Ah, the glory of the handbag — an item that appears in a plethora of unimaginable styles while sporting the livery of every imaginable brand. Even bands as diverse as those much more synonymous with an automobile or footwear.
The handbag emerged as a fashion accessory after the First World War. It was said to signify the increasing emancipation of women, for whom carrying a bag became a sign of independence and stature. Women had their own cash and bank accounts, and keys to their own property and cars. And from that time onwards young males were raised to never, never enquire as to what might populate the dark depths of a woman’s handbag.
It has to be said flying our Comanche on Fifty Flights Round the World was preceded by a significant amount of prior preparation and planning. As far as possible every conceivable risk or issue was identified and where applicable appropriate mitigation considered.
One not so insignificant risk was loosing a key, especially the all important aircraft ignition key. Mitigation for this possibility was smugly satisfied by attaching spare cabin door and ignition keys to an accessible location on the aircraft exterior. Then as backup to the backup, a second spare ignition key was carried in the cabin. What could possibly go wrong?
The one thing we never thought about of course. Here we were on Ulan-Ude airport, not far from Lake Baikal deep in Russian Siberia, fastened inside our Comanche, airways clearance acknowledged and ready to start. The familiar action of turning the ignition key to engage the engine starter was immediately followed by a litany of inappropriate expletives....the key had broken!
One piece of the key came away in Bazflyer1’s hand, the other remained firmly wedged in the ignition. In no time at all the spare key from inside the cabin had been retrieved....but expletives continued to flow....the broken piece of key steadfastly refused to come out of the ignition switch.
“Did you experience any dramas while flying round the world” has been a relatively common question and there is no doubt the broken key incident might have qualified. Indeed it conceivably would have if it wasn’t for a woman’s handbag...Bazflyer2’s handbag. From deep within appeared a pair of tweezers that ever so aptly gripped the broken piece of key lodged inside the ignition switch. Out it came....in went the spare key....and, in a twist the big Lycoming engine was alive.
The moral of this story is never ever judge a woman’s handbag by its brand or style, it’s always about the contents!
The broken ignition key
On Ulan-Ude airport
On the road to Lake Baikal
On the streets of Ulan-Ude
Local people and produce
