Lance Shippey
21st Nov 2020, 10:11
After a year with BEA 1-11 division, staff travel became a wonderful
reality. Invited by a friend in the same department to a surprise
birthday party for his best friend at a French manor house, near
Orly. I said of course "Yes" Possibly, I had been invited due to my
"Allo - Allo " language skills. never the less, it was kind.
Out on the first AF. MAN/ORY, and back on the last ORY/MAN
on a Summers Sunday.
I was no stranger to the Caravelle,, and always looked forward to
good food, and copious brandies offered with the dessert on the
AY 210's. Getting my clothes dry cleaned after a flight on SN's
SE210's flight to rid myself of the stink of Gauloises or Disque bleu.
The AF aircraft had a heady aroma of Channel number 5, with a
slight whiff of a Parisienne taxi driver's jock strap..
My day was enjoyable, outdoor dining, with wholesale amounts
of wine. and then conveyance back to ORY for the return flight.
After a 20 minute snooze, my friend and I were given bottled
top up's to our previous intake of "Vin Rouge". What was not to
like? Soon enough, the seat belt light went on. I Told my friend
how much I loved flying on a Caravelle., not only could it glide
for 20 miles, if the engines failed. and could be slowed down
by use of a parachute after landing in poor conditions.
I saw the wine induced rosy face of my friend turn ashen white.
This 6ft 2. Anglo-Dutchman said in a quiet voice, " I hate flying"
I replied, Oh, should I hold your hand ? The reply I was not
expecting "Yes". He took my left hand and held it firmly under
the armrest of our two seats. With 10 minutes to landing, the
stewardess made her seat belt check, smiling as she observed
our hands firmly joined. I don't think even a French kiss would
have caused her to raise an eyebrow.
Thanks the nice thing about the French, and the SE210.
Lance Shippey.
reality. Invited by a friend in the same department to a surprise
birthday party for his best friend at a French manor house, near
Orly. I said of course "Yes" Possibly, I had been invited due to my
"Allo - Allo " language skills. never the less, it was kind.
Out on the first AF. MAN/ORY, and back on the last ORY/MAN
on a Summers Sunday.
I was no stranger to the Caravelle,, and always looked forward to
good food, and copious brandies offered with the dessert on the
AY 210's. Getting my clothes dry cleaned after a flight on SN's
SE210's flight to rid myself of the stink of Gauloises or Disque bleu.
The AF aircraft had a heady aroma of Channel number 5, with a
slight whiff of a Parisienne taxi driver's jock strap..
My day was enjoyable, outdoor dining, with wholesale amounts
of wine. and then conveyance back to ORY for the return flight.
After a 20 minute snooze, my friend and I were given bottled
top up's to our previous intake of "Vin Rouge". What was not to
like? Soon enough, the seat belt light went on. I Told my friend
how much I loved flying on a Caravelle., not only could it glide
for 20 miles, if the engines failed. and could be slowed down
by use of a parachute after landing in poor conditions.
I saw the wine induced rosy face of my friend turn ashen white.
This 6ft 2. Anglo-Dutchman said in a quiet voice, " I hate flying"
I replied, Oh, should I hold your hand ? The reply I was not
expecting "Yes". He took my left hand and held it firmly under
the armrest of our two seats. With 10 minutes to landing, the
stewardess made her seat belt check, smiling as she observed
our hands firmly joined. I don't think even a French kiss would
have caused her to raise an eyebrow.
Thanks the nice thing about the French, and the SE210.
Lance Shippey.