BA cabin crew - don't strike!

The rumblings are rife. I can hardly count on two hands the number of people whom, over the last week or so, I've heard saying that they'll never fly British Airways again. This is mainly due to the threat of cabin crew strikes which, thwarted by management over Christmas, now threaten to ruin Easter for thousands of holiday-makers.

Do the cabin staff have a multiple suicide pact or something? Don't they like their jobs? Can't they see that their idiotic plan could bring down our national airline?

Back in the early 1980's, BA was in a lot of trouble. Over simplifying somewhat, we were just coming out of a devastating recession, fuel costs were high and passenger numbers were down. The company had been plagued by strikes and they were in a lot of poo. The then Sir John King was brought in as chairman with Colin Marshall (later to become chairman) as managing director. Saatchi and Saatchi, for whom I was working, came on board as the advertising agency and together, the team set about changing things. Saatchi's somehow satisfied the Advertising Standards Authority that use of the phrase 'The world's favourite airline" was kosher by virtue of passenger numbers; at the time, British Airways flew more people to more destinations than any other airline ergo, must be the World's favourite. That lovely, calming, catchy piece of classical music (Lakme by Delibe) was appropriated and became inextricably linked to British Airways. It seems almost comical now in these green, politically correct and straightened times but one of our campaigns focussed on the fact that if you'd booked a ticket, even if you were only one passenger, British Airways would put on a plane to fly to you to your destination. (Now, some people claim it's mere co-incidence that my time looking after the BA account corresponded with a change for the better in their fortunes. Some people may think otherwise, but I couldn't possibly comment.) Very soon, a sense of national pride in our airline was restored and so began the 25 or so 'feast' years.

The last couple of years have been hard for everyone. Again, fuel costs are high and everyone's cutting back on business travel wherever possible. But I've flown BA several times over the last year and have found the service to be excellent, prompt and courteous despite some cut-backs. That's not counting getting stranded in France, for an extra 24 hours, the day after the Big Snow shut down UK PLC but I couldn't blame the airline for that. I just counted myself lucky not to have been booked on Easyjet. Some of their passengers were stranded for four or five days.

If the cabin staff strike it could just spell the end. There are already talks of a merger with Iberia in order to survive but if loyal passengers start deserting in big numbers, the end could be nigh.

I have a little bit of sympathy with the crew. Willie Walsh doesn't strike me as the most sympathetic, charming or charismatic individual but he's a businessman fighting for his life and the future of BA here. Use mediators, find some common ground. The cabin staff need to understand that some cut-backs now are vital to ensure their future employment. Guys - painful though it may be the short term, long term prosperity, your job security and national pride is at stake here.

Don't strike! Negotiate, mediate and spare a little thought for the passengers.

Festive blubber

The festive season is all well and good but the aftermath is pants, especially when you can't fit into yours.

Having spent most of last year ridding myself of excess weight and getting fit, the blubber has piled on over the last couple of weeks and I've set myself back to about last May. Actually, I don't know quite what the damage is because I haven't dared weigh myself to avoid potentially spiralling into the depths of despair. I hardly ever weigh myself, I prefer to judge my weight by whether or not I can fit into my tight jeans and just at the moment, I can't.

I hit the gym today for the first time in ages and it was really, really hard to do my routine, even at a reduced pace. And I went and hurt my leg. I also punished myself with no breakfast, a baked potato and salad lunch and a lean chicken and salad supper with no wine (lucky I like salad) - although I couldn't resist the Williams Sanoma balsamic onion chutney brought lovingly to me by my Christmas visiting Canadian friends. Yummy.

The problem is, I like most things. My inclination is to see food and eat it. I just love food and I love all the wrong stuff. I love all the right stuff too and I've never really got the hang of portion control. Control is a concept I've never been that comfortable with in any aspect of my life which is what makes curbing excesses so much more difficult for me than for normal people. I can resist anything but temptation.

It's important for me to stay slim and eat properly because frankly, I feel so much better when I do those things. I guess I need to be very rigid most of the time and allow for the odd excess here and there without beating myself up. Yes, good idea because we're making a roast beef lunch for guests this coming Sunday. Then, toward the end of the month, we've been invited to friends who have a rather famous Michelin starred chef coming over to cook dinner for them and their eight nearest and dearest (no, it's not Gordon - but close). i can't miss out on that one.

So, until Sunday at least, it's rations for me and lots of exercise - even if I have to do it on one leg.