A couple of years ago we did some work for a US based software security company...
We won't say which one but it's former owner is now on the run somewhere in South America.
It was a great job over several months that involved a series of training courses delivered in Dallas, Texas. The first couple of courses were two day affairs, so R & R arrived a day early and went straight home after the first course but managed to tack on a few days holiday after the second.
Interestingly Richard had a stereotypical view of Texans when he first arrived... a view that seemed to be confirmed during their first meal in Dallas.
It was August and therefore it was scorching hot; 40+ degrees. There was a sports bar directly opposite the hotel and the fact that all the waitresses were wearing nothing but bikinis had no influence on Richard's choice of eatery.
Anyway, it being hot Renee and Richard decided to eat outside (the only people doing so, 'cos everyone else was in the cool air conditioned bar.)
As Texans walked passed they threw a few strange looks at the pair of them. Eventually one person shouted over the parking lot: 'You know y'awll gonna get sunburned sitting there!'
To which R & R replied: 'We know, we're from Scotland and will be pale again next week!'
As he got to know a few genuine Texans, Richard changed his opinion. Sure they may proffer their opinions in the loudest possible way, but they always come from the right place. The only reason the lady shouted from the other side of the parking lot was because she was genuinely concerned.
And so the project continued until Richard got a 'phone call on 28th November; could he be in Dallas on 1st December to deliver a half day course?
What?
So it was on British Airways from edinburgh to Heathrow on the morning of the 30th November and then American Airlines to (the twin cities of) Minneapolis and St Paul's before another flight to Dallas, arriving at about 6.00pm, because of the time difference, in Texas.
Then it was up at 7.00am to get to the office to deliver the half day follow up session between 9.00am and 1.00pm.
The taxi was ordered for 1.30pm on the 1st December and the flight on American went to Memphis then Memphis to Heathrow, arriving in the early hours of 2nd December before jumping on the final flight up from Heathrow (which was on the verge of being closed because of snow) and getting back into the office at 3.00pm on the 2nd December.
Phew!
Richard was a little surprised when his Dad asked what Dallas was like. 'Errr... much like Edinburgh, really. Or at least the office block I was working in was.'
Strangely, though, Richard doesn't say he felt tired doing it... there wasn't time for jet lag to set in and he managed to get a decent night's sleep ont he 'plane onthe way home!
He would want to do it for a commute, though.
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