We’re on the plane to Nairobi as I write. This time on Kenyan Airways. For a while I was thinking they were the worst airline out there, when the seating allocation we chose at the self check in kiosk was abandoned, because it doesn’t actually match the seats that are on the plane. Nice touch. So it ended up being “grab a seat”, the old Jetstar style. Which, in fact, turns out to be a blessing. The plane is not full, so we are spread out with spare seats between us. But it gets better. There are little fold down foot rests for short people! Like me! Now I’ve been around the world a few times or more, and used a lot of airlines, but this has been my first time sitting comfortably. So Kenyan Airways gets my tick. All short people should use them.
I leant this morning that Johanessburg is at an elevation of around 1700m. This, of course, courtesy of John. Mr.Geography. Wearing his new Suunto watch/GPS/computer/still can’t make you run or ride faster gizmo. At least the font size of the time is big enough that neither of us need our “old man/lady glasses” to read it. And having still not recovered fully from his man flu, developed during the flight over, his two runs over the past 12 hours around the picturesque environs of our airport hotel (read industrial heartland) have produced a heaving cough of epic proportions, thanks to the altitude. (Sam – you will note that was the first use of the word “epic”. And I haven’t gone near “iconic”. Yet.)
Fergus and Harry are becoming quite the expert travellers. They have learnt that if you turf everything out of your suitcase, then you have a lot to repack in the morning. Hence, many photos will show them in the same clothes, day after day. I do insist on the socks and jocks changeover. They can find Disney Chanel in an instant when presented with pay tv, and we are teaching them how to find our departure gates at various airports. That was easy at Livingstone – just the one. Next it will be the customs forms each time we change countries.