The mass of staff and trucks trying to sort out our new plane
Our Iberian jet never left Madrid
We sat on it for a bloody age until an engineer was called and after much scrambling up and off the aircraft we all saw him stand on the runway and give the pilot a cheerful thumbs down
The passengers gave a collective groan and our already sad psychi was effectively described by a German woman in business class who stood up and shouted “ ve arr fooked!!!”
We sat on the plane for another two hours until a replacement aircraft arrived right next to us
Then the pilot ( an impressively calm Spaniard with the look of Charlton Heston ) told us we had to get on three airport buses in order to embark the new airplane even though it was only 50 feet away
We duly got on the buses , which did a sharp circle only to arrive at the empty and functioning aircraft some 60 seconds later.
We stood on the buses another half hour until the new staff arrived on a minibus
Then galloped back to our new seats with the dignity of 150 teenagers at a school disco
Ruth and I got the giggles
Then we had to wait for the baggage to be transferred and a slot on the runway
We laughed some more,
Our return journey had equalled our first, but we had the best of times!
we got home well after midnight.
I was due to complete a twelve hour shift today and thank the lord for my friend and colleague Katrina , who has stepped in and kindly done my shift for me .
I cleaned up Bun and Weaver’s stomach heaving little tray and went to bed exhausted around 12.30 am
Leaving my luggage in the car,
And some happy times in my memory
There has been a lot of disruption due to yet another French traffic controller's strike action. Reports of some people sitting in a stationary plane for eight hours - so you actually got off quite lightly, and had a great deal of petty bureaucracy to laugh at - so, despite everything - it could have been worse.
ReplyDeleteBut such a brilliant break makes just about anything worth suffering. And then back to earth, in more ways than one. Well done, you intrepid adventurers!
The service from Aberian airlines was impressive
DeleteLeaving happy times in my memory is a great line. So glad you had fun and were able to keep a sense of humor about things.
ReplyDeleteI think the hard times make the best even better
DeleteA memorable ending to a trip never to be forgotten!
ReplyDeleteIt’s made me thirsty for more trips, I just need to earn more
DeleteWell, a memorable trip all round! Glad you were both able to laugh about it and welcome home! xx
ReplyDeleteI think being a nurse helps we’ve both worked together through difficult shifts, you learn to laugh
Delete. . . and I bet you'd do it all over again . . .
ReplyDeleteBloody hell yes
DeleteIt's a good job you had a relaxing little break in-between your two airport adventures!! 😄
ReplyDeleteSue, we both didn’t want to come home, that speaks volumes
Deleteyou know what..... when people say they like "travelling" i always think they must be mad...... the travelling is fking hideous in most cases.... and it most certainly IS about the destination or arrival rather than the other bits!! Glad you arrived home safe and have some amazing memories to look back on, and with time dulling the pain, i am sure you'll laugh long and hard about both journeys.
ReplyDeleteWatching the airlines closely I must admit I marvelled at their abilities to Marshall giant numbers of people effectively
DeleteGood thing you had a sense of humour and a fun-loving friend to travel with!
ReplyDeleteNurse humour helps
DeleteYou could have organised a sing song! Glad you are safely home, I feel faintly worried all the time family members are abroad.
ReplyDeleteWe were nearly sideswiped by a bus driving to the airport
DeleteI would NOT have been laughing AT ALL after that experience. I would have been screeching like the German woman.
ReplyDeleteYou have too much southern charm to do that
DeleteThank goodness you finally got home safely. I'm glad you were able to keep your patience about the flight ordeals.
ReplyDeleteOne more disaster and my patience would have been suddenly a great deal thinner
DeleteAn adventure to round off a lovely trip!
ReplyDeleteHumm lol xx🙏🛫🛩️✈️
DeleteGood to hear you made it home. Your description reminded me of a flight out of CDG, when things started going off the rails, a woman stood up and shouted, "don't believe them, they are going to start lying to us!" Later I was back on the rails, AirFrance put me on a train.
ReplyDeletelol loved this story
DeleteOnly you!
ReplyDeleteAt least we got there
DeleteMy gosh. Air travel is becoming quite complicated everywhere, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think ONLY FOR ME
DeleteI can assure you my friend that it is not only for you.
DeleteI'm glad you and Ruth were able to see the funny side. Sometimes things just tip over from stupid to ridiculous:)
ReplyDeleteIt became bearable as soon as I knew I didn’t have go into work for 12 hours today
DeleteFlying anywhere today often brings mishaps. At least your mishap was not a total disaster, and you were able to laugh.
ReplyDeleteThe fun and the happy time balanced, if not over balanced the shitty moments
DeleteI'm glad you finally arrived home safely. It's great that you were both able to see the funny side. Xx
ReplyDelete😆🤣😂😅😝😜🤪
DeleteHoly cow. Methinks that might be called a 'cluster f--k' over here. Am glad you and Ruth could laugh and giggle about it and am sure that helped the other passengers keep calm.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for Katrina, too!
Of course, it's another one for your book!
Hugs!
Katrina was a star x, flowers for her me thinks
DeleteGlad you had such a good time with beautiful memories created. It’s not about the journey… it’s about the trip. Lol. Cali
ReplyDeleteIt's not the destination, it's the journey” is a quote famously attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson
DeleteI often wonder why all the strikes in France. They usually happened when we travelled with our two young girls. One time we ended up in Paris for three days, put up in the Club Med hotel. Because of the shutdown we could not get any French money, so could not take kids up in the Eiffel tower. So disappointing for them. That was over 40 years ago, so not much has changed. My worst happened at Heathrow when they said my bag contained plastic explosives. Of course it did NOT but they detained me for quite a while. I was with a group of old ladies so they had to wait too. I guess that is why they gave me the cold shoulder for the whole trip. In Africa our airline went bankrupt so they had to split our group in half and I was lucky and got to see Victoria Falls while my roommate got to see Soweto. I am so glad you and Ruth have had such a nice happy time and are home safely. Maybe try a different airline next year. Lol. Gigi
ReplyDeletelol that’s what I love about my genuine commentators, they can always furnish a better story xx
DeleteI’m glad you didn’t lose the happiness! I assume the plane and bus were at least air-conditioned while you waited.
ReplyDeleteYes, business class had a beaker of water each we in cattle class had half a glass
DeleteI was tempted to blame your problems on cutbacks made to the Federal Aviation Administration, until I remembered this is Spain we're talking about.
ReplyDeleteWell to be fair, the first outgoing fiasco was all British Airways
DeleteI’m glad you deleted the troll but I want to say something here. John, whenever you post something positive, like this glorious celebration of your vacation , the troll has to try to break your upbeat mood.
ReplyDeleteThis is, of course, a testament to their mental illness and damaged personality.
A sad fucker
Lee
More a person with a clear personality disorder Lee
DeleteWhat a trip you've had! Glad to hear you're safely returned to the cottage and all is well. Rest well, and enjoy being reunited with Mary, Roger, Bun & Weaver.
ReplyDeleteI’m chilling now, washing done , animals fed,
DeleteMadrid and it’s classy avenues seem a lifetime away
Am I in spam, stuck on the runway?
ReplyDeleteOh lord
DeleteWhat was there a slot on the runway for? Was it for unspent euro coins?
ReplyDeleteThanks for a well needed laugh. My favourite bit was the German woman (I'm still giggling) Ruth sounds like a great travelling companion. Please you enjoyed your holiday....I'm going to write a poem based on this. Is that OK?
ReplyDeleteYour experiences travelling makes me happy I'm not a traveller. The stress would just about to do me in. However, I'm glad you and Ruth had a good sense of humour about it....and had a fabulous holiday none the less.
ReplyDeleteExhausted just reading this! It's so great that someone took your work shift, what a relief!
ReplyDeleteCeci
Sometimes the airlines just suck.
ReplyDeleteIt's the complete unpredictablity, and total lack of control over the flights that does my head in. The closest we've come to disaster was when I managed to get myself into a part of the humungous Paris airport that was undergoing major renovations, and I was supposed to be on the other side of a plastic bubble with my husband... and we'd gone through customs, but there I was stuck and lost, and HE had the passports and travel documents! Fortunately a kind airport staff member took pity on me, and shepherded me through "NO ENTRY" passages and back to where I was supposed to be. I think being obviously pregnant might have helped ... and that tells me that it was 45 years ago ... but never to be forgotten. Very scary.
ReplyDeleteA holiday you won't forget, for the best and worst reasons. Keep smiling.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has the odd bad travel experience but you dear John have way more than your fair share. Thank goodness you had a lovely companion and a good time when actually at your destination. X Jane
ReplyDeleteWell the actual journey certainly wasn't the best! Glad the rest was so good though, and Katrina was great too.
ReplyDeleteYour traveling experience makes me even more determined to never ever fly anywhere. Only did it last year because my son got married in Slovenia!
ReplyDeleteOne of my biggest dreads, getting stuck on a plane. I would be the person arrested for trying to get out. Your piece made me laugh, but the situation looked stupid. I no longer like flying.
ReplyDeleteWell, thank goodness you dealt with those unexpected developments with good grace and humor!
ReplyDelete