Let me tell you a story that will resonate with those of you who are regular air travellers and those who have ever hoped for an upgrade to a class above that which you have paid for.

Back at the beginning of the season, one of our finest guides was selected to become the face of a European brand of shoe. So it was that Salaash Morompi packed his bag and set off on his first flight and his first overseas trip. The media commitments caused him less problems than the chilly spring breeze in Madrid, which found its way inside his trusty Masai blanket and across his open tyre sandals. His solution was to adapt traditional Masai dress by adding a locally purchased pair of trendy baggy trousers.

On the return journey it was this new addition to the Masai dress, with all its zips and buckles, which sent the airport metal detector crazy. Always keen to please, Salaash suggested that he follow his hand luggage through the machine. Security, unsurprisingly, opted for a body search instead. From this encounter, Salaash escaped unscathed with the exception of a reassigned seat. A helpful hostess guided him into his newly acquired first class seat in which he wallowed for the next 8 hours. Oblivious to the significant price difference between economy and first class he explained to us that he was always going to sit at the front of the plane from now on. We left it to Gerard to try and explain why that might not come to pass.

So there you have it, save yourself some money by getting a pair of zippy trousers, tyre sandals and a bright red blanket. Oh, and a session at the Salaash school of charm.

Have a good one won't you,

Gordie