Tuesday 20 April 2010

Breaking news - we're still here!

After being due to fly home last Friday we are still here in sunny Tenerife. Although it's now raining.

Although unexpected and very frustrating we are trying to make the best of it and treat it as an extension to our holiday.

The atmosphere here has changed dramatically. A week ago we only knew the names of our neighbours (who own their apartment so are here part of the year) and another family whose daughter Isabella has befriended.

Now we know everyone round the pool, their circumstances, family, occupations, medications. It's created a close community vibe with people offering us the use of their washing machines, lifts in their cars, use of their ovens and drinks on their patios. A few days ago when Isabella was ill a couple knocked on our door bearing calpol for her as they'd been told she was unwell and others offered to drive us to the airport pharmacy or doctors.

Monarch have been pretty appalling and we still haven't managed to contact them by phone. A lucky few people have now secured flights to spain via their airlines with a connecting coach transfer back to the UK. We're out here with my parents, brother and sister who are all being really positive about the delay but we're all just wanting to be home now.

It's my brother's 16th birthday today, we have no presents or cards for him so I'm off now to cadge a life to the supermarket to get him a cake and we're going for tapas tonight to celebrate.

6 comments:

  1. Fingers crossed you can get back soon, keep hearing of all these contingency plans that the UK government are putting in place to get people home but none seem to be materialising yet.

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  2. hope you manage to get home soon hun so nice everyone is rallying round helping.

    Just been reading through your old blogs and saw the barkindo one!!! xxx

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  3. ((hugs)) lovely, hope you can get home soon x x x Happy Birthday to your brother x x x x

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  4. Have a good night celebrating your brothers 16th!! You'll be home soon!! D x

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  5. Hope you're home soon!

    I read somewhere that European airlines with passengers stranded in Europe had a legal obligation to pay for accommodation and food for those stranded by the volcanic ash.

    I'm sure you know that though.

    ((Hugs)) ans Happy 16th to your little brother!

    xxxx

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  6. just seen this, would of paid the airline to keep you got there if i had known you would of been home so soon ;)

    we missed you arsewipex

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