Humbug
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| posted on 20/3/11 at 07:12 PM |
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Back from Japan
Just got back from Japan today. SWMBO and I went to Japan because my son has been studying Japanese in Tokyo as part of his degree course and it was
his 21st birthday in early March. We were with him for 4 days in Tokyo - fine - then went on a 12 day toru west/south of Tokyo. When the big
earthquale hit we had a text from him then were not able to contact him for an hour or so - worrying! - but he is OK. A couple of days later his
university in the UK (Newcastle) advised all their Tokyo-based students to go further south "for a few days". Another couple of days, and
they were "advising students to consider" coming back to the UK for the rest of the Spring Break (sort of pre-Easter hols until eary
April). After discussing it with him, we jointly decided that he should go back to the UK and booked him tickets. A bit later, Newcastle said they
were "ordering" students to return to the UK. He came back on 17th March, but SWMBO and I decided to continue most of our trip beause we
were still well out of the danger zone. We didn't feel the initial big quake where we were, but did feel an aftershock on Tuesday/Wednesday this
week.
However, we still had to come back to Tokyo to get our flight. It was supposed to be 11:10, then we got an email saying it had been changed to 21:10 -
bummer! - and btw it was going via Hong Kong with a 2 hour stopover "for operational reasons", something to due with crews being in the
wrong place "because of all the disruption" which doesn't really make sense because AFAIK flights were only cancelled on 1 day...
When we went to check in, it had been changed to a 7 hour stop in Hong Kong. While we were waiting, there was an other biggish aftershock. The only
saving grace with the long journey was that because we were in World Traveller Plus they let us go into the Qantas lounge at HK and we were able to
have a shower and refreshments, etc. and were able to get a bit of sleep. Finally arrived at Heathrow at about 2 this afternoon.
Quite pleased to be back, to say the least... and not glowing in the dark 
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big-vee-twin
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| posted on 20/3/11 at 07:29 PM |
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Understand what your thoughts were sort of my daughter is in Fijji which was in the tsunami zone, fortunately is was only 2-3 feet high when it hit
the coast. Very worrying for a while though.
She should be back on Friday after being out there three months.
Welcome back, glad your all safe.
Duratec Engine is fitted, MS2 Extra V3 is assembled and tested, engine running, car now built. IVA passed 26/02/2016
http://www.triangleltd.com
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blakep82
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| posted on 20/3/11 at 07:39 PM |
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glad you're all ok, there's a japanese builder posts on here sometimes isn't there? hope he's ok 
my mum is cabin crew for BA, and my sister for quantas. these 'operational reasons' can happen. don't tknow the exact reasons in
this case, and can take ages to explain, but long and short, my sister had to fly to australia as a passenger last month, just to work on the flight
back back. you might think they had someone in oz who could have done it, but then that person would be stuck here. i wouldn't fancy the job of
getting people in the right place!
________________________
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don't write OT on a new thread title, you're creating the topic, everything you write is very much ON topic!
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Fozzie
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| posted on 20/3/11 at 07:44 PM |
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Glad that you are all back safe and sound. Very pleased that your son is back too.
Stu and I have been thinking of you all out there......
One thing is for sure.....he wont (nor the rest of the Humbug family) ever forget his 21st.....
Welcome home
Fozzie
'Racing is Life!...anything before or after is just waiting'....Steve McQueen
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steve m
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| posted on 20/3/11 at 07:46 PM |
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I work as Crew controller for Virgin Atlantic, and i can not stress enough, that it is not a job i would choose to do again
Im 51 now, and have done this thankless task since i was 19 with Laker airways. i doubt at the current way of work practise, i will be alive at 55
It is a F******g nightmare
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