The view from my window

The view from my window
The view from my window

Monday 17 February 2020

Oofff - sorted!

I got a message from Jordan at 2.30 a.m. this morning to say that they had finally made it to the front of the queue at the British Airways service desk and they had provided them with a voucher for a room for the night at the Premier Inn and breakfast! They didn't have their luggage but were just glad to finally get a room and a few hours rest after such a long and stressful day. So I could finally relax a bit once I knew they were sorted. I knew I wasn't going to sleep anyway until then because I was more worried in case they didn't have a "decent" credit card than anything, but with BA paying for their overnighter there was less to worry about and I could finally go to bed!

Turns out that the big problem at Heathrow was that all the computers went down because of the storm. People couldn't use electronic tickets, although Jordan and Jen had printed theirs also, but the information boards indicating which gates people should go to were also down (which is why they missed their flight) and ground staff ended up having to write boarding gate info on white boards - but by this time it was too late for them as their flight had already left!



They called me this morning while they were having breakfast (put a "full English" in front of those two and they are happy) and told me they had to go back to the airport to sort out rebooking their ongoing flights - and this was the queue waiting patiently to get to the British Airways information desk when they arrived!


Still, within a couple of hours they got to the front of the queue and while BA could get them out today they could only get them as far as New York or Chicago and would not be responsible for onward flights to Pittsburgh, so the kids decided to opt for the direct flight tomorrow (Tuesday) in order not to have connecting flight worries again. That has meant spending another night at the hotel - which they were okay with - and even though central London is only 45 minutes away by train they decided to give it a miss and just "chill" around the village where the hotel is located as they were both tired. So they're now all checked in for their flights tomorrow (although I'm not quite sure where their luggage is), and will hopefully get a good night's sleep tonight.

I've been watching the news a lot today too and Storm Dennis coming hot on the heels of Storm Ciara, the UK has been pretty battered, with severe flooding now also hitting the more central areas. I feel so bad for those affected because even though they have put in flood defences, the incredible amount of rainfall hitting the UK in the last week has meant that so many of those flood defences have been breached! What a nightmare!


This video of an Etihad flight landing at Heathrow this weekend is doing the rounds at the moment and my God, if I ever end up flying Etihad I want this pilot. He landed that thing sideways!!!!!!

My ex phoned me a short while ago to make sure I was up to speed with the kids as I had been out this evening. He was saying that while February isn't the ideal time for a visit to Pittsburgh they have enough things in mind to keep the kids entertained. Amme (grandma) doesn't know the kids are going so my ex is having "everyone" over for dinner on Wednesday night in order to spring the surprise on her (she hasn't seen Jordan in seven years)! I can just picture it now. She is a great story teller but by golly she goes round the Wrekin with her stories, so when I saw this picture below, if you change "how I tell a story" to "how Amme tells a story" you'll get an idea of what Jordan and Jen are in for!

And finally I haven't got much walking in in the last week, more out of laziness than anything as the weather, up until now, has been pretty good. But I have to say some of the people on the "1,000 Miles in 2020" walking group are really funny. One lady posted the picture below during Storm Dennis with the caption saying "hubby asked me if I wanted to get down and dirty"!!! She said she lived in hope ...


10 comments:

  1. Glad the trip is getting settled. I loathe mixups when I travel.

    I was just talking to Carlos about all this technology jazz with phones and iPads and computers and such, and when they go down, no one know what to do.
    I mean, writing flight #s and gates by hand???? Oy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know right - writing stuff by hand and it is a MAJOR London airport! And I know what you mean about technology. It is indeed wonderful but I never rely on it 100%. I always print my tickets, boarding pass and so on because I've lost battery on my phone suddenly too. And I mean, can you actually REMEMBER any of your important phone numbers any more? I know I can't!

      Delete
  2. Wow what a nightmare. I hope the trip is wonderful in spite of the dough beginnings

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure they'll love it. Jen is SO excited about her first trip to the US. If the US economy suddenly starts picking up you'll know Jen's out shopping!

      Delete
  3. So your son speaks English but his girlfriend doesn't? Wild and wooly weather at our end of the world too. Fine, if you're safe, your house weather tight and not damaged and you do not have to travel. We were not fine as our house had a waterfall inside.

    Apparently the sideways landing is normal in a storm. Well, so I read. I'd be having kittens! Lucinda

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We always spoke English at home as my ex is American. English language TV only - not because I felt strongly about it but I just couldn't be arsed with French TV. Outside the house the kids had to speak French of course and have known nothing else. They also went to bilingual education (geography taught in English, for example, and maths taught in French). They're very lucky to have that advantage. His wife is French and doesn't speak English, although she is trying (it's like listening to fingernails being scratched down a blackboard sometimes but all credit to her for trying). My other DIL is Swiss (French-speaking) and speaks excellent English, although I think both couples speak French at home. And yes I thought that landing might not have been an accident either, although I'm pretty sure I would have had an "accident" if I were a passenger. I hope your house is safe now. Australia has been through the wringer this year hasn't it!

      Delete
  4. Glad there is light at the end of the tunnel for your GF and son, they sure will be glad to get there, hopefully their trip home won't be quite so exciting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. All being well they should be landing in an hour as they left on time and yes I hope the return trip is simple!

      Delete
  5. I understand the not walking, yesterday was the first day I got in a ride, I always blame the short days. Pittsburgh has a lot going for it, as long as you're not driving. I'm sure the kids will have fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been going to my yoga/pilates/gym classes but even though the weather has been relatively good I haven't done much walking. And I'm sure the kids will enjoy Pittsburgh. Jordan never lived there as he was born over here and when I lived there my husband worked nights and I worked days so not much fun whichever way you look at it. It's different when you go on a vacation isn't it!

      Delete