Coping with the 'fallout' of the volcano

[OverWyreGrower]

Have spent the morning so far working out how many staff we have 'missing' across campus because of the no-fly restrictions.

Since the Easter hols only ended this weekend (for people with children) a lot of staff were still on holiday. We've also got staff away on business who cannot return.

Think that we're missing about 15 staff so far, which isn't that bad.

However, some have been informed that it will be 25/26 April before they can get a flight back (from the USA), and for those in Europe, potentially a 72 hour car/coach journey to return home.

Not fun at all actually! I feel very sorry for someone who is out in the US with his family, and has found out that it will cost him another £2k easily for a further week's stay More than he'd bargained for when he saved up to take the kids to Disney!!

Anyone else's work affected by the volcano?

[piskieinboots]

Anyone else's work affected by the volcano?

Yes!

One of my clients' is a Coaching company, we hold courses each and every week here in the UK, the courses being populated with Students from all over Europe.

My phone is very hot

[OverWyreGrower]

I've just found out that the majority of staff affected by this haven't been ringing HR, so actually, we've got over 200 staff 'out there'.....

[HeyWayne]

We had two guys travelling back last week - but as soon as we'd heard the airports were closed they booked on the Eurostar. Some meetings have been postponed, but it's not a major issue.

Not sure if it's coincidental but I'm very thirsty today - I've already drunk a litre and a half of water today (along with my ginger tea).

I'm also trialling some different contact lenses and my eyes feel very dry, but I don't think it's anything to do with the ash.

There's a large construction fair on in Munich at the moment where we are launching a new product - they are expecting visitor numbers to be down.

[Flummery]

Ain't retirement grand?

However, 2 of our fellow '40-years-on' graduation reunion group are from Canada and have stayed so far with one of the chaps near London - they should have flown on Saturday from Heathrow. No end in sight. Daughter and family should have gone today to Disneyland. They are in Filey instead! They wouldn't go now even if there was a window in case the wind changed or something. They couldn't afford not to get back. At least they will get a refund. It's going to cost many people lots of money.

[bobleponge]

I have a bloke here who would have missed his daughter's wedding, so daughter postponed it for him, cost them a fortune.
The worlds largest conference for natural gas is held every 3 years, and is being held here in Oran this year. Visitor numbers were expected to be around 12,000, currently less than 2000 have arrived, conference starts tomorrow.
The 2 large hotels in the city informed us a month ago that as of yesterday all of our long term residents would have to leave (we are on a preferred rate, conference rates are exorbitant) for the duration of the conference. This morning we received a phone call telling us we can move back in, but in a childish fit of pique we arent going to.
There are many of the staff here who havent been able to get home for planned leave (one of them being me!!) and as they work abroad for 4 months at a go, its pretty hard on them.

[SarzWix]

I have a friend who's husband is stuck in Spain with his mother... They only went for 2 days for a funeral! They can't get out for love nor money, mostly because he forgot to take his driving licence, so they can't even hire a car to get to a ferry point... Oooops... She's going to be giving him plenty of grief about that when he gets back - they're publicans and she's having to do a heck of a lot of work in his absence...

[Alison]

Easter hols were the week before and after Easter in Cheshire so schools have already been back over a week so few probs there but we do have a guy stuck in Spain on a conference and lots of business travel this week up the spout. Doesn't affect me at all though thankfully.

[bramble]

My friend and her husband went to Australia for a month to visit their daughter who has just had her first baby. They were due home last Thursday and are currently stuck in Singapore for God knows how long.
My sister and her husband are stuck in Tenerife and my other sister is due to fly from Gatwick to Dublin on Thursday.

[piskieinboots]

Ain't retirement grand?

Doesn't affect me at all though thankfully.

Might affect us all more directly when we can't get any lemons in the shops

[Alison]

Might affect us all more directly when we can't get any lemons in the shops

Only buy them at jam making time of year so OK until the strawberries come in June

[piskieinboots]

My first drink of the day is hot water and a chunk of fresh un-waxed lemon

[Florence Fennel]

Here there's a secretary stuck with her family in Spain, but luckily it's her own place. She should have flown back yesterday - next available flight back is 29th so she's trying another route. Problem is, everything is booked up. She says she may be able to get a cruise ship from Gibraltar today. We have an Egyptian Consultant Transplant Surgeon who can't get back from Egypt and a clerk whose mother and daughter are unable to get back from Saudi Arabia. Plus of course there are visiting doctors here who are unable to get home.

[Madasafish]

Well there is a good chance the eruption will last >6 months and the adjacent volcano appears linked and may erupt in another year's time...

[piskieinboots]

.... the adjacent volcano appears linked and may erupt in another year's time...

Best we get planting