Cigar Ash Good, Volcanic Ash Bad!

[Howling]

Chopper finally on the way Thanks for the well wishes, hotel is a totally non-smoking hotel but hopefully there'll be a pub grdn near by.

Glad to hear you are on your way at last Simon.

[RickMG]

Okay guys, just saw this thread. I'm supposed to fly to Dublin (from Chicago) in a little over a week. I read where the airports opened but that they expect the volcano to throw up more ash before it's over. Man I sure hope not.

Meeting GeoffsCigar's from the old Club Havana forum at the end of the trip on the 10th through the 12th. Anyone in Dublin then for a herf?

[Pantomimehorse]

well Im gutted.

I should be flying to Kiev today but instead Im sitting at home, while my airline has annouced this morning that they will start flights again they have a list of loads that wont be going and keep adding to them, problem is they expect me to pack and travel to the airport in the meantime just in case? well that aint happening, had to cancel my hotel yesterday to avoid getting charged for the full stay so will be just my luck if my flight now goes and I dont get a refund because of it!

[Simon Bolivar]

The end of the saga:
Just to let you know what happened in the end...I did get to the beach last Tuesday & the OIM (captain) gave me a quick lift in his Suberu Impretza (shouldn't those cars have four point harnesses?), to the hotel in Billingham I was to stay at, to attend a Radiology Protection Supervisors course. I arrived @ 2200 only to be told no hot food was available, not even an omlette; as 'the Chef finished @2130 & no staff present are trained to deal with the machinery'. Machinery, to make an omlette? I nearly lost it & had to bite my & accept a cold snadwich & warm beer. Ahh how the tourists must love staying in our service led hotels.
The following day I attended the course having missed the first day, which was a quick refresher for everyone. My OIM had persuaded them that as I do the job regularly, I wouldn't need this day & should be excused due to the circumstances ect. Although they had agreed to this, I was was definately not up to speed as they raced ahead. I kept drinking strong coffee all day to try & keep awake, as everytime the instructor started on physics & maths I caught myself nodding off.
Lucky the big slap up meal had been postponed from the night before, just so I could attend on the Wed night.
I enjoyed a Monty No 5 in the hotel garden with a beer, waiting for the rest of the course to arrive. Due to the days caffine intake, I was sure to comsume suitable amounts of alcohol to ensure I was able to sleep that night. This didn't make the next day any easier to cope with or stay awake.
On Friday we took the tests & somehow I managed to pass & we got to leave just after 1300. I had asked when booking the course, when we would get away & I was told 1630. 'Yes I know you always say that but what time will will really get away?' 'Well not before 1600'. So I booked the 1630 train to London & a hotel as I wouldn't have been able to get home to Belgium that night.
Getting to the Station at 1400 meant either hanging around 3 1/2 hrs or paying ?65 to leave earlier. I paid the extra got into London @ 1700, called up my mate 'City Gent' at Lloyds & asked him to meet me at Boisdales.
The place was packed out & initally no room for a table for a bar meal & the Terrace was all reserved for later. I nearly gave up but just before my mate turned up a table became free, we had our meal & went upstairs & managed to use a reserved table as we would be finished before the party was due.
As I had missed my fishing holiday & meeting with my mate who had 50 cigars for me, I didn't have any of my own left. So 'City Gent' brought a pair of Monty Especial No2's. This was an excellent choice, tasted great & lasted just the right amount of time.
I finally got home in Antwerp Sat. at 1500 & dashed off to a friends garden to enjoy a few hrs of 24oC sun with a Hoyo PR 2004 & after a local rabbit stew, my first R&J Belicosis.
Returned to the Rig on Wed so a very brief home visit but at the end of this trip I have 28 days off & intend to have a very good time indeed.