Not Porty, People and Places

The future of the Swiss Army is the subject of a national referendum later this month. If the vote goes in favour of the abolition of the current conscripiton system, in favour of a much smaller professonal army, there will be a huge surplus of these knives - interestingly you can buy the full range of knives at his shop at Geneva airport and take them onto the plane with you - as long as you are on a direct flight. If you are changing planes and subject to another security screen you will lose your precious purchase for good. Not sure of the logic of this.

The views from the plane inbound to Edinburgh this afternoon were stunning. I could see as far as Dunbar to the east and Dundee and Arbroath to the north. It is a long time since I have deliberately sat on the right hand side of the aircraft as the city views on the left are always so captivating.

My two hour flight home passed in a flash as I was sitting next to a Scot, now based in Switzerland to be near the climbing and the skiing, but works on oil rigs and other high structures around the world as a high rope work specialist. He travels the world to set up and supervise the ropes and wires for abseil construction and maintenance work. A fascinating insight into a very dangerous world. There was, however, an irony in that despite his fearlessness of any heights, man made or natural, he was terrified of flying. I am the compete opposite and can sit for hours looking out of a plane window at 39000 feet but am like a Potobello jelly fish at the top of The Scot Monument!