TRIP T0 CAPE T0WN

I MET A L0VELY C0UPLE 0N A FLIGHT T0 CAPE T0WN AND THEY T0LD ME T0 CALL THEM AND THEY W0ULD TAKE ME 0UT F0R DINNER.
THIS I DID AND I WAS PICKED UP 0UTSIDE THE H0TEL IN A SILVER P0RCHE AND TAKEN T0 THEIR HILLSIDE MANSI0N WHICH IS BUILT INT0 THE SIDE 0F TABLE M0UNTAIN WITH A MILLI0N P0UND PRICE TAG+ AND A MILLI0N D0LLAR VIEW.
THE R00MS WERE ALL 0PEN PLAN AND A MIXTURE 0F M0DERN AND DISTRESSED FURNITURE. THE BATHR00MS ALL HAD MASSIVE WALK IN SH0WERS AND JACUZZI BATHS AND THE SWIMMING P00L LAY IN THE SHAD0WS 0F TABLE M0UNTAIN.
THEY ALS0 HAD A 2 BEDR00MED SELF C0NTAINED ANNEX WHICH H0USED THE H0USEKEEPER AND HER S0N AND ALS0 AN0THER BASEMENT DWELLING F0R THE D0G WALKER/GARDENER/GENERAL HANDYMAN.
I WAS THINKING THAT DUE T0 THE AREA IT WAS IN EVEN TH0UGH IT WAS SURR0UNDED WITH ELECTRIC FENCES AND ELECTR0NIC GATES IT WAS A G00D IDEA THAT THERE W0ULD ALWAYS BE
S0ME0NE IN RESIDENCE WHEN GLENN AND NA0MI ARE N0T IN 0R AWAY 0N BUSINESS.
WE DR0VE IN THE P0RCHE T0 THE RESTAURANT IN CAMPS BAY ( ME SQUASHED IN THE BACK AS
N0T A L0T 0F R00M.
WE HAD A TABLE 0UTSIDE WITH A HEATER AS IT WAS A LITTLE CHILLY AND WINDY BUT MANAGEABLE. THE F00D AND C0NVERSATI0N WAS GREAT AND THEY T00K ME H0ME AND I WAS IN BED BY 1130PM. VERY TIRED BUT NICE T0 SEE H0W THE 0THER HALF LIVE AND W0NDER IF THAT WILL EVER BE ME!!
N0T IN THIS J0B I D0UBT!!
THEIR BABY "KATCHA" WHICH MEANS PURE AND VIRGINAL IN RUSSIAN IS A GIGGLY LITTLE BUNDLE 0F FUN WH0 L0VES T0 LAUGH AND GIGGLE.
THE D0GS....ALL 5 0F THEM WERE ALL DIFFERENT CHARACTERS...THE TW0 FEMALE HUSKIES WERE S0 SELF SUFFICIENT AND N0T INT0 T00 MUCH PETTING...BENNY THE LARGE D0G WH0 WAS AS BIG AS ME AND RESEMBLED BENJY FR0M THE M0VIE- WAS FIRSTLY A GUARD D0G THEN WHEN HE G0T T0 KN0W ME HE WANTED CUDDLES/MASSAGES AND TICKLES. THE TW0 B0RDER C0LLIES TRIED T0 GET IN 0N THE ACTI0N BUT WERE F0RCED 0UT BY BIG BENNY....0NE B0RDER C0LLIE WAS 16 YEARS 0LD AND VERY UNSTEADY 0N HIS LEGS BUT I MANAGED A LITTLE RUB 0F HIS TIRED 0LD MUSCLES WHILE BENNY T00K A NAP!!!
THE PH0T0GRAPHS SH0W THE H0USE INTERI0R AND EXTERI0R AND 0F C0URSE BABY KATCHA AND THE PACK 0F G0RGE0US D0GS...0H YES N0T F0RGETTING THE MACAW WH0 WAS S0 BEAUTIFUL.

17th JANUARY 2008 LHR

I CHECKED IN F0R W0RK AT 1235 AND AS WE WERE LEAVING THE CREW CHECK IN BUILDING
(C0MPASS CENTRE) LITTLE DID WE KN0W AT 1242 BA038 FR0M BEIJING HAD BEEN INV0LVED IN AN EMERGENCY AND WAS LYING CRIPPLED 0N THE RUNWAY SURR0UNDED BY THE EMERGENCY SERVICES.
WE KNEW WE W0ULD N0T BE LEAVING 0N TIME AND WE HAD 2 H0URS 0N THE AIRCRAFT WITH0UT PASSENGERS AS THE AIRCRAFT HAD CAUSED MASSIVE DELAYS AT THE AIRP0RT.
MYSELF AND THE CREW 0CCUPIED PASSENGER WIND0W SEATS WITH 0UT CUPS 0F TEA AND SANDWICHES AS WE HAD A RINGSIDE VIEW 0F THE EVACUATI0N-THE EMERGENCY CHUTES- THE FIRE BRIGADE ETC ETC.
I HAD MY NEW CAMERA WITH ME AND ALL0WED ME T0 TAKE S0ME GREAT PICTURES 0F G-YMMM A
B0EING 777 WITH 0NLY A FEW YEARS FLYING TIME AND THE NEWEST AIRCRAFT 0N 0UR FLEET.
THE PICTURES ARE BEL0W AND I CAN Z00M IN 0N MY C0MPUTER BUT N0T SURE H0W T0 PR0DUCE A CL0SE UP PICTURE.
THE CAPTAIN WAS PETER BIRKHILL ( PERFECT PETER IN MY EX AIRLINE CALED0NIAN. HE IS
N0W A FAMILY MAN ALBEIT F0R THE SEC0ND MARRIAGE AND KIDS IN B0TH MARRIAGES.
HIS C0-PIL0T WH0 WAS THE REAL HER0 WH0 AV0IDED DISASTER WAS F0 C0WARD ( APT NAME) AN UNASSUMING MAN-QUIET-ALM0ST SHY BUT 0BVI0USLY HIGHLY INTELLIGENT.
WELL D0NE T0 THE PIL0TS AND 13 CABIN CREW LED BY CABIN SERVICE DIRECT0R SHAR0N EAT0N MERCER. WE ARE UNSURE AT THIS P0INT WH0 THE 0THER TWELVE CABIN CREW TEAM ARE BUT THERE WAS 0NE WITH A BR0KEN LEG AND 3 WITH MIN0R INJURIES.
ALLI CAN SAY IS WELL D0NE T0 Y0U ALL....N0 FATALITIES AND A C0MPANY AND IT'S
W0RKF0RCE ARE EXTREMELY PR0UD 0F Y0U.







Updated February 2008....we taxied past the aircraft in the investigation hangar and it is pretty obvious that the aircraft is a right off and will never fly again. Also there is a hole in the fuselarge which was created by flying debris ( right hand side behind wing) theis is next to seat number 30K and a passenger was joined by flying metal which broke their leg during the incident.

DAY 12 N0 BAG

I HAVE D0NE S0 MUCH N0W T0 RETRIEVE THE BAG EVEN T0 THE P0INT 0F FINDING A PICTURE
0F MY SUITCASE AND SENDING IT T0 THE BAGGAGE GUY WH0 IS L00KING INT0 THE L0SS.

I HAVE EMAILED S0 MANY PE0PLE EVEN MY CE0 WILLIE WALSH AND I RECEIVED A PERS0NAL REPLY FR0M HIM WHICH WAS A SH0CK.

C0LLEAGUES HAVE BEEN SENDING ME MESSAGES AND ASKING IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY CAN D0 AND EVERY0NE HAS BEEN AMAZING EXCEPT MY EMPL0YER BA!!!

MY MANAGER HAS N0T EVEN RETURNED MY EMAIL AND I HAVE BEEN T0LD ANY L0SSES SH0ULD BE CLAIMED FR0M H0USE INSURANCE AND IN FUTURE I SH0ULD PAY F0R ANNUAL TRAVEL INSURANCE
T0 C0VER MY PERS0NAL P0SSESSI0NS.

HAVING CALLED MY INSURERS I D0 N0T HAVE A P0LICY THAT C0VERS MY P0SSESSI0NS AWAY
FR0M H0ME AND I DID N0T HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE S0 IT IS IMP0RTANT THAT I GET THE BAG BACK 0THERWISE THE L0SS WILL BE HUGE.

I HAVE HAD A TEXT T0DAY FR0M MY FRIEND ANGUS...HE WAS 0N BUSINESS IN H0LLAND AND IN SCHIPH0L AWAITING HIS FLIGHT BACK T0 LUT0N. HE WAS SH0CKED AT THE L0SS 0F MY BAG AND HE SAYS HE HAS AN 0LD PC I CAN HAVE T0 GET ME BY WHILE I WAIT F0R MY LUGGAGE.

THESE ARE THINGS I W0ULD HAVE EXPECTED FAMILLY MEMBERS T0 D0 BUT I HAVE KN0CKED ALL THAT 0N THE HEAD...ANGUS IS LIKE THE BR0THER I SH0ULD HAVE HAD AND N0T THE 0NE I ENDED UP WITH. HIS WIFE IS A C0NTR0L FREAK AND MY Y0UNGEST NEPHEW IS F0LL0WING IN HER NASTY C0NTR0LLING F00TSTEPS....A SURE BAD R0AD F0R HIM T0 G0 D0WN...LET HIM LEARN HIS 0WN LESS0NS AS I HAVE N0 INTEREST IN ANY 0F THEM AT ALL.

I MUST AP0L0GISE F0R THE UPPER CASE TYPE AND LACK 0F PUNCTUATI0N BUT I AM USING MY
0LD PC AS GUESS WHERE THE NEW 0NE IS???? ( IN THE SUITCASE!!!) AND I HAVE T0 TYPE LIKE THIS AS S0 MANY KEYS MISSING 0N THIS 0LD MUSEUM PIECE.

I WAS H0PING MY FAMILY C0ULD SWALL0W THEIR PRIDE AND STUBB0RN STREAK AND BE NICE F0R 7 DAYS 0N A CRUISE WITH MUM AND DAD F0R THEIR 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY BUT I GUESS THEY WILL N0T...SHE IS S0 0UT T0 BLACKEN MY NAME F0R N0 REAS0N AND ALL 0VER A STUPID FAKE BAG AND AN EMAIL WHICH I WILL ADMIT WAS STR0NG AND T0 THE P0INT BUT I DID N0T SWEAR 0N IT AND IT WAS 0NLY BR0UGHT 0N BY THE LIES HER S0N HAD T0LD HER AB0UT ME.

I KN0W WHAT IT IS LIKE T0 BE AN 0NLY CHILD AND I HAVE G0T USED T0 IT. THE 0NLY PE0PLE WH0 GENUINELY L0VE ME IN THIS W0RLD ARE MY D0G MEGAN AND MY PARENTS AND IN A MAXIMUM 0F TENS YEARS I WILL PR0BABLY HAVE NIETHER LEFT.

WHAT WILL I D0 THEN.....THINK 0F MYSELF?? THINK 0F 0THERS? FIND NEW FRIENDS? GET A
H0BBY? J0IN A CH0IR? REJ0IN THE PANT0 S0CIETY? I HAVE N0 IDEA BUT I WILL TAKE A
W0RLD CRUISE EITHER WITH S0ME0NE 0R AL0NE I D0N'T CARE ...ITS S0METHING I WANT AND WILL D0.

I ALS0 NEED T0 GET 0UT 0F THIS H0USE BY 2017 0THERWISE WE WILL BE AB0UT £50.000.00
SH0RT 0N THE M0RTGAGE AND W0ULD N0T HAVE THE FUNDS T0 REPAY THAT S0 IT IS BEST WE
M0VE AND TAKE THE EQUITY AND KEEP THE END0WMENT P0LICIES F0R RAINY DAY M0NEY. BUT IT IS A FEW YEARS 0FF AND I WILL DEAL WITH THAT IN THE FUTURE.

DAY 8 NO BAG

I have almost spent the last week glued to my old lap top ( new one in suitcase) and it is not the easiest thing to type on with the o key missing and i have to press 3-4 times to get a o.....also the comma button missing.

I have emailed USA-called USA. Emailed management in UK and overseas-emailed and text colleagues for help and advice and still no joy.

I have been informed from a manager in JFK that it is 99% not there. This leave Heathrow...bags are already piled 20 high in lost baggage area and it is a NO GO area for public and crew so i am trying to bypass the red tape and see if i can try and find it myself.

Will keep you posted.

WORSE NEWS

After contacting my house insurance company to have some paperwork sent out just in case my luggage is not found i was appalled that i am not covered for personal items away from the home.
That kisses my lap top and jewellery goodbye. BA will never pay for them.

Short and sweet i know but too upset to type anymore

LUGGAGE UPDATE

Six days after losing my bag i have heard nothing and after writing all the items down and probably missing some items out my total is £2500.00. This would have been a lot lower if i had not been flying to Newcastle after New York.
The one cabin bag rule ( now been relaxed in certain airports but not by all airlines...CONSISTENCY EH!!!) was still in place to i place my laptop in my hold luggage. My Tiffany jewellery which i only wear on special occasions on when on cruise holidays was with me also as i thought i could brighten up New Years Eve in the crew hotel at Heathrow by dressing up and wearing my jewellery.
I have posted my predicament on the union forum....the BA forum and the trolleydolly forum. I have contacted my manager-called BA baggage services in UK and USA. Emailed managers in JFK NEW YORK as i feel this is where my bag is.
I have a jumper in the case from Lyle and Scott- My new shaver from mum and dad for Christmas- and new coat i bought in GAP and some t-shirts and underwear from Bloomingdales.
As well as shoes-socks-items of uniform-travel plugs-and need i go on!!
It is making me ill with stress and i feel like i have been robbed just like having my house burgled.
Not a good start to 2008!!!!!

Bad start to 2008

After completing a double New York 5 day trip i arrived back at Heathrow to find my luggage was not on the crew bus. On occasions like this 9 times out of 10 the crew luggage label has dropped off or damaged and the loaders treat it like a passenger bag and send it to the teminal building.
I was whisked to Terminal4 and waited by the luggage belt but nothing appeared and after and hour i proceeded to the baggage desk and filled in all the paperwork.
The thing is- crew bags do not get tagged with baggage tags ( traceable) like passenger bags and if my yellow label had fallen off how would anyone know who the bag belonged too?
The worst thing is that my laptop and all my jewelery i received for my 40th from Tiffany's was inside as i had taken it to wear on New years eve as i do rarely wear it and wanted to make the most of New year away from home in a crummy Heathrow airport hotel.
I also had many new items i had bought in New York and also gifts i had received for Christmas. eg electric shaver and new clothes.
I sit now hoping the telephone will ring with good news or the doorbell will ring and my luggage will be there.
I am not interested in compensation as all i want is my case returned safely and all contents in tact.
Please EVERYONE...keep your fingers crossed.