Ta for your kind comments, Tony, I hope your honeymoon wasn't spoiled by the company's demise. Yes,I was the captain (speaking) who tried selling safety using humour! I found that getting the SLF to laugh (and occasionally applaud if they were in the right mood) set the right tone for the trip, more minds appeared to focus on the safety demo and the relationship twixt cabin crew and customers was better. Most important were the comments to myself and CC at the flt deck door by disembarking pax indicating that they found it a refreshing change and the nervous flyers actually felt better about the whole ghastly business of flying. I enjoyed my time with XL, great bunch of worker ants and sad to see all being chucked onto the unemployment scrapheap by forces over which we had no control. Have been through this only once before and unpleasant tho' it is, eventually the wheel turns full circle and I hope all find a job after the inevitable hard times.
