who has got family stranded by the volcanic ash?

[MrsShu]

me ! easy jet have cancelled return flight

Finally got some internet access.
I am still in Singapore. Going to be here for at least another day.
Luckily the airline is providing accommodation otherwise I would still be sleeping at the airport.
Hope everyone else is ok.

Looks like Hubby won't be coming home today either. I feel awful I just yelled at him on the phone for something thats not even his fault. I have had no break from the kids since Sun. and I'm at my wits end.

I am ridiculously excited as I now have a plan! I've got train tickets for Tuesday - Milan - Paris and then Eurostar to London. So I may be home Tuesday night!

I feel better just knowing. It's the day by day can I can't I that's really annoying as you can't get on with things. So I'm off to enjoy a weekend by myself in Milan. Now come on, that has to be a silver lining no?

Good luck to everyone else.

aha! parents are doing milan to paris atm

well done soph

Friends of mine are on honeymoon in Italy and have just posted on Facebook that all the Brits who are stranded with them are looking in to hiring a coach to get home Can't imagine how much that would cost!!

The coach could work out quite cheap if they have enough people. Was thinking last night, won't drivers in Europe be hanging around Airports trying to sell their services as a 'taxi'.
Bet a lot of that is going on

Glad to hear some people are getting home. I feel very much in limbo here, though at least the children are enjoying it!

Thanks for the kind offer Portofino - have passed on email in case cabin fever sets in! Sounds like DH bearing up fine, on emergency clothes buying expedition in Brussels as we speak. He's also going to call by the Brussels Midi station to see what state of chaos is prevailing re eurostar tickets. Eurostar site driving me mad as keeps showing availability for some trains from Brussels today and tomorrow but then when you try to book says tickets no longer available . Have been trying since early this morning, giving up now. Have phoned 2 other travel agencies who say no eurostar availability until Tuesday,so looks like it'll be coach and ferry tomorrow night. At least he has a definite booking, which makes him luckier than a lot of stranded people.

sophia that's very intrepid of you! I am jealous of you being in Milan, we spent part of our honeymoon there and loved it.

DS now definately not going to get home. Ex is going re-book when he can

No idea when I'll see my DS or if he'll be home for his 4th Birthday.

Feeling a bit heartbroken (realise this is pathetic and self indulgent, but if I whinge a bit on here I can keep up the gung ho spirit in RL where everyone is telling me worse thing happen at seas etc. I just want my DS home, I miss him.)

Bit of a Dunkirk feeling at the moment aa people band together to help each other get home.

Madascheeae
poor you. Feel free to vent here

Of course worse things could happen but it does notake the longing to see your son any easier to bear.

Try to see it as an adventure for him. He will never forget his 4th birthday anyway. And He can celebrate twice - just like the queen

Ahh thanks mmeLindt, I know it will be exciting for him (he's a bit of a science nut) so we've got those experiments planned for when he gets home to make volcanoes and so on and my Dad is a geologist so lots of potnetial there.

He is with his Dad and he's safe and fed, I know it's my sadness not really his if you know what I mean, but it's a horrid situation with my ex (not good terms) so little communication and I don't know if we can do extra webcamming and things because ex isn't dreafully co-operative. This could be the making of him I guess.

Just miss his big giggle and hugs too much at the moment and I was keyed up to miss him for a week, this feels like torture as I've no idea when I will see him

I won't keep venting, is too depressing and sad.

Thanks though

My dh got home an hour ago, looking (and smelling) a bit worse for wear but otherwise fine. I feel incredibly lukcy reading how many of you are stranded/waiting for loved ones.

it is insane. I have heard of people driving from Denmark to Geneva, and from Hungary to Spain- just to get home.

The repercussions for businesses worldwide are going to be insane- if this goes on for another week there are going to be billions lost across all sectors.

I am supposed to leave next saturday for India for training/volunteering, and MIL suposed to fly here on friday to look after dds. Now I am wondering whether this is even going to happen at all.

Sophia, I know youa re sorted but one of my friends just posted on FB that he is stuck in Milan but he has a car and is looking for someone to carpool with him back to London.

are you interested?

My dh is stuck in India. Has anyone either travelled West from there before by train or have any knowledge about how you would set about getting back to the UK overland? Really miss him and am feeling tearful.

Munchkin, that would be the hippy trail that was very popular in the 70s. Not sure how safe it is these days

If you are stranded or are trying to help people get back, and can't get on a train or coach, you might want to try this site:

www.liftshare.com

It is a UK liftsharing website, you can find journeys across Europe on there.

HTH

flight from continent got cancelled- had to take trains all day and return in a bus overnight via calais and dover.
worst of it is that i was wearing my suit all through as couldn't change or get my spectacles out as i had lost my key for my case.
so glad to be home!

MunchkinsMumof2- i know people stranded there too- doubt any overland routes work in terms of time and trouble (and safety!)
don't know if flight to dubai / direct to southern europe works? then train to brussels and eurostar?

Munchkin, I just checked and www.liftshare.com can cope with starts and finishes all over teh world, so you might try posting there. But surely there are flights out of India to somewhere nearer?

Munchkin- did a little research online- I see that BA has flights from Mumbai to Madrid starting from £178- earliest date Mon 19th April- then train + Eurostar should work right? other cities like Mumbai should have flights as well to madrid. i also see flights to rome.
Delhi to Frankfurt or delhi to geneva- the first date is 24th- so i guess frankfurt and genev airports are closed for now- or really busy.

sorry that should have been "other cities like Mumbai Delhi or Bangalore should have flights as well to madrid. "

MmeLindt, some people here have paid CHF4000 [£2800] to get a minibus to calais

lots of stranded people in town who can't spend that sort of money.