The flight started badly, overhead luggage locker tetris. Decades of computer gaming pay off and I get my bag and jackets in.

An hour into the flight the guy in front leans his seat back. I end up with a screen a hand span from my face, far too close, no way of avoiding it. The touch screen was broken, kept refusing to show me the ‘In Flight Health Tips’ which I decided might offer suggestions on avoiding broken knees, cramp, a sore back and damaged eyesight as a result of someone leaning their chair over yours. My constant tapping on the screen to try and make it work appeared to annoy the chap in front and he went to find a stewardess.

Two minutes later I was being told that passengers have a right to lean back. Strange that they don’t have a right to sit comfortably, breathe, avoid headbutting the seat in front when they sneeze. I merely shrugged, pointed out that I wasn’t stopping him from reclining, just trying to make their onboard system work.

They gave me an iPad for use on the flight, although that meant sitting at an angle with the device on the table for the (fortunately empty) seat next to me.

To keep the flight on time they’d taken off before tea and coffee supplies had been loaded on board. So no coffee all flight, to go with the no sleep and no space. I was glad to eventually land.

I was kindly collected from the airport and chauffeured home. In the house I found a cat, too sleepy to do more than nuzzle my hand as I greeted it.

Another cat panicked at a human being present before realising who it was.

I couldn’t find my other cat, until she saw me and started making excited little squeaks. She’d created a whole new cat bed from a duvet and the curtain.

I’ve since had visits from all three, so they do all recognise me, and there have been cuddles. It all ended well after all 🙂