Retrospective
I was never bored during the journey; I did not even finish the latest “Biggles” that my mother had saved for me. There was nearly always something to see from the heights at which we were flying. The downside was the turbulence and the consequent air sickness. Present day travellers would also have missed decent heating and air conditioning . Without doubt, the “Empire” boats were noisy., but there was no risk whatever of catching DVT. Fifteen months later, when Dad was due another spell of leave, we flew on to Sydney on the KLM DC2 service, which was fast and efficient but not nearly so stylish as the boats. Twenty years later, en route to the USA, my schedule demanded that the RAF movers put me on the BOAC “Monarch” Stratocruiser service. This was magnificent and very comfortable with a huge seat-pitch and free bar “down below” after a slap-up dinner at Shannon. But the 11 hour night crossing to JFK was a complete bore. If you had the time, there was nothing to beat “the boats"!
<img src="cool.gif" border="0">
ENDEX <img src="cool.gif" border="0">