Like many people here in DC, we have been experiencing the effects of the Eyjafjallajokoll eruption this week. Simon was unable to travel to the UK for a wedding last weekend, we have friends marooned in Madrid and others left high and dry in London. But there has been one unexpected upside to the volcano-induced airline inactivity: Simon's brother Mark, who had been learning to paraglide in Arizona, is stuck in the US and so has come to stay with us for a few days until he can get a flight home to Germany.
The British Embassy here in Washington have been doing their bit to try and help with some of the travel chaos. Extra staff have been sent out to try and tranquilise the tourists in Miami and Simon has gone off to do a stint at Dulles airport this evening. Goodness knows what he is expected to do - but in that yellow jacket I guarantee he will be asked where the nearest restrooms are by at least a dozen people.
The Foreign Office is clearly taking its lead from one of their Junior Ministers, who made an appearance on Radio 4's PM programme this afternoon. Chris Bryant was interviewed in Santander, Spain where he was helping stranded holiday-makers on to the buses which were waiting to transport them back to the UK. The wonderful little exchange went like this:
Incredulous BBC reporter: 'Bit of a good news story, Minister...'
Chris Bryant: 'Well, you know, people want to get home...[embarrassed laugh]...so, um...'.
Incredulous BBC reporter: 'You are literally helping, you are literally carrying their cases on to the bus'.
Chris Bryant: 'Uh, well..some of them have been waiting for days, and to be honest, I think every few seconds that helps to get them home [sound of suitcase sliding into bus] is worth doing...'.
That's the most positive election coverage I've heard for a government Minister in weeks. And it all sounded quite genuine too.
you always make me laugh Em!
lots of love to you all
xxx
Posted by: Katherine Whincop | May 04, 2010 at 08:51 AM