to think you can't be stranded at home?

[StealthPolarBear]

(Volcanic ash related) On the news "Thousands of people are stranded abroad or at home"
Yes, you can be stranded abroad. But surely by definition you can't be stranded at home?
Maybe this should have been in pedants' corner as I do know what they mean, of course!

Jamie I'm afraid you've just ruled yourself out of transport minister and chief minister of spin with that little airport rant

you can still be chancellor tho don't worry

glad to see the spin has started skihorse...how much is 5euros in real money? will it clean out a duck house?

thankyou. Seem to have got myself worked up.

i was thinking more along the lines of minister for Culture

stealth Come May 7th it could be worth up to one million of your shiny one pound coins - and may buy as many as 16 slices of Mother's Pride.

yeah go on then Jamie you asked nicely

I know this sounds a bit wet and possibly not what you're talking about...

We're supposed to be taking a domestic flight to see my 87-y-o grandad next week. He can't travel, so we travel or we don't see him. I am recovering from a m/c and desperately need a break, not least from being surrounded by well-meaning but nosy friends and neighbours. We can't drive because it takes over 8 hours if you don't stop, and therefore would take several days with a toddler.

We do feel stuck at home, and are praying for a change in wind direction.

I was stranded at home once when DH took both sets of keys and so I couldn't leave the house. But I don't think that is quite what is meant here.

What I don't get is the flight situation being described as 'chaos'. Surely a complete standstill is as far from chaos as you can get?

Well all the little planes are flying with no trouble today. Maybe they should go and get them to fly each familly to where they need to go.

LLJ4 - sorry about your situation.

LLJ4, so sorry to hear that. Hope you get to go- tomorrow maybe??
I do have sympathy, my gripe is simply to do with the word 'stranded' being used for people in their own homes.

Stealth - yes of course people can get to Paris (by train if needbe) and take Eurostar.

Except that its one piddling little train line through one tunnel. I spent quite a while yesterday getting DH booked on it so he could get home - going through every one which said it had availability and then finding it didn't - he's coming home tomorrow morning. I got onto it relatively early fortunately, he's got enough meds with him to last till then.

Sure, everyone can get home eventually by some combo of train and ferry if the ash stays around, but its not quite as simple as wandering into the Gare du Nord and buying a ticket.

DH went in this morning to pick up the ticket I'd booked, it was packed with distraught people not going anwhere.

hadn't thought of that - definitely no PM job for me
Hope he gets home OK, without too much stress

Ok this isnt mine but it made me laugh when i read it this morning...

'Iceland, we said send cash! Cant you read'?

Ahem, as you were.

Oh, my DH is fine, thanks to me realising what was going on, and BadKitten's reports here making me realise it was likely to be more than a few hours disruption. His hotel had one room left, he's happily wandering around the Musee d'Orsay right now. One adult travelling on expenses 'stranded' in Paris doesn't need much sympathy!

rosie

I am probs being really thick.. but why cant the airlines just fly at lower altitudes??

The seaplane in this area is still flying as it flies at low altitude ..

I know the big aircraft burn more fuel at lower altitudes but surely a cheaper option than not flying at all

At a guess - thermodynamics?

aerodynamics ?