Well the holiday has started on a bright note, it's raining, oh and the flight is delayed due to ' minor damage' having been found near the engine. Apparently the Captain and ground crew are satisfied that it poses no problem but British Airways procedures mean it has to be checked out by two independent people. One has been and we are waiting, cooped up like battery hens, for the second to put in an appearance, after he has done his stuff we might be able to wend our way aloft and cross the pond to Boston.

Now the only thing that might crop up to spoil this transatlantic jaunt will be the hours that the crew have left to work. Anne and I have suffered from this before on our way back from Australia so we know the script.

Getting down to Heathrow was uneventful and ahead of schedule. Things started well but have since not lived up to the promising start.

The flight is full and there are one or two 'odd' passengers! One in particular across the aisle from me reclined her seat, got her own pillow out (and I mean pillow like you have in bed) and wrapped herself in the blanket, chrysalis like as if to hibernate. Now this is all well and good but we still have to get airborne and even with my limited understanding of aviation and flight protocol I know your seat has to be in the upright position ( I feel I'm about to spread my arms and indicate the emergency exits).

We are still waiting for an announcement and update on what's happening and I think I've now run out of things to talk about so I will continue this as the saga progresses.