I have been waiting two hours now for the flight from Italy to arrive, stuck here in Stanstead Airport on a cold miserable Christmas Eve. With all this rubbish Christmassy stuff all around me driving me mad and the 'flu bug that I picked up last week making things even worse than they could possibly be.
Why on earth did I volunteer to pick them up. They were supposed to arrive at 9.30pm., or as all the clocks here say 2130. For the third time, I am going to ask the information clerk what is the current position.
'Jeeze, she's wearing a Santa Clause hat now' I said to myself as I approached the desk. What's that her name tag says? 'Carol'. Oh yes, ha, ha, very appropriate and original truly a Christmas Carol.
'Sorry to trouble you Miss' I asked 'but what is the latest information on flight EZ476 from Nice'. 'Oh yeah' she spoke not too clearly through her nose 'Dat's the one that got mixed up near the French and Spanish borders air space. Yeah, someone put a Spaniard in the works, gettit, Spaniard in the works'. My God Almight, not only is she blonde, but an Essex slapper as well. 'Is that it then, Carol' I pretended I had not heard her. 'Naw' she drawled 'it's still in the air'. 'And where abouts in the air, might I ask'. Again I pretended not to have heard her. 'Hold on sir' she seemed for some reason to have gone into official mode 'I'll get the Supervisor'.
I looked at the clock and could not believe my eyes - it now said 0002 - three hours late. Suddenly, Miss Moneypenny arrived with a clipboard, maybe she would make more sense. 'I am Miss Dove, how may I helpl you sir' she asked in a polite but squeekey voice. 'Yes, good morning Miss Dove' I looked at her 'your clerk tells me that flight EZ476 is still in the air. At least that's a start but she cannot give me any idea when it might land. Can you help' - I was doing my utmost best to remain calm but the 'flu was really kicking in now. Quite honestly, I could not give a damn what the answer was going to be. I just wanted to go to bed.
'It's expected to land within the next hour' she said after pretending to consult her clipboard 'keep referring to the Arrivals Board'. 'Ah sh*it' I said to myself 'that could mean anything'. I went back to the seating area and crashed down into one of the seats. 'Why are they always so damn hard' I said to myself trying to make myself comfortable. As I looked around me, I got quite a shock. Honestly, that actor, Troughton or something like that - he used to be Dr.Who on television but made a big name for himself as the Priest in the Exorcist - just walked by. I liked him as the Doctor, he was quite good in that, but he was way over his depth in the film.
'Jeeze' I exclaimed. but continued under my breath talking to myself 'I have never in all my life seen so many dwarfs, or in this day and age, I suppose I should say vertically challenged people. Cobblers, they are dwarfs but some of them looked just like large dolls. At least four of the little women were quite beautiful - like film stars in miniture. Good luck to them'. Pity I don't drink, I thought as I saw that the Bar was still serving. A nice pint of John Courage Special, I used to like that. That was my problem, I recalled, twenty-five pints in an afternoon can't be good for anyone. Everything looks bright and rosy through a pint glass of Courage. Profiles in Courage was what came to mind althought I have not got the foggest idea where such an expression came from. Still. Oh Crap, will you look at the time -0105 - sh*it, for a second I was thinking it said five past ten, but even five past one is ridiculous. Something's happened - I just know it.
Suddenly, an announcement came across the tannoy system: 'Here is an announcement for those awaiting the arrival of flight EZ476 from Nice. The flight has been diverted to Manchester from where the passengers will be coached to Stanstead and due to arrive here at 0800'. Great, I thought to myself, at least I get a sleep for five or six hours before I have to return.
As I passed the enquiry desk, I saw Carol and Miss Dove 'Bon Journo, Senorita Carol and Senorita Dove' I said in my worst Italian accent and just to totally confuse them, I added in Gaelic 'agus Nollaig fe hein is fe bhaise duit'.
Oh so you don't understand Gaelic either, eh, well it means 'and a Happy and Holy Christmas to you all'....................
2006-12-23 02:14:33
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answer #1
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answered by thomasrobinsonantonio 7
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The phone clanged, rudely cacophonous. I rolled over. I didn't want to wake up just yet. But the phone was relentless, and after what seemed like the hundredth ring I grabbed the phone and muttered, "Hello?" A soft voice on the other end spoke. "Good Morning, Miss Dove. This is your 8 a.m. wake up call." I groaned. "Thanks." We hung up and I forced myself to get out of bed. I had to get up, get dressed, get packed, eat something, and get to the airport before 9:30. Hard to do when you only got four hours of sleep the night before. I would like to blame it on Carol Finnegan. What a party girl! She's so into Christmas, she throws these monumental parties each year. You can never forget a Christmas Carol party. Especially when you throw raspberry vodka and a Spaniard in the works. His name was Antonio, and WOW is all I can say. Talk about a fun party! But I have to put the blame on myself. In retrospect, I should have skipped Carol's party and caught an earlier flight yesterday. I'm supposed to be going home for Christmas. I just know that today, Christmas Eve, is going to be total bedlam up there at the airport. But it's worth it to get to be with my folks on Christmas Eve. I arrived at the airport right about 9. Sure enough, the whole place was chaotic. A small group of little women, speaking some language I think was probably Greek, were arguing with a confused worker about something. I don't know what they were saying. It's all Greek to me. In the airport there was not a lot of room to roam around. Lines and queues stretched everywhere from the baggage claim area up to the terminals. Everywhere I saw profiles in courage, those brave souls willing to stand in line for an hour. It was pretty bad. I hate crowds and that inability to move without bumping into someone. I really do. But, like I said, it was all worth it to see my family for Christmas. By some miracle I managed to find an empty seat. Just as I sat, a voice spoke from the P.A. system. "Attention. Flight 203 to Dallas is delayed." I groaned audibly. Sure. Sure. Of course it had to be MY flight that was delayed. I just shook my head and resigned myself to the inevitable. I settled further into the cold metal chair and closed my eyes to wait. In retrospect (for some reason retrospect is very common with me), I should not have. Four hours of sleep plus sitting still with my eyes closed equals falling asleep at the airport and missing my flight. I can only be grateful for what happened next. It at least kept me awake. A woman with two children, a child of about 10 and an infant, sat down next to me. I guess she must have jostled the baby, because the next thing you know he threw up on me. I resisted the urge to shriek as this smelly green liquid got all on my jacket. It looked like the Exorcist or something. Pea soup, anyone? Oh, it was horrible. The young mother was mortified, and she helped me clean it up. But again. Like I said. It was worth it to get to spend Christmas Eve with my family. Finally my plane arrived. We bundled on, I with a newly acquired splotch on my jacket and a strong resolve that all this was entirely worth it. And, I think, that perhaps because I told myself I was going to have a fantastic Christmas, I did. Or perhaps it was my wonderful family. Whatever the cause, I was purely happy. I think, though, I may have learned a lesson from all this. If you have a flight the next day, don't stay up all night partying, even if there is a sexy Spaniard and raspberry vodka.
2006-12-23 02:39:27
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answer #2
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answered by Lady Ettejin of Wern 6
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many circumstances. in no way FLY WITH JETSTAR!!! (Btw Jetstar is an Australian airline). They continuously delay you! as quickly as they not on time us in one day and that they did no longer even let us know till finally like 3 hours later and then they accused us of no longer understanding then they chucked all people in a motel in one day and we caught the airplane at lunch time day after immediately! i've got additionally been not on time many different circumstances.
2016-10-18 21:50:31
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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THE EXORCIST said GOOD MORNING MISS DOVE as they watched in horror as LITTLE WOMEN sung A CHRISTMAS CAROL. The women's husbands worked sorting PROFILES IN COURAGE and hired A SPANIARD IN THE WORKS....wow that was stupid..my story doesn't even make sense!!! lol
2006-12-22 16:59:17
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answer #4
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answered by whatshername7789 2
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