First of all thanks to McGrath who mentioned Private Eye magazine in a posting. It reminded me to check the latest online edition. In the section titled Funny Old World was this lovely story. I don't know if its true or not but it made me laugh. I hope it helps cheer somebody else up as well.

"My boss, Nikitas Kotiadis, was running very late for his flight to Brussels," his personal assistant told a court in Athens, "and he was worried that he might miss the plane. About an hour before it was due to take off, he came into my office and asked me to telephone Axon Airlines anonymously, and tell them that there was a bomb on board his flight. He thought that this would delay the plane until he got to the airport. I wasn't very happy about the idea, but he is my employer, so I obeyed him." Speaking during the trial of her boss, the assistant (whose name was withheld by the court) explained what happened next. "I called Axon, and I didn't give my name. I simply told them that I was calling on behalf of Mr Nikitas Kotiadis, and then read out the message he'd written: 'This is not a joke, someone is preparing to put a bomb on your 3:30 flight to Brussels.' Then I put the phone down. My boss left for the airport, and he was arrested as soon as he arrived, and charged with attempted murder. I suppose the airline people must have noted his name down, when I telephoned. I wasn't surprised, but I'd done exactly what he'd asked me to do, and I feel that I acted professionally throughout." Mr Kotiadis was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, but paid a fine and was set free. He sacked his assistant immediately after the trial. (Athens News, 23/11/00. Spotter: Barry Lloyd)