It took an act of outstanding geekery on my part to be reminded of the amazing resources that the internet gives us.

In my last blog entry I mentioned the last British Airways Boeing 757 being repainted in the famous 1980s Negus Negus livery to celebrate her impeding retirement.

Well I got a text from a friend saying that the aircraft’s final flights would be on the Edinburgh run. Having spent nearly 15 years shuttling between Edinburgh and London, often on this maginificent aircraft, I decided on a whim to be on that last rotation out of Heathrow up to Edinburgh. This involved travelling down simply to come back.

It was worth it. There was a real sense of occasion. Old Captains and crew were on board as were other geeks like myself. The take off was spectacular. Why? Because the 757 was built to be overpowered and due to noise restrictions rarely used 100% thrust. But we were allowed to as a special treat on that take off. Forced right back into my seat, we roared into the sky after maybe 10-15 seconds. Breath taking.

But that’s not the point of the blog. As we pushed back from the gate I noticed a ramp agent (one of the guys in the yellow coats) – using his iPhone to film the last ever BA 757 push back at Heathrow. I looked down at him from the front row seat and I knew he had me in his sights.

When I got home I went onto You Tube and it took me 2 minutes to find that video taken by the ramp guy. How surreal to see the scene from the other direction. I could see myself looking down at the camera through the aircraft window.

Just goes to show that there is very little you can’t find on the internet of you go looking for it.

A little more search and I managed to find a few videos relating to that final departure. Here is my favourite. The take off in all its noisey powerful kerosine soaked splendour.

Just stunning.

If you have flown in or out of London Heathrow in the last few days you might have performed a double take. Is that a British Airways aircraft in an early 1980s livery? Well yes it is but you haven’t fallen back through time.

The Boeing 757 was introduced into the BA fleet 27 years ago and after years as the workhorse of short haul routes it is finally being retired. To celebrate BA has repainted the final 757 bird in the retro colours of its formative years.

What an awesome machine – single aisle and yet driven by such powerful Rolls Royce engines. Take off and climb even when fully loaded is steep and quick.

When I started traveling as part of my job the 757 helped me get over my fear of flying. After a while I learned what every buzz and click and whirring sound represented. The retraction of the flaps, the sound of the spoilers. Fear of flying comes from fear of the unknown. Learn about what you don’t know and you can conquer your fear – unless of course you are bouncing around in severe turbulence and then I find that fear comes crashing back. Did I say crashing?

Of course, all those years ago, flying on these birds, even on domestic shuttle routes, you would get a three course hot meal in the evening and as much drink as you could handle. A far cry from the thimble full of coffee and the biscuit you get today.

It’s a pity then that as well as deck the final BA 757 out in retro colours, they didn’t also decide to furnish her with retro service as well.

Most people associate Majorca with the high rise concrete mayhem of Magaluf. Here you can start your evening eating pie and peas in the “George and Dragon”, party the night away on endless two for one drinks promotions and then stagger back to your hotel with kebab sauce dribbling down your chest.

This is fine until you ease yourself out of the 18-30 zone and start to look further afield for more refined destinations. Well actually away from the Fish and Chip resorts, Majorca can be just as unspolit and and chilled out as the most desert of islands. Head north to the region of Pollenca and the stunning mountainous countryside hides many jewels of tranquility – villas with swimming pools hidden down single track roads.

Most are within 5 minutes drive of the lovely resort of Port Pollenca and the old town of Pollenca itself – with its traditional farmers’ market and proper Spanish Tapas bars and lively squares.

But if you want a quiet week, the villas are secluded paradises. A place to stock up on beer, wine and food. Load up on reading material. And just let the sounds of the countryside wash over you. Donkeys bray, cockerals call and crickets sing. At night, being so far from the light pollution of the towns, the night sky becomes a cinema show in itself as millions of stars light up above you.

Venture away from Pollenca through a winding road to the beautiful village of Soller set high in the mountains. Take the old style narrow guage railway down to the port and walk amongst the yachts.

Check out www.villaparade.co.uk for a company that specialises in properties in this idylic part of the world.