Tales of a trolley dolly

Cathy Specific takes you on a behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous, or not-so-glamorous life of an air hostess... at 35 000ft above sea level, there's no telling what could happen.

How long have you been flying?
Cathy Specific: "From the minute I was born! I flew down that birth canal and I haven't stopped.

What is it about flying you love so much?
Everything. To be in a different city every week; buying goodies at your favourite stores around the world and meeting up with friends you've made along the way. Having no roaming also allows me some peace and quiet while not in the country, but I must add, that there is no greater feeling than when those wheels touch down on South African soil. There is however, one thing I don't love at all, and that is the JET LAG. I don't think one ever gets used to it.

Do you ever get nervous when you fly or has it become second nature by now?
Do frogs wear raincoats? I was ‘to the manner born' as they say. I'm like a little girl every time that aircraft takes off - what a thrill.

How do you calm down nervous fliers?
Beat them over the head with an ice tong! No, I give them a complimentary Dormicum and insist they take it.

What's your best story of restraining an unruly passenger?
I love my set of handcuffs. They come in very handy and I've used them on MORE than one occasion. It gives me almost as big a thrill as take-off, but not quite!

What do you do when passengers make passes at you?
I pass right back! I can't begin to tell you how many business cards I receive. Passengers are very forward on board an aircraft and I'm starting to think that cabin pressure has something to do with it. Look, I know we're not suppose to fraternize with passengers, but technically, once we've landed, are they still passengers?

What's the funniest thing you've ever witnessed on a flight?
There are too many to mention. Not one flight goes by without me having a good laugh at someone or something. My passengers and I are always entertaining each other to ensure that only the best time is had on board.

The mile high club. What are the most interesting ways you've seen people try to get it on in the air?
"Believe me, they're all interesting and it usually occurs between total strangers. It's surprising what a bottle of red wine can do at 35 000ft above sea level. More often than not, the two ‘love birds' don't even make it to the toilet and firmly believe that if they cover themselves with a blanket, no one will notice - WRONG! Look, I know we should put a stop to this, but not until all the crew have had a good perv!

For a Mile High Club experience, is the bathroom the best place for it?
"And you're asking me . . .? Ok, it's a bit cramped, if you're 7ft in heels. You really have to be a contortionist to fit into those little cubicles, so the crew rest is another option - although you're not going to get in THERE unless it's with a crew member . . .

What's the worst thing that's ever happened to you while flying?
I once had a bomb scare out of London. Someone said to a passenger checking in, that our flight would never make it over the sea and as you know there's quite a lot of water soon after take-off out of Heathrow. The police, including the cabin crew, were searching every possible stowage for any suspect device. Nothing was found and the flight was given the green light. It was the funniest thing to see all the flight attendants munching several meals in the galley before the passengers boarded - we weren't going down on an empty stomach!

What's your favourite destination?
London and New York. Both cities have great theatre districts. The West End and Broadway are very special places for me.

After landing in a foreign city, what do flight attendants generally do for fun?
We're usually too tired to do anything unless we first get a few hours sleep. Our layovers are also not as long as they used to be, so trips are usually jam-packed with things to do - and BUY! We love eating at our favourite restaurants and for those of us who have been flying a long time, we catch up with friends and love interests that we've gathered over the years.

What is Mile High with Cathy Specific -JUMBO Package about?
It is a musical comedy revue about a day-in-the-life of a very extravagant flight attendant, Cathy Specific. All the action takes place on board a Boeing 747 en route from Johannesburg to New York - and as you can imagine, a lot can go wrong.
The cast, which includes a formidable dance ensemble (and live swing band) take you on a behind-the-scenes look at the glamorous (or not-so-glamorous) life of a flight attendant. This production will have audience members rolling in the aisles and coming back for more. NOW on at The Victory Theatre, Houghton Estate till 15 Nov, this satirical take on the airline industry is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Make some of your own adventures in the air with these holiday package deals from R1 440 including flights, accommodation and car rental.