How is the volcanic ash situation affecting you, your friends, family or work?

[Belmit]

A colleague just updated their Facebook status to say they may be stuck in the US until the 2nd of May. They're meant to be back tomorrow.

[Mark]

Originally Posted by Burble

I just got off a conference call where the main topic of discussion was colleagues stuck abroad. Out of a company or around 650 people there are 96 people unable to get home. Some of them are on holiday but the vast majority are on business trips. There are 20 or so people stuck in Los Angeles, 10 in Beijing, 9 in Seoul... the list goes on.

Similar deal here - I think we're up to 1500 employees with a similar number stranded. What really scares me now is that we're very well into year end. With the likelihood that at least some of our sales staff are impacted, and knowing how precarious our results were already, I dread to think what this could do to us. I'm sure everyone is doing everything they possibly can so only time will tell.

[Tak]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8629051.stm

0949 British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says Royal Navy ships will be used to transport stranded UK citizens back home.

HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean are currently moving towards an unspecified Channel port. HMS Albion is on its way to Spain.

One of the other negative effects:

0934 The Press Association reports that thousands of UK airline workers could soon be laid off as a result of the crisis.

One of the options being considered is making staff take their holidays now, industry sources told the UK news agency.

[Goose]

Picking up troops is something I really support. They've been through enough already.

[Karl]

My dad went on a golfing trip to South-East Spain, and has been stuck out there for a while.

They looked at a few options, and decided on driving from Alicante to Paris, then getting a Catamaran thingy from Cherborg to Plymouth, then driving from Plymouth.

I think it was around 24 hours of driving to Plymouth, then back to Weston-super-Mare from then. He's now in bed. Understandably.

[Jingo]

There are some people I know past due home from places like Australia etc... My initial reaction was "Oh noes! What a travesty being stranded there " but on further thoughts, I imagine the airline company will only be funding their hotel and basic meal rations... with no travelling moneys left, I imagine it's a case of hotel room / airport lounge and a very dull wait

It's bad enough waiting for 2 hours let alone 2 weeks! It's fortunate this has happened now and not 6 weeks into the peak season - at least there are possibilities of extra charters, journeys and services which I imagine would otherwise be further exhausted in the school holidays!

[Will]

Originally Posted by Goose

Picking up troops is something I really support. They've been through enough already.

Agreed.


SPW looks like he'll be stuck until the 25th of April! Poor bugger, this does mean that he won't be able to make Mei's b'day.

One of the people at work is in Oz at the moment, may not be able to get back till early May! Fortunately they are staying with family, but I feel sorry for those that have to dig out of their own pocket.

So so glad I don't work in my old job - not being able to get home always used to **** me right off.

[Will]

Originally Posted by Jingo

There are some people I know past due home from places like Australia etc... My initial reaction was "Oh noes! What a travesty being stranded there " but on further thoughts, I imagine the airline company will only be funding their hotel and basic meal rations... with no travelling moneys left, I imagine it's a case of hotel room / airport lounge and a very dull wait

Not all will be receiving any support from the airline, and sometimes you just want to get home. I can assure you when you spend your life taking close to 40 flights a year the last thing you want to do is be stranded, even if it is in a nice place. Albeit I did make the best of it as I'm sure a lot of people will do, but luckily for me, it wasn't coming out of my pocket - when it does, it gets expensive, very quickly, with very slim chances of any remuneration.

This is going to cost businesses a lot of money to support staff on expenses that are also away.


That aside, I do have to say I like the fact nature still has so much ability to control us - it's so refreshing.

[Jingo]

Originally Posted by Will

That aside, I do have to say I like the fact nature still has so much ability to control us - it's so refreshing.

It's a reminder of the power of nature!

It's not 'nice to see', but much preferred to seeing repeats of other recent nature events such as earthquakes / floods!

[Tak]

Originally Posted by Will

That aside, I do have to say I like the fact nature still has so much ability to control us - it's so refreshing.

Agreed: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...d-volcano.html