| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 08:54:16
I spent almost all day Thursday and again yesterday trying to help get one of the employees out of London and back home. And for what? So he can get home to make more millions for millionnaires? BAH! What a waste of time and effort.
On the other hand, my 82 year old, fixed income father-in-law is stuck in London with his grandson. His grandson was supposed to come back to Israel on Thursday, and he was supposed to go to Milan tonight, and afterwards back to Arnheim before coming back home. Who knows what's going to happen with all this. We'd try to get him just to Arnheim to stay with his daughter, but we don't want him waiting in lines for ferries and train tickets (he's just not strong enough for that, even with his grandson's help), since booking these on-line have been blocked. A real dilema, but we've decided to wait and see and hope he doesn't end up spending too much money (which he can ill afford to do).
So, what stories have you all heard - aside from John Cleese spending 3,300 Euro on a taxi?
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/29/2010 : 07:23:02
quote:
Originally posted by turrell
quote:
Originally posted by Se�n
Some friends of mine (from the UK) were in Bordeaux for a few days, their return flight was cancelled of course, so yesterday they spent 6 hours in a taxi, then 6 hours on a ferry to Portsmouth, then 2 hours in a taxi home.
I would have stayed in Bordeaux and sampled some of the local drink until it all blew over...
I would have been with you.
One of the girls in my office said that she really wished she had known about this in advance and she would have gone to London just so she could have gotten stuck there! |
| turrell |
Posted - 04/28/2010 : 19:33:33
quote:
Originally posted by Se�n
Some friends of mine (from the UK) were in Bordeaux for a few days, their return flight was cancelled of course, so yesterday they spent 6 hours in a taxi, then 6 hours on a ferry to Portsmouth, then 2 hours in a taxi home.
I would have stayed in Bordeaux and sampled some of the local drink until it all blew over... |
| Koli |
Posted - 04/26/2010 : 13:33:12
This may be foolhardy given what's happened this month, but we're spending the extra time at home this week to plan an alternative trip to Korea later this year.
We just need to juggle temperature & humidity considerations alongside the need to avoid certain dates in our personal and work calendars, plus of course ensure that our son is in Seoul during the relevant fortnight, and we're laughing. We just haven't quite succeeded yet.
I'm glad to hear that your father-in-law has been able to travel, Chokkie, and that others have become unstranded.
Mind you, the growing availability of free wi-fi has been a boon. They had it in a B&B we stayed in near Bath for a couple of nights, and one of my neighbours is unwittingly generous.  |
| BaftaBaby |
Posted - 04/23/2010 : 15:40:39
Chokky, benj, demonic, ChrisC, Koli, bife, Se�n --- I'm glad everyone seems to have survived without too much ash-lle!
Don't suppose it counts but I've been stranded in the online clutches of Her Majesty's Customs & Excise, as I prepare the interminably boring self-assessment forms. I do NOT remember signing up to be an accountant ... when did that happen?!
Anyways - let's just hope Katla doesn't decide to follow its sibling volcano, or we'll all be in the lava.
Good to know we've got fwfr 
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| benj clews |
Posted - 04/23/2010 : 13:40:45
Well, I spent the last week stranded without internet (sassen-frassen-Virgin-Media) if that counts.
I also have a mate currently stranded in Thailand. He's not expected to get a flight back until at least May 4th and he's loving it. Chilling in the hot sun on the beach, working off his netbook and cheap living... what's not to like? I'm starting to wish I'd gone out there again this year  |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/22/2010 : 07:10:05
Well, after they cancelled the flights, we were told they were back on and so everyone is now where they are supposed to be. Thank heavens. This was costing him a fortune (which he doesn't have). The airlines were very good about notifying people of the changes, let's hope some compensation is as quick in coming.
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| Chris C |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 22:10:03
Looks like things are finally on the move. My brother gets back any minute now, the friends in Florida got back before it all kicked off (but we never found out till yesterday), and our bosses are still not due back until the weekend.
Good news all round, then.
Any news on your F-i-L, Choccie? |
| Sean |
Posted - 04/21/2010 : 12:59:03
In the meantime check out these awesome Eyjafjallaj�kull eruption pics. |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/20/2010 : 10:41:59
UPDATE: ElAl just gave a place on their flight out of Luton tomorrow to my nephew.
Now we have to get my father-in-law onto one of the ferries to the mainland so he can catch a train to his daughter in Arnhem. The problem isn't getting him a place on the ferry - the problem now is an 82 year old man who needs a cane to walk, who needs to take public transport from his B&B in West Hampstead to Liverpool Street without having tons of stairs! Any ideas, anyone? |
| Koli |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 22:54:43
we have indeed abandoned our trip to S Korea for time being. Provided the insurance policy pays up we're hoping to try again for late May. We had a night near Heathrow and are currently in a bed & breakfast place near Bath for a couple of nights 'recuperating'.
From what I hear, airports in the northern half of Britain will start to reopen tomorrow, and I suspect the same will apply in other European countries (they'll avoid the worst of the ash clouds rather than have a blanket ban on flights). Of course if any airliner has a problem with an engine over the next few days we can say goodbye to gradual relaxation of the controls. |
| demonic |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 22:43:48
I've been following the fortunes of various friends on Facebook who are stranded all over the place - one in New Zealand, one in Jo'burg, another in Jamaica. All rather nice places to be stranded as far as I'm concerned...  |
| Chris C |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 13:07:06
My brother (a British airways pilot)is stuck in Cyprus with his 2 boys (age 10 & 7), who are supposed to be back at school.
My boss was in the Dominican Republic, but is now somewhere in the USA visiting customers and working "remote". Mrs C's boss in Spain. A colleague is also in Spain, and has apparently been told that his flight will be next Sunday. We also have friends travelling in Florida on a tight budget.
Next weekend seems to be the earliest for most of them. |
| bife |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 13:05:57
my wife is 'stranded' at her parents in holland. she went back for a few days last week for a funeral and left me with the kids, so i'm now trying to juggle work and kids for the second week in a row. thank goodness for the asian custom of having a live-in maid   Not the end of the world, but linda is very fed up and wants to be back home
my accounting manager is stuck is london, she was there to give a presentation to a customer and cant get home again. she also has two young kids and a working husband and she was already not keen on being away last week, not easy for her to be away for an extended period
And last i heard, koli was "stranded" at home in UK, instead of being on holiday in korea
At least they are all 'safe' and in good hands
Good luck getting your father-in-law home, CL |
| ChocolateLady |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 10:22:22
Well, he can hardly afford a taxi. Right now we're trying to see if he's willing to get to Dover to take the ferry over to Calis and from there try to get on a train to Arnheim. Wish us luck!
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| Sean |
Posted - 04/19/2010 : 09:35:33
Some friends of mine (from the UK) were in Bordeaux for a few days, their return flight was cancelled of course, so yesterday they spent 6 hours in a taxi, then 6 hours on a ferry to Portsmouth, then 2 hours in a taxi home.
I haven't asked them how much it cost.  |
