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ColinB
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 Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 9:51 am Post subject: Volcanic Ash.... |
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Oh well. I should have landed at Faro in Portugal by now but I'm stuck at home and watching the BBC News Channel. Three hours at Luton Airport only to be told that all flights in and out were suspended. Now we're told that all UK airspace will be shut down from mid-day.
I might as well get some work done! |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 11:13 am Post subject: |
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That's a shame.
What we'd give right now for a good old-fashioned south-westerly gale to blow it all away.
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Ron |
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Clive55
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1336
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| Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 6:05 pm Post subject: |
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What a bizarre story.
IT'S NOT APRIL 1ST!!!!! |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3415
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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Lord Evan Elpuss
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iwarburton
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 3:57 pm Post subject: |
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Apparently the World Health Organisation is reported as having warned people to stay indoors or wear masks if they have to go out.
Would this be the same people who forecast 750,000 UK deaths from swine flu?
Ian. |
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Clive55
Joined: 08 Dec 2006
Posts: 1336
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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I think it is an elaborate prank.
The airlines are in on it. And so is the Volcano  |
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4088
Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't mind betting that Ryanair make their staff take the enforced lay-off days from their holiday entitlement. 
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:14 pm Post subject: |
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The thing that's become apparent to me over this, is the unimaginable job or reorganising everything not only for the next day as first thought, but for the next day and the next and so on as long as the Volcano spews out this ash..
We for example, working with Virgin, have re-jigged our US hotels for Wednesday.. all eight of them. If we don't fly then it'll all have to happen again. It really must be a nightmare for those involved.
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19334
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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It is SF whenever things go wrong. It was even worse when things weren't computerised and you had to rely on telex for reservations.
It's times like this I don't miss working for an airline or at the airport!
H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Volcanic Ash.... |
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| ColinB wrote: | Oh well. I should have landed at Faro in Portugal by now but I'm stuck at home and watching the BBC News Channel. Three hours at Luton Airport only to be told that all flights in and out were suspended. Now we're told that all UK airspace will be shut down from mid-day.
I might as well get some work done! |
I don't think you will go or even considered by at least Monday? We know some of these airlines are losing a lot of money. I can also think they will start laying off staff and even going bust. It won't help the economy.
As I say. don't hold your breath yet if you want to fly, because a lot of travel firms will want people to either cancel or reschedule holidays. Airlines will want this so they can start from scratch.
Also insurance firms will stick two fingers up as it's an " act of god" |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Volcanic Ash.... |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | I don't think you will go or even considered by at least Monday? |
We won't be going anywhere by Monday - we cancelled and will get a refund in the next 2-3 working days. I'm currently down in Devon where the weather is fabulous! (It's still raining in Portugal too....ha ha!).
| mark occomore wrote: | | Also insurance firms will stick two fingers up as it's an " act of god" |
I've only lost the cost of UK airport car parking and also the cost of car hire in Portugal. I've read really carefully my business insurance policy and there's no small-print that precludes me from caliming.
Anyway, I don't accept the term "act of god" because I'm an atheist!!!  |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's right the Royal Navy could start lifting people from abroad. As the defence man on TV said. " They can lift a whole brigade" Also taking over other commercial ships from trade. It depends on which port they can go to, where they are.
Remember a lot of coach companies will not have insurance to go abroad.
Also our people are entitled to food and accomadation.
It's right the government should look at every option. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| God the shadow defence secretary said they could use volenteers from the UK who have boats as a dunkirk style operation |
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Helen May
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 19334
Location: Cheshire
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| mark occomore wrote: |
Also our people are entitled to food and accomadation.
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Mark
Nobody is entitled to anything, these things happen. Just be thankful that no one has lost their lives.
What about the people of Iceland? I know it's a sparsely populated place but the effects there will last for ages.
I've been to Iceland and to one of the Westman islands off the south coast where there had been a huge volcanic eruption 2 years previously. You could still feel the heat from that volcano through the soles of your shoes as you walked on the hillside surrounding the main town 2 years on, and rocks that you picked up were red hot to touch. They turned crystal when they did cool.
H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Helen May wrote: | | mark occomore wrote: |
Also our people are entitled to food and accomadation.
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Mark
Nobody is entitled to anything, these things happen. Just be thankful that no one has lost their lives.
What about the people of Iceland? I know it's a sparsely populated place but the effects there will last for ages.
I've been to Iceland and to one of the Westman islands off the south coast where there had been a huge volcanic eruption 2 years previously. You could still feel the heat from that volcano through the soles of your shoes as you walked on the hillside surrounding the main town 2 years on, and rocks that you picked up were red hot to touch. They turned crystal when they did cool.
H |
Yes I know you been to iceland. Jeremy read out your mail last week, It was you?
BA have landed there test flight in cardiff, probarly be a day or two before they check if there is any engine problems. One flight couldn't really tell because there are many aircraft in the air at once which could move ash around. I reckon Nats will gradually lift the ban, and restrict a number of aircraft which can fly? There will be politcial pressure to get things moving quickly as possible, but it's all about safety at the end of the day. |
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
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Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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As I understand it, Willie Walsh and other senior staff went on a 3 hour flight over towards the Atlantic and back towards Cardiff today. Just testing the conditions for himself.
Michael O'Leary? Your move I think. 
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| UK airspace shut until 7pm ish monday. |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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This seems like a good place to look for updates: http://www.nats.co.uk/
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
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Helen May
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| Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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I'd forgotten that Willie Walsh was a former airline captain for Aer Lingus!
Their engine testing is done at Cardiff as well.
There should be no political pressure to resume flights though, as it's safety that's the most important thing.
They reckon it's worse financially than the post 9/11 flying ban, not good.
H
PS It was my email Mark.
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!
I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005 |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 6:41 am Post subject: |
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| Emergency bail out for airlines could happen. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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iwarburton
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Posts: 2133
Location: Northumberland
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:05 pm Post subject: |
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Anyway, I don't accept the term "act of god" because I'm an atheist!!!
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You may find that the insurance companies become more than usually religious!
Ian. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | God the shadow defence secretary........ |
I think you have your facts wrong again, Mark. |
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4088
Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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Why on earth are we sending the Navy to the English Channel when the ferry operators are saying that they still have bookings available? Is this just another flamboyant election stunt??
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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mark occomore
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
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Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Looks like british airspace will start to begin to reopen on Tuesday. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Not in the south. Yesterday, my wife cleaned our car down in south Devon because it was covered in a very fine dark grey dust, so maybe that's a good indicator as to why. In all the years I lived there I've never seen that before. |
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Toggy
Joined: 18 Aug 2008
Posts: 1239
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| Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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| mark occomore wrote: | | Looks like british airspace will start to begin to reopen on Tuesday. |
it might not, there is another cloud of ash spreading towards us. |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3415
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 6:53 am Post subject: |
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It seems to have been put back. There's plenty of activity over mainland Europe. Light aircraft have been flying down my neck of the woods over the weekend just gone, and even yesterday.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:27 am Post subject: |
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We live under the flightpath into Cranfield airport (not a public airport, but a former WW2 base that's associated with Cranfield University's School of Aeronautics) and a large twin-prop aircraft has just come in. In the very early hours another large plane took off, too. (There's always mysterious late-night activity in and out of Cranfield!).
And, looking our of the window right now, an RAF Lynx helicopter has just passed by. |
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SantaFefan
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 11258
Location: top of the cliffs in Norfolk
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:39 am Post subject: |
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Although living near Norwich, we must be under a regular flight path as the other week I counted about 15 vapour trails one morning. It seems quite strange to see none at all now - just clear blue skies.
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Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! 13/8/07
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Rachel
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| See!! the world didn't end without aeroplanes. What I want to know is... how come I bought "Fresh" never been frozen Hake from South Africa this morning in Waitrose.......this no flying thing has really bown the lid off the Fresh Food lie. It's gotta be at least a week old. What is the definition of "Fresh" when applied to fresh food? |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 9:08 am Post subject: |
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| I must say it was fascinating to see a completely clear blue sky with not a single vapour trail over Dartmoor at the weekend. |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
Posts: 3415
Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:16 am Post subject: |
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It looks like the upper airways have been opened up, even as far south as London. trails have been seen in the sky this morning.
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
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ColinB
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 10:20 am Post subject: |
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| My neighbours are supposed to be flying out to Pakistan at 6.00pm today from Birmingham but they've just been told not to arrive at the airport until further notice........ |
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RockitRon
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Minx
Joined: 09 Dec 2006
Posts: 4088
Location: France/Spain/Peterborough/Tenerife
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 2:00 pm Post subject: |
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That's a fascinating site Ron, my OH is now happily monitoring both air and sea travel.
http://marinetraffic.com
Fat chance of getting the lawn mowed this afternoon.
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Minx
To err is human, to forgive - canine. |
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Lord Evan Elpuss
Joined: 10 Dec 2006
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Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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And here's another: http://www.radarvirtuel.com/
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Lord Evan Elpuss, Your ideal job is a Lumberjack. |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Rachel wrote: | | See!! the world didn't end without aeroplanes. What I want to know is... how come I bought "Fresh" never been frozen Hake from South Africa this morning in Waitrose.......this no flying thing has really bown the lid off the Fresh Food lie. It's gotta be at least a week old. What is the definition of "Fresh" when applied to fresh food? |
That's a $64,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) question. There are lots of regulations about the manufacture and sale of food, and the Government's FSA would like to heap loads more on, but nowhere (for public viewing) is there an official definition of "fresh".
Just follow your nose, as my granny would say...
Tesco is getting around the current problem by flying its Kenyan mangetout and babycorn and flowers (essentials in every home) to Spain and trucking them from there. What are the odds on French farmers or lorry drivers deciding to blockade the roads and ports?
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Ron |
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RockitRon
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2010 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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That site is brilliant - the aircraft shown over Nottingham has just flown overhead! There have been light aircraft and the police helicopter buzzing around all day.
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Ron |
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