Happy Christmas

May I wish you all a very happy Christmas.

A Christmas Carol

It's in the singing of a street corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true
Wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas
A cup of kindness that we share with another
A sweet reunion with a friend or a brother
In all the places you find love
It feels like Christmas
It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
It is the season of the spirit
The message if we hear it
Is make it last all year
It's in the giving of a gift to another
A pair of mittens that were made by your mother
It's all the ways that we show love
That feel like Christmas
A part of childhood we'll always remember
It is the summer of the soul in December
Yes, when you do your best for love
It feels like Christmas
It is the season of the heart
A special time of caring
The ways of love made clear
It is the season of the spirit
The message if we hear it
Is make it last all year
It's in the singing of a street corner choir
It's going home and getting warm by the fire
It's true, wherever you find love
It feels like Christmas

[Muppet Christmas Carol]

Time to go home

The office has gradually been emptying over the past few hours. I think I've worked too much, so it's time to escape now and enjoy a relaxing evening. Done all my Christmas shopping, so there's no need to go down to Princes Street to jostle with the crowds. Just got to head home, put the feet up, and enjoy a wee dram or two...

Working on Christmas Eve

One'sTube

Congratulations to HM The Queen as she launches her own channel on YouTube.
Her traditional Christmas broadcast to the nation and the Commonwealth will be made available on the site at 3pm (GMT) on Christmas Day.

http://www.youtube.com/theroyalchannel

Pensioner's Facebook

I like this a lot! Click on the image to see the detail.

3 days to go

I can't believe that it's now only 3 days until Christmas Day. Not sure where the time has flown to over the past couple of weeks - apologies for not posting a Blog entry recently (strange that I've found the time to add an entry today, bearing in mind it's the shortest day!). Been catching up with lots of friends, been selling my apartment, been looking for a new place to live, been honing my Wii skills, been sorting out preparations for Christmas, been attending a number of christmas parties, and (oh, of course) I've been working. Actually, I thought I would be on wind-down as the 25th approached, but a new project reared its head last week, and I've suddenly found myself under quite a bit of pressure and working until "stupid o'clock" most days. I won't wait until January 1st to make a new resolution - it's to reassess my work/life balance again with immediate effect. Hey, next year will be better than this. Hopefully, I will start doing a lot more travelling again - and maybe this time next year I will be in a warmer climate. Fingers crossed.

Only in America...

Lost keys

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3A or not 3A, that is the question

flyBMI's online booking system needs one or two tweaks, as I discovered earlier this afternoon as I boarded my flight to Brussels. I was allocated 3A, yet found someone else sitting there (he'd also been allocated the same seat number). To be fair, I had thought it odd when I checked-in online yesterday, as I knew that the seat number was in business class, and I'd only forked out for economy. The stewardess confirmed that this problem often occurred for those passengers using the online system. So why don't BMI fix the fault? That is the question... Anyhow, that turned out to be the least of my worries. Having ended up in 8A, I then had to endure one of the bumpiest descents I've ever encountered. Glad I had the G&T to settle my nerves and the iPod in my ears as a distraction! I was expecting a bit of turbulence, as I'd found out at Edinburgh that many flights had been delayed or cancelled today at Heathrow due to some freak winds. But this was way in excess of what I expected and way in excess of what I'd previously experienced. Clearly, the weather conditions had moved across the English Channel, and we flew right through the worst of it. Zut alors! Anyhow, I've lived to tell the tale - and just hope that the flight back on Sunday will be a more pleasurable experience. A bientôt.

St.Andrew's Day

It seems that the Scots don't generally do a huge amount to celebrate St.Andrew's Day, and unfortunately there is no public holiday. So all I could do today to mark the occasion was to have haggis, neeps and tatties at the pub at lunchtime. All washed down with a pint of Guinness (so that takes care of St.Patrick's Day next March as well!)

Not quite so easy-Jet

Saturday's flight down south to Gatwick turned out to be quite eventful. I'd booked a ticket a few weeks ago with easyJet - and to be fair, at this time of year, I expect delays due to bad weather etc. Anyhow, once we'd boarded the flight we were told that there was a technical hitch - during his pre-flight inspection of the outside of the plane, the captain had spotted a minor dent on the side of the engine casing. This meant that an engineer had to be called to assess the damage, and to confirm that the plane was still able to fly. Anyhow, this assessment happened fairly quickly, but we were delayed further as a second (more senior) engineer had to be called in to sign-off the paperwork. No problem from my perspective - I'd rather know that the plane (once airborne) had a 100% chance of landing safely. You'd be amazed though at the attitude of some of the other passengers. No-one likes to be delayed if at all possible. But I felt really sorry for the cabin crew, especially when one fairly elderly lady got up, started shouting, demanded compensation, and then slammed the door as she disappeared into the toilet. For those people who don't travel often, get a grip! You're travelling because you have somewhere to go. It's a good idea to always arrive in one piece, and certainly not surrounded by a wooden box. So, next time you encounter delays, remember (1) there's nothing you can do about it, (2) it is not the fault of the flight crew, (3) it is not the fault of the cabin crew, (4) safety IS important, so (5) CHILL OUT!

England fail to qualify

Just watched the England v Croatia game from Wembley. Disastrous first half (ending with England two goals down) followed by a lot of hope and anticipation in the second half with England getting back to two all. But Croatia scored a third goal which meant that (with Andorra failing to score a miraculous goal against Russia) England failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 championship. Final Score England 2 Croatia 3. A sad day for English football. With neither England nor Scotland qualifying, I'll have to think very carefully which team I'll support next year in Euro 2008.

A data remember!

Just heard the news that HM Revenue & Customs have miraculously lost two discs of data, containing information on millions of the UK's population (more than 7m families who are in receipt of child benefit), including names, addresses, dates of birth, national insurance numbers and bank account details. What an absolute mess! Let's hope the discs don't fall into the hands of identity fraudsters. Everyone should always check their bank and credit card statements, but now so more than ever. Be vigilant.
I've worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years, so am fully aware of the importance of protecting sensitive data - coincidentally, this morning I did my annual refresher on the subject of the Data Protection Act. Oops, I think I may have just shared too much information.

Diamond Wedding Congratulations

Congratulations to
HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on the celebration of their diamond wedding anniversary.
God save the Queen!

I've been clubbing this morning

Today was my first time using the City Car Club. It's a great scheme in Edinburgh (and a few other locations around the UK). For a one-off membership set-up cost of £75, and a monthly fee of £15, I can now hire a car for about £3 an hour. The charges include all insurance, as well as petrol for up to 50 miles. Of course, I don't have to pay road tax, car depreciation, recovery service, MOTs, servicing or repairs either. And the great thing is that cars are situated all over the city, with dedicated parking spaces available, and can be be reserved online around the clock. There's a car just round the corner from my apartment, so the whole thing is really convenient. You use a smart card to enter the vehicle, tap in a PIN into the onboard computer, and away you go. And the great thing is that the onboard computer sends you messages as your reserved time is running out, so that you can avoid paying any penalties for returning the car late.
For anybody reading this Blog, who does not wish to run a car themselves, and lives in any of the following locations, I definitely recommend this brilliant scheme: London, Bath, Bristol, Poole, Reading, Brighton, Norwich, Portsmouth, Camberley. Just check it out at http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/

Birds'-eye view

I like this picture... a crowd of geese in an open-air enclosure on a farm in Kuhhorst, eastern Germany. Unfortunately for the geese, most will end up as roasts for the traditional St Martin's Day festival.

They think it's all over...

... it is now! Scotland have unfortunately just lost 2-1 against Italy in the Euro 2008 qualifying match at Hampden Park. A shame, as the match was very enjoyable - real "edge of the seat" stuff. Even though Italy scored their first goal within a couple of minutes of the start of the match, there was hope of a fight back. There had been great anticipation all across Scotland throughout all of last week that the national team had a chance to qualify. Needless to say, the result has been met with huge disappointment. Even as an Englishman, I was sorry that Scotland have not qualified - having lived up here for six years, and having made some truly great friends, I do feel like an adopted Scot. Strong words for someone born south of the River Thames!!

We will remember them

Chip & PIN

It's chip and PIN. Not "chip and PIN Number".
A PIN IS a number, since PIN stands for Personal Identification Number. Asking me for my PIN Number is the same as asking me for my Personal Identification Number Number, which is of course ridiculous.
Now, repeat together after me:
Please enter your PIN, NOT Please enter your PIN Number.
Please enter your PIN, NOT Please enter your PIN Number.
Please enter your PIN, NOT Please enter your PIN Number.
Please enter your PIN, NOT Please enter your PIN Number.
(that's once for every digit).
Thank you.

Chicken flies in from Brazil

I've always been partial to a ready-made sandwich from Marks & Spencer, and when I was down at Bluewater in Kent recently, I bought a special "limited edition" chicken, avocado and bacon sandwich. M&S is an organisation that has recently put its environmental credentials clearly into the public domain with its 'Plan A (because there is no Plan B)'. So why the heck do they feel it is acceptable to fly in its chicken from Brazil? I admit that the label on the back of the pack does state "assured chicken from farms in the EU and Brazil", so it's not possible to tell how much of the chicken is sourced from South America. But why, when there must be literally thousands of chicken farms across Europe, is there a need to transport some all the way from Brazil?
I think I'll send them a letter and see how they justify it...

The War on Truth

During my recent holiday in Portugal, I managed to finish off an excellent book called "The War on Truth", written by the Sunday Herald's Neil Mackay. I had bought the book at the Edinburgh Book Festival during the summer, and was fortunate to meet the author. This book takes an in-depth look into the invasion of Iraq and exposes what really lay behind the decision to enter and occupy the country. The book took four years to complete - as a reader, you can immediately tell that everything in the book was very well researched, and is not simply based on hearsay or rumour.
As the author is happy for his work to be promoted around the world, I'm going to quote the following summary from the back cover:
"The War on Truth reveals: what the UK's spies really make of the war and Tony Blair; how Blair could be legally impeached; how the torture of Iraqis was sanctioned at the very highest levels; how the media manipulated the west into support for the war; how the allies used WMD against the people of Iraq; how two secret spying units were set up by the British and Americans to lie to the public about the threat from Saddam; how the invasion of Iraq was dreamed up by the Bush team long before they took over the White House; and how the US and UK tried to destroy whistleblowers who attempted to expose the lies of the two administrations."
The invasion and occupation of Iraq is an absolute tragedy - once you've read the book, you too will be able to decide whether Messrs Bush and Blair ought to be tried at the Hague for war crimes.

End of summer

Well, here we are at the end of another summer. I know that many people across the UK had to suffer from torrential rain and serious flooding. It wasn't too bad here in Scotland. I think we had a couple of days where the weather was perfect! Anyhow, on the basis of "Spring forward, Fall back", the clocks need to be put back an hour tonight, meaning an extra hour in bed. (Of course, with videos, digital tv boxes, central heating systems etc all around your home, you'll probably need the extra hour to make all the changes!). Enjoy.

A big bird

Today saw the inaugural commercial flight of the Airbus 380 - an amazing double-decked super jumbo. After taking off from Singapore's Changi airport, it took just seven hours to reach its destination of Sydney in Australia. Tickets were auctioned on eBay for charity, with passengers paying between $560 and $100,380 to be on the inaugural flight. I'm hoping to head out to the Far East at the end of next year, so maybe I'll get the chance to enjoy a flight on this incredible new plane.

Amid the alien corn

Just finished watching the Panorama special on BBC1 about the kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnston. It was one story from the middle east that did eventually have a happy ending. Support from all around the world during Alan's captivity kept his plight in the news headlines, and probably helped towards securing his release. The programme tonight gave Alan the opportunity to share his thoughts about what happened to him. Clearly deeply affected by the experience, he showed no bitterness towards his captors. A good example to us all, and a valuable lesson on how we all need to keep our normal day-to-day lives in perspective.

For more details of Alan's story, click here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7048652.stm#top

Shirobhyanga

This evening, I enjoyed the experience of a Shirobhyanga - which is the fancy term for an Indian head massage. After a busy day at the office, it was the perfect way to wind down. I was at the One Spa (part of the Sheraton Hotel) with thanks to good friends Jamie & Leanne Murray, who had given me a gift voucher for the treatment for my "big" birthday at the end of last year. Ever since that time, I'd been waiting to pick the ideal opportunity to use the voucher. Knowing that I'd be heading off on holiday in a few days' time, work was bound to be a bit more hectic than normal this week. So I booked a 6pm appointment with the aim of relaxing. I wasn't disappointed. The venue had a very calming atmosphere, with soft music and lit candles creating the right ambience - so relaxation was guaranteed. I'd had a head massage once before, although that was sitting upright in a chair in a Surrey hairdresser's! This was completely different. There was mention of "robe, slippers and towels" in the confirmation email, but I had assumed that this was standard wording and related to full spa treatments. Wrong. I assumed that the masseuse would just focus on my head. Wrong. The treatment also included the neck and shoulders (I thought I'd better clarify that!). I assumed I'd be sat upright in a chair. Wrong again. This was a proper treatment, with me laid out on the massage table (is that the right expression?) I also didn't realise that essential oils were to be rubbed into my scalp. Anyhow, I recommend the treatment to everyone. It's a great way to lose any tension, and left me feeling very content and calm. In fact, I'm now feeling quite sleepy....zzzzzz.

Stealth taxes

Here's an up-to-date and topical take on the classic arcade game Pacman. Enjoy!

http://taxmangordon.com/

Deep fried pizza

Having received a challenge from work colleagues to try out the Scottish delicacy of Deep-fried Pizza, I made a quick diversion to the local chippy this evening to purchase a pizza supper. I had been promised a memorable culinary experience... well, I can honestly say that this promise was fulfilled. Unfortunately, it will be memorable as an experience that I don't want to repeat. Maybe it was the toppings on the pizza, or even the type of cooking oil used?! However, it wasn't the most enjoyable dinner I've ever had. Sorry to all my Scottish chums. Oh well, I gave it a try. Some time ago, I tried the just-as-famous deep-fried Mars Bar - that was ok, as it basically tasted like a chocolate crepe. But the pizza soaked through with oil just didn't cut it. Coincidentally, as I was waiting in the chippy for my dinner to be cooked, in walked the two police officers who recently interviewed me over the disruptive plane passenger (see the 21 August 2007 post in this Blog for details). I thought for a moment that they would arrest the chip shop owner for crimes against healthy eating!

Some mothers do 'ave 'em

Following the recent death of composer Ronnie Hazlehurst, I found an interesting story today on the BBC news website. It relates to the signature music for the 1970s comedy "Some mothers do 'ave 'em" which, before the days of multi-media communications and hundreds of digital and satellite TV channels, was essential Saturday viewing for millions of the British public. It starred Michael Crawford as the accident prone Frank Spencer and Michelle Dotrice as Frank's ever-suffering wife Betty. Anyhow, it turns out that Ronnie Hazlehurst performed a really clever trick when he composed the theme music to the programme, and incorporated the morse code translation of "some mothers do 'ave 'em" into the music. Don't believe me? Well check out this picture:

Clever stuff! Check out the full story at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7026637.stm

Pint-sized Britain

It was recently announced that the eurocrats in Brussels have abandoned their desire to turn Britain into a 100% metric country. This means that we won't now have to give up our traditional imperial measurements such as pints and miles. The EU commission had kept extending the deadline for the UK to complete the full transition to the metric system, first mooted in 1965, with the most recent deadline being 2010. Thank goodness common sense has prevailed. It would have cost a fortune to update every one of the UK's road signs, as well as replace all those pint-sized glasses in pubs. Personally, I'm happy to use the metric system - but I am also happy if we can continue to buy a pound of apples and a pint of milk in the shops and a pint of beer at the pub.

It's a crime

I have just finished watching ITV's adaptation of "At Bertram's Hotel", one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries. I don't know what the producers and directors were thinking, but I've just witnessed one of the most overacted and corny versions of the murder mystery ever seen. Perhaps I was just expecting too much. The light on the top of the taxi right at the end of the programme, illuminated with the words "The end" summed up the whole experience for me. If all adaptations follow the same route, I fear it is the end for people's understanding of the brilliance of Agatha's original stories. For all that Geraldine McEwan brings to the role of Jane Marple, I regret to inform the world that there will never be an actress who excels in the role in the way that the late Joan Hickson did. In fact, Agatha Christie herself told Ms Hickson that she would be perfect for the role. She was right. The versions produced by the BBC in the 1980s and early 1990s were true to the original books and in my opinion are the definitive adaptations. ITV simply murdered the story, a truly criminal affair.

Lost for words

It's just been announced that French mime artist Marcel Marceau has died. He was famous around the world for his clown character 'Bip'. I'm not sure about you, but his performances always left me speechless.

I'm still too young to become an orphan

Glad to report that my mum is now making a good (albeit slow) recovery from her recent heart attack. It certainly gave everyone a bit of a shock, as it was totally unexpected bearing in mind she's always had a healthy diet, takes plenty of exercise and doesn't smoke. A few weeks of quiet recouperation is what the doctor has ordered, along with a cocktail of medication - some of which may need to continue for the rest of her life. My thanks to the paramedics, as well as to all of the medical team at the East Surrey hospital's coronary care unit at Redhill.

Banking on a long career

Exactly 22 years ago today, I started my career in the world of financial services. Having been offered jobs with both Lloyds Bank (now Lloyds TSB) and Midland Bank (now part of HSBC) during the summer of 1985, I opted for the former - a decision based in the end purely on transport links, as Lloyds in Horsham was accessible to me by train. Back then, Lloyds certainly had a bit of a 'more posh than other high street banks' reputation and, arguably, was a bit stuffy and set in its ways. How things have changed! As far as my career is concerned, I never would've imagined that I would end up living and working in Scotland. It's been quite a journey, and for the most part enjoyable. I've also become friends with some truly great people along the way. To mark today's anniversary I decided to see if I could hunt down any of the old Lloyds Bank TV adverts, and see whether they would bring back any memories. A number of 'YouTube' searches later, and I present to you a few classics. Enjoy! Even though they're only from the late 80s or early 90s, they have definitely dated. Debit cards were in their infancy, and the world of internet banking was still some distance away in the future. Oh, and the final clip may no longer be relevant due to all the offshoring of customer call centres!!!

Something a bit fishy...

Click your mouse to feed the fish (they'll try and follow your cursor).

Who do you think you are?

Last evening saw the return of one of my favourite TV programmes, 'Who do you think you are?". It's the family history programme where well-known celebrities search out their origins. Enjoyable for me as I've spent the past 15 years tracing my own family tree. The first programme of this fourth series focused on the ancestry of newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, so a double bonus for me! A visit to South Africa provided answers to why her father had emigrated to England and the visit to Belarus gave Natasha an emotional insight into the fate of some of her Jewish relatives at the hands of the Nazis in 1942. There are 7 more programmes to follow in the series, so it's clear what I'll be doing on Thursday evenings until the end of October. Tracing your own family tree can become quite an addictive hobby - give it a go, as you'll be amazed at what you could discover about your family. I'm very lucky to have a few living relatives at various places around the globe who are also keen to trace our ancestors, and with the explosion of family tree sites on the worldwide web, it's never been easier. Good luck in your search!

Pavarotti

Just heard the announcement that the Italian opera tenor Luciano Pavarotti has died. Whether you're a lover of classical music or not, no-one can escape the fact that Pavarotti was a worldwide star. Whilst he was well known throughout the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, it was his performances back in 1990 for the Italian World Cup that made him a household name across the globe, introducing many people to the less high-brow sort of classical music. A larger-than-life character, who will no doubt be remembered for many years to come. Ciao.

How time flies...

It suddenly dawned on me today that a year has now passed since I returned to work (well, when I say returned, I mean started work again after a 4-month break during the summer of 2006). Time certainly flies... I can't believe how quickly. The funny thing is that I was only asked to return for a 6-8 week spell. For various reasons, work has continued to come my way. I do think myself very fortunate, but I also never forget that work could quite as easily dry up with very little notice. So I'm making the most of it. The only thing I've forgotten to do is to take more breaks. Fortunately, in 5 weeks' time, I'm off for a week in the sun in Portugal. That'll be a new country for me to cross off the list, increasing my total to 23. Still plenty more to visit after that, so my aim in 2008 is to embark on another big trip. Watch this space... as it won't just be time that flies.

It's time...

Miracle of Stairway B

I'm watching an amazing programme on Channel 4 called "9/11: the Miracle of Stairway B". It explains how 14 people miraculously survived the collapse of the World Trade Center's North Tower. I hadn't realised until now that some people inside the twin towers had escaped with their lives once the towers had collapsed - all the more incredible bearing in mind that they had been buried under half a million tonnes of debris. We're approaching the sixth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and I'm sure everyone who reads this entry well remembers where they were when it happened (I was on holiday in Majorca). There'll obviously be a lot of TV coverage over the next couple of weeks, giving people a chance to understand more about what occurred on that day. My visit to the WTC site earlier this year hit home to me the scale of the disaster. No-one should ever forget what happened on that day, and the fact that nearly 3,000 innocent people perished in the terrorist attack on the twin towers.

Festival fireworks

A few pictures from this evening's fireworks at Edinburgh Castle.

Pick up a penguin

Just a bit of fun - click on a penguin and drag it anywhere - alternatively, watch them move as you move your cursor around !

Angels and Demons

I've just spent the past week reading 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code. Although I've successfully resisted the Da Vinci Code (deliberately on my part, due to all the hype surrounding the book), I'm really glad I had this exciting thriller recommended to me. Fast-paced, it's real edge of the seat stuff, and very difficult to put down. Work of a secret brotherhood (the Illuminati) is revealed, and its bitter war against its sworn enemy - the Catholic Church - is played out over a day of mystery, intrigue, terror and murder in the Vatican City. All this is set against the college of cardinals assembling to elect a new Pope. Trying to decipher a long-forgotten trail to find the Illuminati lair is Harvard professor Robert Langdon, together with Vittoria Vetra, the daughter whose father's murder sets of the chain of events at the start of the book. There are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, making it an extremely enjoyable journey through each page. This is one book I highly recommend. A few brands make an appearance, but they're not the sort I would want to market! Read the book, and you'll understand what I mean. Enjoy.

I've won the lottery!

Whether we want to admit it or not, most people in the UK like to think that their lottery numbers would come up, they'd win a huge amount of money, be able to give up work, and enjoy the rest of their days living the life of luxury. Certainly the woman from Glasgow who recently scooped £35m on the EuroLottery won't ever have to worry about anything ever again (apart from maybe the odd acquaintance or two who suddenly want to become best friends!). Anyhow, I was shocked to find that I actually won on the lottery on Saturday. Amazing! Miracles CAN happen. The biggest shock wasn't the amount I'd won (yep, I was one of the 651,684 individuals who had "scooped" £10). It was the fact that, despite paying £2 each week, it had been nearly two years since I'd last won anything from the Lotto. £104 investment for a £10 return. Not the best interest rate in the world. As many lottery winners say, I can confirm that the win won't change my life! If you want to check your own numbers, just log onto http://www.nationallottery.co.uk/

Interviewed by the police

Saturday brought me a brand new experience when, for the first time, I was interviewed by the police. I hadn't done anything wrong (you'll be pleased to hear) - I was simply providing a witness statement to them. Two coppers called at my apartment and spent over an hour with me while I went through the events that had led up to a passenger being ejected from my New York flight in April (while we were still on the ground at Heathrow, just in case you are now picturing some sort of freefall departure mid-Atlantic!!). I won't go into too much detail in this Blog entry, as I don't want to be accused of prejudicing the forthcoming trial. But I can say that it was a strange experience sitting in my lounge on Saturday trying to recall exact details - I must've sounded pretty vague at times. I certainly remembered the incident taking place as it was the only time (in over 300 flights) where I had become uncomfortable before take-off with the actions/demeanour of another passenger. Trying to remember exact colours/styles of clothing and characteristics of the person and his travelling companion wasn't an easy job after all this time. But I ended up providing a good summary of what I had seen, and happily signed-off the statement once I had read it through (it took a lot for me to resist marking-up all the spelling errors etc that had been made by the policeman in his notebook!) More than three months had passed since the event took place and, as I hadn't heard anything from British Airways, I had assumed that the matter had been closed. But I'm glad to learn that steps are now being taken to prosecute the person, and hopefully he will be barred from stepping on board any other BA flight in the future. Dealing properly with unruly or uncooperative passengers is clearly now all the rage.

Photos from the Tattoo

"Tattoo leaves its mark" follows below