powdermonkey I did not intend my use of the word gem to be interpreted as "priceless/hilarious and completely innacurate comment". The word, which I withdraw, was more intended to underline the sharp distinction between what you reported and the reality that so many Ryanair pilots have to contend with. In that regard I still have a (personal) problem with the contrast between the volume of posts about Ryanair which repeatedly confirm the same messages about the realities of life in Ryanair but which some posters here seem to completely discount. I just have difficulty is reconciling the shear volume of negative evidence with the soothing "Ryanair is no different from other airlines" type of post. In summary, we just had a clash of perspectives, but seem to have mutually recovered.