Monday, April 21st, 2008
At Heathrow Terminal 3. A couple are buying last minute bits and pieces in Boots (as, indeed, am I). The Assistant asks what airline they are travelling on and the women replies: ‘Quatar, no Emirates’ then looks at her husband who raises his eyes to heaven and says in a resigned way: ‘Actually it is Thai’. The women shrugs her shoulders and gets on with completing the purchase. The man gives me a knowing look and they both disappear.
Apart from the coincidence that they are on my plane what is the point of telling anyone this. Well, I not only know the airline, I know the aircraft type and the flight number. I would not have it any other way; I would imagine my new found male colleague also knows this. His wife, on the other hand, probably thinks that this information is totally useless. She wiill look at where to board and the airline and flight number when she has to, and then once on board probably forget it all again. Her focus is on the destination; mine always on the detail and the process. Archetypal male and female responses?? Do you agree?