That volcano travel nightmare

[mashman]

My parents are in Germany at the moment... What's the latest news on flights being restored?

does that you mean you have extra time to clean the place up?

[EJK]

It's always clean! When my parents are gone, I'm 2nd in command hence that makes it my house. I keep my house clean for it is mine. :-)


However, still, concern is being concerned.

[mashman]

It's always clean! When my parents are gone, I'm 2nd in command hence that makes it my house. I keep my house clean for it is mine. :-)


However, still, concern is being concerned.

Fair enough, we're not all the same , I was always a last minute tidier...

I suppose the phone "lines" will be jammed too... would they be having fun?

[EJK]

Early this morning they were bragging how they went to Munich BMW Museum without me.

Go figure.

[Swoop]

Well, at least we now know that promiscuous women are the cause of these volcanic eruptions...


Iranian cleric blames quakes on promiscuous women.
Women who wear revealing clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes, an Iranian cleric says.

Hojjat ol-eslam Kazem Sediqi, the acting Friday prayer leader in Tehran, said women should stick to strict codes of modesty to protect themselves.

"Many women who do not dress modestly lead young men astray and spread adultery in society which increases earthquakes," he explained.

Tens of thousands of people have died in Iran earthquakes in the last decade.

Mr Sediqi was delivering a televised sermon at the Tehran University campus mosque last Friday on the need for a "general repentance" by Iranians when he warned of a "prevalence of degeneracy".

"What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble? There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam's moral codes," he said.

'Disappoint God'

Correspondents say many young Iranians sometimes push the boundaries of how they can dress, showing hair under their headscarves or wearing tight-fitting clothes.

Mr Sediqi also described the violence following last year's disputed presidential election - the result of which prompted thousands of people to hold mass protests - as a "political earthquake".

"Now if a natural earthquake hits Tehran, no one will be able to confront such a calamity but God's power, only God's power. So lets not disappoint God."

More than 25,000 people died when a powerful earthquake hit the ancient city of Bam in 2003.

Seismologists have warned that the capital, Tehran, is situated on a large number of tectonic fault lines and could be hit by a devastating earthquake soon.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said many of Tehran's 12 million inhabitants should relocate.

There are plans to build a purpose built new capital near Qom.

[scracha]

I feel this chap accurately represents Scotland's viewpoint on matter and conveys it beautifully.

[EJK]

Aiehaet ass land!

[boostin]

[merv]

Well we finally made it home yesterday on Air NZ special flight NZ6801 from London via LA. Willie Apiata was on the normal NZ1 so he got more publicity than those that followed 3 hours later.

After a lovely holiday with our daughter and husband in Switzerland, Italy, France and Monaco we were meant to depart Paris on Thursday 15th to fly to Heathrow to catch NZ1 home that same day.

Well it never happened like it should as the volcano blew and we started 6 days of Groundhog Day after getting to London by TGV and French local train to Calais followed by the ferry to Dover, taxi to Ashford and fast train to the city. I'll spare you the details other than to say that was all quite an ordeal with crowds of people trying to do the same thing.

Then the Groundhog Day ritual began and it was get up, check the news and then ring Air NZ to confirm the flight that day was cancelled - rebook for next available and try and waitlist for anything else. By about noon we'd know we weren't going and then we'd repeat all this again the next day. Fun stuff huh!

Finally on Wednesday it happened and Air NZ flew again and we got home Friday - mid afternoon by the time we were back in Welly and home to our house.

Now what is left is the insurance claim, which I was assured over the phone all was OK as it is covered by our policy. Will they find loopholes?

[mashman]

My wife spoke to her mum this morning and apparantly, in the rush to get hire cars to get around Europe to wherever home was, the car hire companies started charging up to 2,000 pounds for their cars... nothing fancy, just added a zero. It speaks for itself really.

[merv]

Great thing for Air NZ is that one of the 74's is stuck in London. They cost $$ every time they fly - they are old and expensive to operate. Air NZ only operates 2 flights into London - one from Hong Kong one from LA - those 2 flights only are not being operated - all other routes are being flown.

Whatever they cost to fly I'd still have to say the 747 is still my favourite plane to fly on and we flew home on the previously stuck plane. Its cool looking back and seeing it has two engines on each wing for a start and that has a perceived better feeling than thinking there is only two engines altogether like on a 777 when you are zillions of kms from anywhere. Here's a pic at sunrise as we were approaching NZ on Friday and one as we first sighted land - Great Mercury Island and Coromandel Peninsula - nice to be home.

My wife spoke to her mum this morning and apparantly, in the rush to get hire cars to get around Europe to wherever home was, the car hire companies started charging up to 2,000 pounds for their cars... nothing fancy, just added a zero. It speaks for itself really.

We found things OK for price - hotels were still a good price in London, but the Calais to Dover ferry was 55 euro each instead of I gather the usual fare of around 23 euro each. So we haven't felt ripped off, but all depends on how my insurance claim goes. We didn't try renting a car after the problem started as we didn't need one then.

[mashman]

We found things OK for price - hotels were still a good price in London, but the Calais to Dover ferry was 55 euro each instead of I gather the usual fare of around 23 euro each. So we haven't felt ripped off, but all depends on how my insurance claim goes. We didn't try renting a car after the problem started as we didn't need one then.

At least you found a "pub" (i believe you ) in which to console yourselves... Tis just a shame that some thought it a great time to turn a buck though... am sure the claim will be fine... wonder if they'll add "excluding volcanos" to next years insurance documentation lol.

[merv]

At least you found a pub in which to console yourselves... Tis just a shame that some thought it a great time to turn a buck though... am sure the claim will be fine... wonder if they'll add "excluding volcanos" to next years insurance documentation lol.

The problem is that unless it stops blowing for a while all insurance will be null and void for anyone that starts a journey now because it is a known event and they will say they aren't liable under the policy.

[mashman]

The problem is that unless it stops blowing for a while all insurance will be null and void for anyone that starts a journey now because it is a known event and they will say they aren't liable under the policy.

Bloody good point.... what a FECKIN nightmare...

[EJK]

Yep my parents are back home safe and sound. It was the first flight out of Frankfurt. Goodie.