Anacoluthon64
Defollyant Iconoclast
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2006
- Messages
- 1,018
In this week's SWIFT (15/09/2006), James Randi relates the story of the United Airlines ticket clerk who couldn't be bothered to initiate the necessary that would ensure legible boarding passes.
Well, just two weeks ago, Dr Luthon64, my better half, experienced something profoundly shocking at Heathrow, on the way to State College, Pennsylvania. This has nothing to do with the present paranoia at British airports, and everything to do with the deplorable behaviour of one who would surely like to be counted as one, but whose status as a member of the human species is in deep, deep trouble.
The reader should know that Dr Luthon64 had undergone a lower back double disc replacement a little more than two years ago, and had a letter from the orthopaedic surgeon and some X-rays to prove this in case any odd questions arose. Long periods of sitting still and constrained movement are a source of discomfort and pain, and eleven-plus hours on a 'plane in economy class are guaranteed to iron the shirt in the wrong direction, never mind the level of one's more usual serenity.
Dr Luthon64 needed to get to Terminal 4 with several items of baggage, one of which was a large, bulky suitcase weighing the maximum allowed 25 kg. Also, there was a small collapsible trolley for wheeling the hand luggage (a tightly packed notebook computer case) around to minimise back stress. This trolley, even when fully collapsed, is marginally larger than the maximum allowed size for cabin luggage, apart from clearly being a formidable weapon, consisting as it does of two 6 cm plastic wheels, some lengths of 5 mm aluminium tubing and a few other odds and ends. It had therefore to be checked in with the main luggage. Inconvenient, that.
Next, there's the remaining baggage to be transferred from the airport trolley to the conveyor that ferries these items into the belly of the 'plane. A uniformed gent with Asian features had been present for some time, and Dr Luthon64 requested his assistance in so transferring the luggage. The reply was a bland, "No, I'm not insured to do this. You'll have to pay a porter." A stunned moment of silence was followed by a brief outline of the back problem and second appeal for help, there being no porter within easy reach. The request was again met with the same reply.
Dr Luthon64 describes the man as a "pathetic, useless specimen of a man." I have to agree.
'Luthon64
Well, just two weeks ago, Dr Luthon64, my better half, experienced something profoundly shocking at Heathrow, on the way to State College, Pennsylvania. This has nothing to do with the present paranoia at British airports, and everything to do with the deplorable behaviour of one who would surely like to be counted as one, but whose status as a member of the human species is in deep, deep trouble.
The reader should know that Dr Luthon64 had undergone a lower back double disc replacement a little more than two years ago, and had a letter from the orthopaedic surgeon and some X-rays to prove this in case any odd questions arose. Long periods of sitting still and constrained movement are a source of discomfort and pain, and eleven-plus hours on a 'plane in economy class are guaranteed to iron the shirt in the wrong direction, never mind the level of one's more usual serenity.
Dr Luthon64 needed to get to Terminal 4 with several items of baggage, one of which was a large, bulky suitcase weighing the maximum allowed 25 kg. Also, there was a small collapsible trolley for wheeling the hand luggage (a tightly packed notebook computer case) around to minimise back stress. This trolley, even when fully collapsed, is marginally larger than the maximum allowed size for cabin luggage, apart from clearly being a formidable weapon, consisting as it does of two 6 cm plastic wheels, some lengths of 5 mm aluminium tubing and a few other odds and ends. It had therefore to be checked in with the main luggage. Inconvenient, that.
Next, there's the remaining baggage to be transferred from the airport trolley to the conveyor that ferries these items into the belly of the 'plane. A uniformed gent with Asian features had been present for some time, and Dr Luthon64 requested his assistance in so transferring the luggage. The reply was a bland, "No, I'm not insured to do this. You'll have to pay a porter." A stunned moment of silence was followed by a brief outline of the back problem and second appeal for help, there being no porter within easy reach. The request was again met with the same reply.
Dr Luthon64 describes the man as a "pathetic, useless specimen of a man." I have to agree.
'Luthon64
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