D-State's post #29 brought back many memories. Ah, yes, that Northern Q.
The Mighty Eight's GC crewroom overflowing with linies, most of them visitors. Hooter goes with the usual '8 Sqn QRA Scramble, 8 Sqn Q...' etc, etc. Q was a regular event in those days and everyone involved had the 'Q twitch', raring to go at the first keying of the tannoy.
But on this day...the Senior Squadron had to ensure the Junior knew its place.
Four of the Senior Squadron members bidding their Bridge hands. Q scramble on the tannoy. Senior Squadron guys ever so calmly carry on. Junior visitors stare on agog and baffled. Chief shift boss stroles through and asks the Bridge party if they could do the see-off. 'No probs', bidding finished, a couple of finesses, and made. Stand up and slooowwly make way to the aircraft, cooooly get everything up and running, crew arive, start and depart. Back to Bridge and carry on smoothly. Great when a plan comes together.
The poor F4 guys just couldn't put it together. Well, they wern't to know that our average 'call-to-off' was circa 15 minutes ish, most of the delay being the TACO getting his brief.
Just awfully glad we only bid three Hearts and not 6 Spades...we would have had to run. That would have spoiled the moment.
camlobe