Richard Yeomans

We left Paris and headed to Milan.  The plane we have had for the last few days has had to go into maintenance for a routine check so we all had to get on an Alitalia to Linate.  I find the act of catching airline causes so much extra fatigue compaired to operating an aircraft.  Anyway, the airline was on time and we arrived in Milan in time to have a coffee and prepare for the flight to Dubrovnik.

It was a beautiful approach into the airport over the coast and a fun visual approach.  It is one of the best parts of the job to be able to kick off the autopilot and get back to the basics of hand flying.  We waited at the airport until the flight we were ‘backing up’ took off and then we headed to the Hotel.  We had rooms in the 5 star Hilton in the centre of town over looking the coast.  Sometime we are very lucky in our work and I felt that tonight was as good as it gets.  We had a drink in the 4th floor lounge and then we went out to get a meal.  We walked through the town centre and it was pretty busy with tourists including loads of Americans.

We found a really nice little pizza place and we ate well and all was good with the world until, it came time to pay!!  I put my hand in my pocket to fish out my Kuna but it was gone.  I had lost 400 Kuna and the only way it could have gone missing is if I was pick pocketed.  I was so annoyed.  I hated the idea of someone stealing my hard earned cash.  That was over £30 and I was not happy.  Then, when you think about it, it is not a lot of money really.  My phone could have been stolen and that would have been a disaster.  What amazed me is that someone put their hand in my pocket and I didn’t even get a little tickle.  He must have been good, you have to acknowledge real skill and craft when you see it.

I have just slipped out to get some more money from the ATM and I walked back with both hands stuffed in my pockets and my head down.  They won’t get me again…..I hope.