In reply to kennycan.

It took me a few minutes to work out just how long ago it really was.

I had been working in Europe for a bit over 6 weeks and flew from France back to Switzerland where I expected to be for a couple more days and then home. My Swiss agent met me at the airport and asked if I wanted the good news or bad news first.

The last time He met me with that question I had selected the bad first and got the news the Marine barracks in Lebanon had been bombed. His “good” news was that Reagan had invaded Granada.

I selected “good” news first and he told me he didn’t need me again after all (I had started out this trip in Switzerland). The bad news: “Your father called. He said to send you to London for the weekend and then on Monday you fly to Ireland for a week. Here’s your tickets”.

I had already been gone for 6+ weeks and wasn’t to happy about that. It turned out to be a great week. I had never been to Ireland but it turned out to be a great place to visit.

At the time there was one hotel in Longford, still there today. I’ve been many times since that week, but not in about 20 years now.

It was 1984.

Error happened.