Preparedness for when

[Deleted User]

We had fully charged kindles so just got ourselves out of the mass and found a space to sit on the floor, no airside seating in Schoenefeldt Airport in Berlin, just corridors full of restless and stressed travellers. We normally try for a seat in the 'one' food outlet airside but that night it was absoloutely heaving with people and difficult to find even a space to sit on the floor. The most disgruntled people were the brits who were loud and vocal in their displeasure at the situation, we just try to keep ourselves away from moaning groups and keep an eye on the departures boards to be at the head of the queue should there be problems rather than be tail end Charlie and having to make do with dregs. We took the precaution of having He Who Knows logged in on the computer back here in the UK (thank heavens for mobile phone coverage) when it all ground to a halt and he managed to book us seats on the first available early morning flight back to the UK, this was on Sunday night and the first flight available was 7.15 on the following Wednesday morning. Have to say that EasyJet did us proud and paid for hotel and food and taxi to the airport for the whole time we were stuck out there so we couldn't complain over any of that, just the fact that the EasyJet desk closed on the Sunday night and there wasn't a single rep to sort out the chaos resulting from being snowed in.

Frugalsod

Fortunately there are plenty of guidelines as to who is responsible and liable in the event of delays. Remembering it in the heat of the moment might let some down so taking a print out of your travel rights so you can refer to it when abroad will help a lot. Some airlines are better than others in following them. Having available credit on a credit card is also very handy when they let you down and say that we will refund you afterwards.

My mobile network has very good overseas coverage and for many countries they are no additional roaming costs. Which is handy if you need to book flights home.

RAS

I ended up stuck in the UK during the floods before Christmas the other year.

We had been told there was onward transport and the time ETA at my destination.

Given that they knew how many tickets they had sold, they knew how many people they had to shift and failed miserably. We got part way there and were told after 20 minutes to transfer to another platform to get an alternative train. The train was packed and part of my luggage was at the other end of the carriage. I was also helping an older partially sighted person. We missed the connection, thank heavens.

It turned out that the problem was that so many people had been dumped at the onward station from which they were due to get onto coaches that it was no longer possible to get off the incoming trains onto the platforms to get anywhere near the coaches.

They kept announcing that the next train was going through, and then it stopped as well so the number of people was increasing all the time. The train company managing the station flatly refused to deal with customer travelling with other companies.

We had decided that if the next train did not go through, we would go for hotels, before the rooms all went. Then we heard that another section of line was underwater and knew it would be days before the line was re-opened. So I dumped my companion with the luggage and went and found rooms. Then I collected the luggage and my companion.

More and more people were being delivered to the station all the time. People who had been travelling all day and had no moneyand could not get any help. There was no chance of any refund or help travelling onwards from the company managing the station.

From the reports next day I gather it got nasty later (not surprised given that people had been told they were going to be OK for hours and some could have re-routed via coaches etc). The station staff apparently called in the police and they eventually cleared the entire station and kicked people out into the pouring rain.

Unlike the Gare du Nord where groups of stuck travellers was told to congregate in one area and to try and sleep, as the police would be keeping an eye on the area all night.

If we had got the connection, I do not know if we would have been put on coaches that night but there was no local accommodation at all and only basic open platforms.

Karmacat

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Yes we did, but the majority of people in full 'Oh God I can't believe I've got to wait' mode didn't so it would have been somewhat silly to produce edibles in the midst of all the crossness, I'm not that silly!!!

That's a thought, isn't it ... same as not starting up a barbecue in the garden like on that TV programme Blackout ...

RAS wrote: »

We had decided that if the next train did not go through, we would go for hotels, before the rooms all went. Then we heard that another section of line was underwater and knew it would be days before the line was re-opened. So I dumped my companion with the luggage and went and found rooms. Then I collected the luggage and my companion.

Taking action early enough ... it's so important, isn't it - in prepping lore, its usually talked of in relation to bugging out, but this is the real life issue.

Thanks for this.

calicocat

Hi folks,

Still around, but RL has taken over the last few days.

Just popping in to say stay safe those in the UK with the next bout of bad weather coming. NY looks terrible bless them.

I'm in the east and some of the fields here are still lakes, heaven knows how the west is still looking.

thriftwizard

Plenty of fields are still lakes here too, more or less in the middle. At least one town not far west of here is flooded already, thanks to the weekend's rain. Can't see that getting better... And I can see that one of my farming friends has already taken her ewes into the barns, although they won't be due to lamb for a couple of weeks yet. It's all extra expense - lighting, straw, fodder - but better then finding them knee-&-bump deep in water.

GreyQueen

I always think that travel is the perfect stressor. It's a mixture of rushing to be in the right place at the right time, punctuated by what can be long and inexplicable waits, with just about everything beyond your control.

I once had to do an emergency landing at Gatwick. Well, the plane we were on did. It was rather exciting (we were almost on fire, apparently, with dodgy hydrolics and haemoraghiging aviation fuel).

But once we got back on the ground and were extinguished, there were many problems. One, we'd taken off an hour before from Gatwick heading out across Europe. We weren't expected back, so it took ages to find somewhere the plane could dock at the terminal. And ages more to find an air-bridge. Then we were in a departure lounge sans baggage, then we were airside sans baggage with token or two for some refereshments. We kept waiting whilst Sleazy Jet scrabbled around with their schedules, waiting for another plane to come in from Spain and were hastily refuelling it while loading our baggage. A mere 6 hours later, we took off for the second time (we'd been awake for 36 hours and done a day's work by this time).

I think the gist of travel advice would be thus; have plenty of cash and a credit card in case you need to secure accomodation/ onward travel. Keep a water bottle and some snacks. Make sure you have enough of any essential meds on your person/ in your hand luggage. Keep abreast of developments and know that if there is a major kerfuffle, any beds will go fast.

And definately don't wear very silly things like beachwear and flip-flops when travelling. Think about a warm layer like a microfleece in your hand luggage. If you don't need to wear it, they make an acceptable pillow.

[Deleted User]

Hard_Up_Hester wrote: »

I feel the same way about sex between them or anyone else, ok in theory, just don't expect me to watch!

You don't actually see it. In one scene, they're kissing in bed (Sheldon dressed in a T-Shirt, Amy in a nightgown), and the next scene, they're laying side by side, holding hands.

It's really sweet and cute.

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

Amy's face afterwards was priceless :rotfl:

Never mind her face, what about her crazy sex hair? :rotfl:

GreyQueen

:eek: Gakk! Pass the Acme Mind Bleach!

[Deleted User]

GreyQueen wrote: »

:eek: Gakk! Pass the Acme Mind Bleach!

Honestly, it's not gross, voyeuristic or icky.

It's really sweet.

This is two, middle aged virgins we're talking about.