+1
Great episode.

I am also on the receiving end of BA's loose interpretation as to "special meals". They, some years ago, decided that it would save money to amalgamate the VGML, VLML, AVML all into one (identical) meal.

Hence, if you request Veggie Lacto (as I do) you receive Asian Vegan - I have not had more than once in the past 3 years (literally dozens of LH flights) in which this was not the case.
They even replace the butter with margarine (butter is VLML but not VG or AV) so they can merge all 3 meal-types together into one rabbit-fest.

Usually, I substitute it with the veggie option on the CW menu (pasta, etc or omelette if it's a morning flight) but every so often I get a nasty CSD who lectures me on ordering a special meal and not eating it, and that the "normal" meals are counted and unavailable to me as I have forfeited my right to the menu by preordering VLML, etc etc - like I was a misbehaving child in kindergarten.

I then slink down in my chair, eat some of the rice and channa masala until my mouth burns more than my hunger pangs, and try to snack on chocolate and crisps for the remainder of the 7 hours.

I have written letters to CS about it and never received a response other than "no, you were given the meal you ordered" - despite there still being an obvious AVML sticker on the tray (once the sticker even actually said "VGML/VLML/AVML" = they didn't try to hide the fact that they don't really offer 3 distinct meals)...

Speaking to CCR staff and Special Services in the USA and elsewhere they have heard this before from many CW, and WT pax including GCH and GGLs, and while they sympathize with the problem, and they have mentioned it to London before,they have given up when it was denied that this happens each time. Instead, I get an apology in advance (once I even checked in at First, when flying only WT+ and was pre-emptively told "I see you ordered VLML, here's a voucher for pre-flight dining anyway, otherwise you'll be hungry".

I have learned to bring a couple of cookies from the FLounge to keep me going until they "open" the club kitchen and allow me to have the snacks...