Airport HELL today.
I spent 3 hours just trying to check in for my flight out of Heathrow. Delta Airlines' computer system apparently had a major melt-down and couldn't verify the security screening information customers were providing. Therefore, no boarding passes could be issued. Quoth I, "But that's what you do."
Concurrently, a volcano exploded under a glacier in Iceland this morning. It's cast an ash cloud progressively further over Ireland, Scotland, northern England, the Midlands, and finally the South. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8621407.stm
Because of Delta's stupidity, our 9:15 AM flight didn't begin boarding until 10:45, though everyone knew to get situated and seated quick. LHR had been announced to close at 12 noon. They quite literally saw it coming.
Yet when noon came, were still sitting at the gate; alternatively being told the flight was cancelled, no wait! the flight might go, oh so sorry we are indeed cancelled. Which also meant everyone on board was the absolute last of the entire grounded UK flying population to be able to scramble for a hotel room. All booked.
Look, I've loved this trip. And I further acknowledge a volcanic eruption is beyond Delta's ability to control or predict (although I counter we never should have been so late as to become cancelled). But this morning I was very ready to get home, play with the kids, watch some playoff hockey, chill American-style.
Instead, I am booked at the Quality Hotel / Slough (pronounced like "Ow! This f$cking situation hurts my f*cking head"). Until Saturday! At nearly 200 bucks a night! Plus tax. Including -- but not limited to -- 15% VAT. Oh well, better get used to that. It's coming to the US soon. (Man I am pissed. Even gratuitously worked in a way to trash Obama because of Delta's incompetence and a freakin' volcanic eruption.)
And quality is exactly what it's not.
3 comments:
Wow...I wondered if you would get caught by The Ash. Might as well make the best of it, and explore the local landscape some more (and post more pix)--maybe read some Hardy! Meanwhile, it appears that the Sabres game is the only one of today's 3 that is not available on Vegas TV. So, we all have our crosses to bear...
Cheers Dr. B! Must say I'd be pretty bent if I got home to find no televised Sabres game tonight. At least a volcanic eruption is explainable.
And at least I got to spend tax day away from the US and experience the historic first-ever televised debate among Britain's Prime Minister candidates.
You know what? They're carping and bleating about the same sh!t we are -- government spending, taxes, jobs, partisan incivility, government intrusiveness, personal responsibility, crime -- absent health care (they already got that).
Labor party has a major problem with corruption and expense scandals, accelerating over their past decade+ of leadership. But the Tories are viewed suspiciously by traditional liberal voters - right wingers opportunistically seeking to gain at the other guys expense and all that. Topping it off, folks I talk with sarcastically note the Tories got voted out because of their own incompetent leadership and corruption. Meanwhile, the Social(ist) Dems are angling to remind everyone they don't need to drink only Coke or only Pepsi. There's RC too; and they say it tastes every bit as good. I'm sure that'll work.
The purchasing manager at the Aluminium smelter up North said, and I gleefully quote verbatum: "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Just exhausted by the 24/7 nonsense with the elections still 3 weeks away.
Politics and current events aside, I am beginning to chill out. Knowing it's my company's expense is a help (though I take any $600 / 2-day bump in the road very seriously, regardless of who's paying).
Really though it's the alcohol supplying greatest therapeutic value. 3 Guinness's with an exceptionally good fish & chips and a bottle of Merlot to take back up to the room seem to have brightened my spirits tremendously.
And speaking of crosses to bear, I got some killer photos of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, and the Tower Bridge. Will post soon.
Maybe some Hardy later...
Those are some great photos (in the next few posts)! Love the subway & the London landmarks. Not to take anything away from your artistic skills in composing the shots, but it seems like it's impossible to take a bad picture with today's digital cameras and an interesting subject.
At least the British election campaigns are only for a few weeks, not like here, where they are basically endless. I get glossy mailers from my idiot redneck representatives in Congress at least once a month touting their achievements for the Great State of Nevada, and this (taxpayer-funded) literature is merely re-election propaganda.
One more night in England (?)...sounds awesome, especially the part about the fish & chips, Guiness, & Merlot. Hope your flight home is uneventful.
Oh, and...Sabres take the first game! Tomorrow morning's game is on NBC, so I can view it. (And what happened to Washington? They were favored -600 to win the whole thing, and they got shut down in the first game!)
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