The latest word on the stranded street is that huge numbers of us are currently on “volcation”. Good word. I have made lots of new friends in the spirit of Dunkirk. We all roam around the hotel stopping and chatting in hushed tones about the latest news. There is a man here from Australia whose father’s funeral is in two more days. There is a couple who need to get back for urgent medication. There is a man who I have discovered lives 5 minutes away from me. There is a woman on her honeymoon who told me her life story yesterday – her destiny was to marry her cousin, she has endured female circumcision, a hunger strike, an escape from her father and his subsequent disownment of her. Incredible. The power of the human spirit and here she is happy and free (albeit temporarily stuck) with her lovely new husband. So many human stories.
Whilst the Emirates website says this morning that some UK airports will open today, the latest report from NATS does not look nearly so good:-
Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Tuesday April 20, 0245
Since our last statement at 2100 yesterday, the volcano eruption in Iceland has strengthened and a new ash cloud is spreading south and east towards the UK. This demonstrates the dynamic and rapidly changing conditions in which we are working.
Latest information from the Met Office shows that the situation is variable. The information shows that Scottish airports should be available from 0700 and more airspace over England may become available from 1300 although not as far south as the main London airports.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Apparently Brussels is opening this morning for 50% of incoming flights – but the situation is being reviewed all the time. There is space on the Calais/Dover ferries as we had a friend who left yesterday morning and was back in London in the evening. From what I read, it seems your best bet is to go to Madrid and then up to the coast … but they say the ferries are fully booked from there to England until Friday. Whatever option you choose, I fear you are going to have a journey from hell getting home.
Why not go back to Oz?!!
April 20th, 2010 at 6:38 am
PS If you got a flight to Brussels, Eurostar have laid on a lot more trains, but you must book online – no turning up on the offchance …
April 20th, 2010 at 9:21 am
We should be thankful that the swine flu did not spread very rapidly. it is not very deadly like Ebola but swine flu can still kill you.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I like the layout of your blog and I’m going to do the same thing for mine. Do you have any tips? Please PM ME on yahoo @ AmandaLovesYou702 6 8 5
May 17th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Great blog post, I was wondering maybe you could write something about my article and in return i can link back to you? http://youpic1.terapad.com/index.cfm?fa=contentNews.newsDetails&newsID=538885&from=list