StevieTerrier
26th Dec 2001, 17:59
After months of local pleasure flights, it was my first "real" commercial task - pick up some car parts from Cumbria and drop them at Burton-Upon-Trent ASAP - "Just-In-Time" system had failed again.
Collected the parts (seat headrests) and stuffed the 206 to bursting point in the boot, the cabin, and a couple of boxes as co-pilot. Eventually found the landing site (the boss had said, "oh you cant miss it, its in a field by a factory". If I had a pound for every time I've been told that etc etc.)
After shutdown, the happy factory staff rushed out and took all the bits from me, stopping only to congratulate this Sky-God who had kept the line going for them.
The sun was shining, I had my gold bars and my Ray-bans on, and I cruised home over the beautiful hills of the Peak District. A good day's work.
Back at base I landed on, shut-down and went into the boot to get the Tech Log and Ops. manual. I opened the door, and there smiling back at me were about 50 Toyota headrests....
Its amazing how quickly a feeling of well-being can disappear and be replaced with that sinking feeling in the stomach. Now what? Closing and then opening my eyes again didnt help. For a couple of moments I considered throwing them over the wall and pretending that I knew nothing about them. At this point the boss strolled out, so it became a bit academic anyway.
Fortunately he saw the funny side of it (which was odd, because I couldnt see one!) and the matter was resolved by me having a six-hour drive in my car with the errant headrests so that the line would not be halted. Perhaps I could set off early next morning so they would be there when they started work? Sorry, said the Boss, its a 24-hour factory, better go now. So at 5 o'clock in the evening I set off on my second trip of the day to Burton. (yes,. that's right - rush hour) The headrests finally reached their destination at 9 o'clock in the evening.
Footnote : The "24-hour" factory closed at 6 o'clock anyway, and was deserted when I arrived. I had to call out the security company, who called out the manager who had to come and let me in. I finally got home at 2 a.m. the next morning.
OK - now its your turn!
Collected the parts (seat headrests) and stuffed the 206 to bursting point in the boot, the cabin, and a couple of boxes as co-pilot. Eventually found the landing site (the boss had said, "oh you cant miss it, its in a field by a factory". If I had a pound for every time I've been told that etc etc.)
After shutdown, the happy factory staff rushed out and took all the bits from me, stopping only to congratulate this Sky-God who had kept the line going for them.
The sun was shining, I had my gold bars and my Ray-bans on, and I cruised home over the beautiful hills of the Peak District. A good day's work.
Back at base I landed on, shut-down and went into the boot to get the Tech Log and Ops. manual. I opened the door, and there smiling back at me were about 50 Toyota headrests....
Its amazing how quickly a feeling of well-being can disappear and be replaced with that sinking feeling in the stomach. Now what? Closing and then opening my eyes again didnt help. For a couple of moments I considered throwing them over the wall and pretending that I knew nothing about them. At this point the boss strolled out, so it became a bit academic anyway.
Fortunately he saw the funny side of it (which was odd, because I couldnt see one!) and the matter was resolved by me having a six-hour drive in my car with the errant headrests so that the line would not be halted. Perhaps I could set off early next morning so they would be there when they started work? Sorry, said the Boss, its a 24-hour factory, better go now. So at 5 o'clock in the evening I set off on my second trip of the day to Burton. (yes,. that's right - rush hour) The headrests finally reached their destination at 9 o'clock in the evening.
Footnote : The "24-hour" factory closed at 6 o'clock anyway, and was deserted when I arrived. I had to call out the security company, who called out the manager who had to come and let me in. I finally got home at 2 a.m. the next morning.
OK - now its your turn!