How Has The Volcanic Ash Cloud Affected You?

By · April 20, 2010 at 11:18 am · No comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

Day Six of the great cat-ash-trophe (has anyone thought of a catchier name yet?) and a few flights are resuming amid uncertainty. At first, it seemed that our tropospheric guest would mostly affect stranded travellers and people employed in the travel industries. As the days have gone on, it’s becoming increasingly clear that many aspects of normal daily life are also being touched by the disruption. Flower and fruit imports, school openings and event cancellations/disruptions are all well documented. But we wondered how the ongoing situation is affecting people in other ways. Is anyone having trouble getting medicines or certain foods? Have you had to rearrange gatherings, weddings or other events? Who’s got the most bizarre tale to tell? Or maybe it’s affected you in a positive way and you’ve been enjoying the clear blue skies and hazy sunsets (if so, stick your photos in the Londonist Flickr pool).

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  • http://undefined Emily

    My Mum and I have both been stuck in London since Thursday (I live here and was trying to get to New York for a conference, she was visiting and is trying to get home to France). We’ve had our stressful moments and I’ve been on hold with Expedia since FOREVER, but we got to watch The Debate which we would have missed otherwise, and took the opportunity on Saturday for a lovely night out at the new/Old Brewery in Greenwich – it was fabulous. If life hands you lemons… drink locally independently brewed coffee ale ;)

    Also? I hadn’t actually finished my presentation for that conference…

  • http://undefined M@

    Cheers for the comment Emily. Coincidentally, I was also in the new/old brewery on Saturday. Lovely place, and just what Greenwich needed.

  • http://undefined ostensiblyclear

    How about ‘disashter’?
    Had a friend’s flight to the US for the Boston marathon get cancelled – now he’s trying to get a spot in the London one — perhaps in the place of someone stuck in Boston?

  • http://undefined cobo04

    Stuck here in Cairo, was due to fly home on 17th now got a flight for 29th. Work not happy, here in hotel bored to tears with nothing going on and running out of clean clothes by the day and no washing facilites not nice in averge day temp of 38c. Still may gave to resort to using bathroom wash basin and hanging clothes out of window to dry. Stil food and drink cheep enough. 80p a litre of water and a three course meal is just £3.40 per head. Hotel is £30 b&b per room not per person. So not all bad news just the boredom to suffer. Oh yes free wifi in hotel as well.

  • http://undefined M@

    You’re in Cairo and you’re bored? Isn’t there several millennia of cultural artefacts and architecture to explore?

  • http://undefined richspalding

    My drive to work is much better now that there are no black cabs driving to Heathrow on the M4.

  • http://undefined arnie

    My mother-in-law (in her late 70s) and her partner (mid 80s) have booked a holiday in Tenerife despite the fact that both have had recent episodes of ill-health, which would almost certainly mean that their travel insurers would refuse to pay out if they fell ill. We’ve tried to argue them out of the idea, but they are adamant.

    With luck, though, the volcanic ash will put paid to their trip.

  • http://undefined surfersbabe

    Michael Buble – Bercy – Paris – 18th May 2010
    I have changed the words to his recent song to ‘I just haven’t seen you yet’
    I wonder if anyone can top this….
    Knowing how much of a fan I am of MB, my husband got me tickets for Christmas with an extra few days stay in Paris for my birthday in May. This included flight tickets on Sunday 16th May from Isle of Man to Manchester, then flights from Manchester to Paris CDG, three nights in a lovely Paris hotel, concert tickets, then home the following day in reverse.
    On Friday 14th May there was a whisper, just a whisper, of the ash cloud raising its ugly head again. We frantically phoned Flybe and Ronaldsway airport for concrete information but were told we just have to wait.
    Now, we could have taken the decision to cancel our Paris hotel (which had to be done before midday Saturday) but as no one could give us any information on how definite the closures would be, we lived in hope.
    It was not until Sunday morning when a decision was made to start the first phase of shutdowns. So wow and behold, Sunday morning they close down Northern Island and IOM airways.
    SO its then purchasing tickets for the ferry to get us over to Manchester to pick up our connecting flights to Paris CDG. On the ferry we hear they have closed Manchester airport – BUT hubby determined to get me to Paris, as he knows how much I like MB, decides we can take a train down to London.
    SO its now a taxi to train station and purchasing tickets to London.

    In London no euro tickets available, now on to Gatwick (now this is our mistake as we didn’t realise that no one flies to CDG Paris) so its then purchase of coach tickets from Gatwick to Heathrow. This was or course after purchasing BA rather expensive tickets, from Heathrow the next morning for 7.30am
    Now, what do we do for the night? It’s finding the cheapest hotel around Heathrow, not a simple task. With this done we bed down for the night, and I’m still looking forward to that concert so much.
    And what happens……..you guessed it, come Monday they close Heathrow airport and Paris CDG. We get rescheduled for Monday evening at 7pm but put on standby. We even get interview by The Evening Standard as they thought our story was one of dedication and determination by my husband to get me to Paris. Then our luck changes and we are put on the 11.45 flight, arrive in Paris (lost money on last nights hotel, but hey-howe, I AM GOING TO SEE MB)
    So, we are finally sat in our seats in the Bercy in Paris, having listened to the support group for MB, when two men walk on stage. One a French man, the other I instantly recognise as the man himself Michael Buble. It is announced that MB’s drummer has had a heart scare and is in hospital, Michael himself cannot perform with the worry of what is happening to his friend and apologises and says he is CANCELLING THE SHOW.!!!!!
    He says he has rescheduled the Bercy performance for 3rd June , BUT having spent out a load of money first time round then EXTRA on top (another £700+ at least) and I know we will get concert ticket money back, there is no way we can afford to go back to Paris in June.
    I admire MB for standing by his friend and his concern for him, and I understand from Mb web site he is better and will be back drumming next week.. I suppose I did have a couple of nice days in Paris and I did see him walk on the stage – its just going to take a little time before my husband will let me play MB in the car again……

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