Arrived back late yesterday morning after very comfortable last sector -- Dubai-LHR -- in top deck of A380, which certainly redefines the way to fly. Emirates have quite a fleet of them, all kitted out in Emirates corporate style, much given to moulded plastic faux wood (yew?) right down to the loo seats! Business class passengers inhabit what could be a smart bit of kitchen furniture, inserting oneself into a kind of cupboard with reclining seat and lots of cubbies for shoes (that must be a first) and shelves, and, a feature of which Emirates is very proud, their 'award winning' ICE system (basically entertainment).

They are also proud of their catering, and yesterday one of the charming flight attendants (seemingly another Emirates speciality), while serving breakfast (which I didn't need, having broken my fast on a the previous Emirates flight) agreed to provide me with an early lunch, which she did about half an hour later, having meantime delivered a starter course of 'Arab style Mezze'. And very good it all was, in line with all of the catering on every Emirates flight on this UK-Oz return journey.

At the aft of the A380 cabin is a 'lounge' with banquette type seating and an on-duty bar man. Yesterday there was a unique combination to be observed, with a man using an airline blanket as improvised rug, praying to Mecca in a corner of the lounge, while several passengers were standing around the bar with alcoholic drinks in hand. Neither party seemed to be mindful of the presence or activities of the other.