Got home late last night after a long delay on the flight from Zurich. The Swissair Airbus to Rome was just about to takeoff when a young man from the back of the plane came running and screaming down the aisle towards the cockpit followed by a second very large young man who seemed to be trying to wrestle him to the ground. As we all sat there wondering whether or not it was a hijacking ,the first young man collapsed backwards with a large thud onto the floor of the galley.Eventually,the plane rolled back to the gate and the first unconscious young man was taken off to hospital by a team of very efficient paramedics. It seems that the second young man was a friend of his who had been alarmed by his increasingly erratic behaviour while the plane was preparing for takeoff. The crew told me when we eventually got to Rome that this was not an isolated occurrence and that 'bad acid ' is a common cause of extreme paranoia.
Made it home at midnight. There was only one major accident on the motorway from the airport which caused a mere twenty minute tail back. Boyz were of course delighted to have the family reunited. This morning after a healthy walk they have been loaded into the back of the car in readiness for a trip to the local village.
Have been looking at the snaps I took on the cellphone in Zurich. I've never seen so many fountains in a town - every square and street seems to have one. Must ask to find out whether they are the real thing or a modern adornment built to give a medieval feel to the place. Must be great having them in the summer but a bit frigid at this time of year.
Got home late last night after a long delay on the flight from Zurich. The Swissair Airbus to Rome was just about to takeoff when a young man from the back of the plane came running and screaming down the aisle towards the cockpit followed by a second very large young man who seemed to be trying to wrestle him to the ground. As we all sat there wondering whether or not it was a hijacking ,the first young man collapsed backwards with a large thud onto the floor of the galley.Eventually,the plane rolled back to the gate and the first unconscious young man was taken off to hospital by a team of very efficient paramedics. It seems that the second young man was a friend of his who had been alarmed by his increasingly erratic behaviour while the plane was preparing for takeoff. The crew told me when we eventually got to Rome that this was not an isolated occurrence and that 'bad acid ' is a common cause of extreme paranoia.
A quick overnight trip to Zurich to give a speech about the state of the world economy . I had always thought Zurich to be a dull, functional , fun less place. That would be quite wrong - like much of Switzerland it's quite a revelation when you get away from the main tourist routes or go out of season. The old town has that picture perfect beauty that you expect of Switzerland without the contrived manicured excess that makes Geneva so dull for anyone under eighty years of age. The town is full of restaurants and bars and far from being dour the people seemed to be having fun - albeit in a strait-laced sort of way. No public drunkenness here but plenty of places to stop off and get out of the cold and have a drink!
