London by British Airways), I was upgraded to First Class without even asking for anything more than a window seat and, like Rex, received amazing attention with a gift of two bottles of Champagne on leaving the plane in Toronto. I was later told that I'd been upgraded because I was smartly dressed in a business suit with collar and tie!! On the return, I asked if there was any chance of an upgrade, but my request was refused as First Class was fully booked! That was eleven years ago.

Subsequent flights have been with a mixture of airlines: Air India in Economy Bulkhead seats (never again - I like the smell of curry, but not for eight hours!), Zoom Airlines in their Premium Economy seats (excellent value with additional leg-room and increased baggage allowance) and Virgin Atlantic in Economy (good accommodation and service with individual TV monitor, but the leg-room was crippling, especially when the guy in front put his seat back!!!!!!!!!!).

I stand (and sit, actually!) at just 6'0" and that last trip on Virgin Atlantic was the 11 hour hop from London to Los Angeles. When I got off the plane it felt like my knees had been crushed! That, combined with the fact that I also cannot, just cannot, sleep on 'planes has decided me that next time I will definitely opt for Premium or First (depending upon what I can afford at the time), or not go at all.

Travel safely.........