Stuck in the sunshine

[Milfmog]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I am in Malta this week. I was due to fly home last night and return to Malta on Monday (the factory is shut for maintenance work this Friday / Monday) however the Icelandic volcano (I am not going to try and type that name!) seems to have decided I should stay in Malta a little longer. I could not find any flights home with a seat before Monday, so just rebooked to stay here until the end of next week. Since my next flights had not yet been booked that is actually cheaper than flying would have been (even once hotel and subsistence costs are factored in).

I am off to Valetta shortly (in my UK - wish I'd brought some other skirts with me) to have a look around. One of the girls (who was not in the office yesterday) tells me she found a couple of shops with excellent "working skirts" in them that might suit me well, so I'm going to have a look before everything closes around noon today.

Have fun,


Ian.

[r.m.anderson]

For what it is worth:
If you are stuck too long in Malta consider getting to the european mainland and taking the eurorail to UK with perhaps about 100,000
other chaps. Understand the southern european air service is not affected (Italy & Greece etc.) so getting to the mainland/continent
to catch a train home is an alternative.
Situation does not look too good for the next few days in northern europe.
Good luck at least you are stuck in a place that is user friendly!

rm

[Milfmog]

For what it is worth:
If you are stuck too long in Malta consider getting to the european mainland and taking the eurorail to UK with perhaps about 100,000
other chaps.

Considered that, but for now I'm able to get some useful work done here, so will just bide my time. One of my colleagues was supposed to be coming down tomorrow and staying for a fortnight. If necessary I will take over for him here, that makes next week useful so I'm not panicking yet.

My big boss (group MD) flew to Milan, hired a car and drove to Paris, where he was met by his chauffeur and taken home. I don't fancy that and, as I understand it, it is not an option now anyway as Milan is now closed so I can't get further north than Rome in the air.

Spent yesterday touring the island on a hop on hop off bus. Lots of dropped jaws among the locals at the sight of a guy in a skirt. A few comments from other visitors to the island, all very positive.

Today I went diving. The dive centre owner asked "the question" and then checked for himself; I let him, on the basis that if he'd been more awake he'd have seen me strip off my wetsuit, pull on a polo shirt and wrap the UK around me. Had he been watching he'd have known I was still wearing my swimmies underneath! Best bit - one of his staff took a picture of him checking, so he has now been labelled gay (or at least gay curious) and the picture circulated around the staff. His wife was not impressed. Sometimes natural justice works for me.

Have fun,


Ian.

[Sarongman]

We met a couple of very nice German backpackers at Coolum beach also "stuck in the sunshine" and directed them to some cheap accomodation. Looks like the Swiss have tentatively resumed flying last night and, in typical "wash car and it rains" fashion the smoke cloud is intensifying again P.S. I love the story of the dive centre operator

[owen]

Sounds like a bit of fun, Milfmog! Enjoy your "captivity" while it lasts.

[Milfmog]

Sounds like a bit of fun, Milfmog! Enjoy your "captivity" while it lasts.

Trust me, I'll make the most of it but it looks like I have more work than I know what to do with since I am now covering for two colleagues who could not fly down as well as doing what I'm here for.

Just to add to the fun, the factory goes back onto shifts tomorrow, so I could be here from 06:00 until 22:00. Joy!!!

Have fun,


Ian.

[Milfmog]

The aircraft are moving again and it looks like I might get home this weekend. I like Malta and it is a lifestyle I could easily adapt to but I will be please to be home with my wife and son and the dog (who may be the only one to have missed me!).

Fingers crossed the backlogs will be cleared.

Have fun,


Ian.