I'm Back!

[major_clanger]

...As has been alluded to in various posts by bugshaw, I am No Longer In Iraq. Thanks to bellinghman for picking me up; no thanks at all to Monarch Airlines for getting me back to Brize Norton three hours late because (amongst other thinks) the relief flight crew at Teeside Airport wasn't available on time, even though we arrived ninety minutes later than scheduled.

More soon. For now, sleep.

Comments

[ffutures.livejournal.com]

Welcome back!

[mkillingworth.livejournal.com]

Welcome home! We're all glad to see you back safe and sound. ;~)

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Welcome! Sleep well!

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

You still got to Henlow somewhat before we expected, though. Original plans had us getting there a half hour earlier, and then your tardiness was reported. If that's being late, what's being early?

Oh yes, sleep. Enjoy.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Well, in accordance with my recent work environment I assumed that there would be problems and delays so aimed to have a good couple of hours to spare. I needed them.

(The C-130 flight to Qatar was fine. We were then scheduled to have a six-hour wait whilst the plane went and got the rest of the passengers from Basrah, but it stretched to eight hours owing to the charter airliner being late in. So we left Qatar late, and got to Teeside two hours late, despite which the relief crew - for a 40-minute hop to Brize Norton! - weren't ready. By the time they were, Brize had fogged in. When it cleared, we flew done and disembarked, only to be kept waiting because of some issue with unloading bags. At least the drive back to Henlow was nice and quick.)

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Not a bad idea, of course, allowing contingency.

If you'd made all those connections OK, hmm, instead of 15:30, it'd have been 12:30, perhaps.

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Glad you're back safely.

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! Have some ticker tape...

[frandowdsofa.livejournal.com]

Welcome home!

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Better late than never, say I. Welcome back, and enjoy the sensation of not having to carry your helmet and body armour whenever you step outside.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Come on, have you been up Mill Road lately? :-)

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with Mill Road, lad.

(Says the ex-resident of Red Romsey.)

[nmg.livejournal.com]

Exactly my thoughts. Admittedly, it's been a decade since I lived on Mill Road, but it was less threatening than several areas of Southampton, including several that I've lived in.

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

Same here. And the trend back then was gentrification, not one that I've seen reversed on my (admittedly occasional) trips back.

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

Ok, Ok! I should have chosen my local geography more carefully. There is indeed little if anything dodgy about Mill Road, or most parts of Cambridge (although the town centre can be a bit iffy late in the evening, but that is true of most places and indeed Cambridge is probably better than many towns in this respect).

[bellinghman.livejournal.com]

See. Bloody westerners. Get a hundred yards out of Romsey and they think they're so fashionable, that Mill Road's so beneath them. Hrmph!

On the other hand, if you had mentioned that it was the cyclists you were worried about, we'd have agreed.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

My brother works in the vicinity. Walking to the station, he looks something like an Irish navvy. The way rumours spread around a university town, he's probably to riots they have.

He says Cambridge folk are a bit soft, but nothing like as bad as Oxford.

[aardvark179.livejournal.com]

Don't get me started on the cyclist. The ones who go across Midsummer common at night without any lights are probably my least favourite. Grrr.

Oh and welcome back major_clanger.

[fjm.livejournal.com]

Welcome home! See you at Picocon?

[major-clanger.livejournal.com]

I should be there, yes. I had to miss the last one due to Family Health Emergencies, so I am especially keen to get along.

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

Welcome home!!!!

I think you need an 'over here' Clanger now!

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Glad you're home safely!

[calatrice.livejournal.com]

Welcome home!

[cobrabay.livejournal.com]

Welcome back!

[ceb.livejournal.com]

Hooray :-)

[maviscruet.livejournal.com]

Welcome back, and very well done on the whole "not dieing front".

Glad your back

[(Anonymous)]

You'll have to come round to the new place and see us at some point.