European Airlines : Recently I took a trip to Lisbon. I flew TAP of Portugal. The outbound leg was OK, as much as OK could be on a 6am flight. The return leg, oh dear…. I entered the Airbus A320 and announced to the waiting cabin crew that I was on the 'Starboard' side. After repeating myself to blank stares and an "Excuse me?" I told them that they had better ask their captain what 'Starboard' means ? Unimpressed I made my way to my seat. The...

First stop Oxford ! I took a tour to Stratford upon Avon. It went via Oxford and Burton-on-Water to the destination, Shakespeare's birthplace. We set out from Earl's Court and our guide humorously commented that Earl's Court was no longer referred to as 'Kangaroo Valley', the Antipodean presence had long gone to be replaced by a Middle Eastern fraternity. Well-heeled I might add. Our London route took us through Shepherds Bush, past the huge Westfield ...