Many years ago.......... (don't they all start like that?)

Abuja to LHR - first time working in Nigeria - been away for a very challenging few months. Abuja airport is a fair old drive from the city centre, in the grey light of an African morning, and the check in process is as you might expect in that locale - complex, difficult, and designed to dissuade rather than to welcome.

Boarded, decent WT+ window seat, filched a newspaper from a very nice cabin crew member, boots off, gear stowed, and well into the crossword.

Departure time +20 - still on stand and still boarding, (various mealy mouthed announcements as to the reason - wasn't paying attention). DT +45 a man approaches and says "your in my seat". Cue somewhat blunt debate (I'm from Yorkshire) but it transpires we both had boarding passes for the same seat. The same nice cabin crew member eventually took both away - and turned in a short while with a "will you please come with me Mr. Reviewerb..."

Nervous at getting booted off (I didn't know about FT in those days - was a lowly Silver too) I agreed to accompany her somewhat reluctantly.

Nervousness increased approaching the exit door - but then reduced as she directed me to 1A. I remember remarkably little of the rest of the journey, but suffice to say they hadn't much Blue Label left when we landed, and I don't recall (and didn't care) how late we were.

Ah the joys..........