The American couple were also heading for the Far East. We were just at the start of our long journey. They had already endured several hours in the confines of economy having flown into Heathrow from the US just a couple of hours earlier.

We enjoyed chatting to them in the departure lounge  – until it was time for us to walk to the gate and we observed that the husband was carrying a rifle as hand luggage!

When we recoiled in horror, he thought it hilarious. Now we wanted nothing to do with him or his wife.