I am now on my way to Nosy Be by turbo prop plane courtesy of Tsaradia. A service scheduled to leave at 16.00 today, then switched oddly to 05.00, then 14.10 and then, on the day, given a new time of 16.20.

I will be taking one of their three planes manned by their seven staff : three pilots, three air stewards and the one person who : checks you in, reviews your passport at security, checks your bag through the oldest looking scanner I have ever seen, and then passes you through high security broken glass double doors, stepping you right on to the tarmac.

So who services these planes? I assume one of the seven staff. Taking multitasking to new heights.

Amazing, how you board a normal commercial superjet eyeballing the exit doors, strip lighting and the full security briefing, but, when you get in to an outlier of civilisation you are impressed to get a flimsy piece of paper giving you a seat number. Quickly giving up responsibility for your life to a home spun carrier, with no questions about whether this machine can get you in the air, and keep you there for 3 hours and 625 kilometres.

What’s the betting though that my luggage arrives at the other end? Turkish Airlines nil points. Tsaradia 100 points. I can be sure of this because I can see my rucksack in a netted cage directly behind the pilot.

Hang on a minute….isn’t that the same guy that refuelled the plane?

Thank you Tsaradia. The truth was a very enjoyable trip. Comfy leather seats, lots of leg room and a delicious packet of mixed salted nuts.