Do you know Molly’s dad?
June 28, 2012, 8 Comments
It really is a small world, as this story about a plane, a book, a TV crew and an interview shows. Last week I spent the day in Bern filming with a crew from Swiss TV, as part of a Kulturplatz programme for transmission on SF1 in July. Over lunch beside the Aare, the journalist interviewing me pulled out a copy of Swiss Watching and told me how she had found it.
Two days before, on Father’s Day (Sunday 17 June), she had flown back to Switzerland after a few days in London. It was an Easyjet flight from Luton to Zurich and once they’d landed, she walked down the aisle towards the exit. And there on a seat was a copy of my book. She couldn’t believe it, as she had only just finished reading the German edition in preparation for our interview. Was this some elaborate marketing gag? Or just a freaky coincidence? She picked up the book and took it home.
Two days later, she gave me the book at lunch. Inside there are two clues as to its possible rightful owner – although either could just as easily be a handy bookmark. The first is a card, pictured above, showing a very British scene of a boat on a shingle beach. Inside was this message:
To Dad. Happy Father’s Day. It’s a shame you’ll be flying home for it. Lots of love from Molly. x
Now, wouldn’t it be too much of a coincidence for that card to be in a book on Father’s Day if the book were not a gift from daughter to father? So I presumed that this book belongs to Molly’s dad, who possibly lives or works in Switzerland but still has family in the UK. And he was flying back from Luton that day.
The second clue is an Easyjet boarding pass from the previous week, 8 June, for the flight EZY2046 from Zurich to Luton, in the name of Mr Leslie Rushworth. Is he Molly’s dad? I’m not sure. That pass is more than a week older than the card, and does anyone keep boarding passes that long? Mine rarely last longer than the flight itself.
It could be that Leslie Rushworth already had a copy of Swiss Watching, which he read on the flight to London and used his boarding pass as a bookmark. When he flew back to Zurich on Father’s Day, he then tucked his daughter Molly’s card inside the book as a safe place to keep it. Whatever the real story, he left his book (and card) on the plane.
So if you are Molly, or Molly’s dad (who might or might not be Leslie Rushworth), or you know either of them, then please get in touch. His copy of Swiss Watching, now signed and personalised, is waiting for him at the Swiss TV studios in Zurich. I would love to re-unite book with owner, even if it is a little late for Father’s Day.
Where are you, Molly’s dad?
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8 Comments on "Do you know Molly’s dad?"
Having nothing better to do (and also because I like how Facebook makes the world even smaller) I decided to take a shot and looked for a Molly Rushworth on Facebook. I expected a massive list of people to come up but as it turns out there’s only two (?) and one of them is very trusting with her profile so I ended up finding this: https://www.facebook.com/les.rushworth
I’m not sure if I should be proud or ashamed of my Facebook-stalking-skills… But I hope there will be a part two of this story! 🙂
Not really relevant to your molly story, I just wanted to say how much, as a Brit of 12 years here, I am enjoying reading your book. My Swiss partner is also enjoying it. Of course I made the Faux pas as you did, although I am also please to say that as a working class Brit, I managed to get a lot of the politeness issue correct. Although I did make the biggest mistake of telling strangers on my dog walk personal details upon first meeting them. Living here and being accepted was relatively easy, considering I’m so uneducated (which is really shameful) However, Swiss can’t understand how I can not work, not study and not even play a sport. I am trying to write a book but being autobiographical, it is maybe something I couldn’t talk about either. It is very personal and nonconformist, so I am left looking like a lazy foreigner doing nothing. How much is too much information?
Thanks Ellie. I will follow this up and let you know what happens.
Hi Diccon,
Can’t quite believe this. Yes it’s my book and Yes,Molly is my daughter. I was returning to Zürich after a short break in the UK. My wife Lynn, who discovered this article by chance tonight, stayed in the UK returning to Zürich a week later. I tried to track down the book (and Fathers Day card) but was thwarted not least by the fact that Zürich airport charges 20CHF for returning lost articles! So, I have been getting round to ordering another copy.
I’d love to be reunited with the book as it is a great read and especially as it has now been signed by the author.
I’ll arrange to call into the TV studios and pick it up. Are you there very often? Maybe I could pick it up when you’re there and get the chance to thank you personally.
Regards,
Les
Hi Les
Glad that you found me after I found your book! Thank goodness for the internet.
The book is waiting for you in Zurich, but I am now in London for the House of Swizterland. I will email you the contact details of the journalist at SF1 who has your book.
I’m back in Switzerland in September. Hope to see you then
Diccon
I am Molly!
Your presumptions are correct, I leave to go to University and my parents flee the country! – in seriousness, my mum and dad moved to Switzerland for my Dad’s job last summer whilst my sister and I reside in England. We’re both old enough to look after ourselves now so why shouldn’t they? Also arriving in such a beautiful country every time I go ‘home’ is hardly a hardship!
That card is of Mundesley beach in Norfolk where my family and I spent the week before father’s day.
My dad has become obsessed with all things Swiss since moving – I’m surprised he let the book out of his sight.
The whole scenario is such a coincidence, right down to my mum discovering this blog!
Hello Molly!
How great that this worked. So happy that I wrote about it on here.
I’m actually in London for the House of Switzerland until 12 August, so if you’re anywhere nearby then come and say hi. You could even get a copy of the new book as a Christmas present for your dad 🙂
Take care
Diccon
Hi Diccon,
The studio is in Oerlikon isn’t it, on Leutschenbachstrasse? Probably can’t get there until early evening, but once you drop me her email address i can contact your journalist and arrange a pickup.
Thanks again!