You do the Hokey Pokey and you turn around….

Do you know the words of this old song?  Some call it the Hokey Cokey and its origins are shrouded in mystery.  It has been around for a long time in the UK and during the Blitz in London a Canadian officer played a part in its development as he suggested to band leader Al Tabor that he create a dance song with this accompanied by all the relevant actions.

You put your [right leg] in,
You put your [right leg] out;
You put your [right leg] in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the hokey pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That’s what it’s all about!

And on to various other parts of the body.  Great fun at a party as you can imagine.

But what’s all this got to do with travel I hear you ask.  Well – it was a dark and stormy night…. no not really but it was a Thomas Cook flight from Tunisia back to Scotland when one very drunk female passenger desperately wanted a smoke.  She started demanding cigarettes and a parachute so that she could jump off the plane.   (“Whaaaaaat?”)

Getting very agitated when she was denied her request(s) she slapped a young girl on the flight and then took off her prosthetic leg (yes I am not kidding) and started attacking the cabin crew.  The flight diverted to Gatwick and the police were waiting for her upon touchdown.

And the Hokey Pokey – as she was escorted off the plane the passengers gave her a rousing rendition of this old favourite.  Very appropriate don’t you think?