Bangkok

This was a trip i picked up after being on standby , we flew out to Bangkok and had 48 hours there and then flew to Sydney for 36 hours then, supposedly, back to Bangkok, however, two hours before landing into Bangkok we were informed we were diverting to Singapore as there had been riots in, and around the airport which deemed it completely unsafe for us and our passengers.
After landing in Singapore the Qantas flight to London had been held back and our First and Business class passengers were immediately transferred to that flight, the World Traveller ( economy) and World Traveller Plus ( just a little better than economy) were de-planed and taxied to a range of hotels in Singapore.
We went to our normal hotel, our flight crew had 12 hours rest and flew the 747 home empty, we have to have 2 nights as our industrial agreement states,then we are positioning as passengers back home to London.
We usually get Business class when we are on duty travel but as these are extreme circumstances it think things may not pan out that way and i could be chewing my kneecaps for 13 hours.
I will post the outcome of this flight once i get back to good old blighty!!

QRS Sofitel Heathrow Airport

QRS or Quick Response is something i get rostered about twice a year, it is a dreaded duty to see on your roster as it takes over such a long period of time that you can make no plans.
Day One....check in at LHR pick up the works allocated mobile phone and check into the Sofitel joined onto terminal 5 at heathrow, this duty is 0700-1500 so an early start leaving home at 0530.
I was not used on day one so i left some items in hotel as we keep the same room and i went home to my own bed.

Day Two...i left home at 1200, i did not re-start my standby until 1500 but i thought i could have a relaxing bath in my room and chill out..at 2300 i was still here so stayed in hotel as the following day is the same again but starting at 1100.

Day Three...found an orange in my bag and made myself a cup of tes, the milk is in a plastic tube...yuk!! standby today starts at 1100-1900 then if i do not get used i will check on and start another standby tomorrow but with a 24hour call out period.,..this now is 45minute call out....so you have to be ready to go.

Hotel is new and very modern, minimalistic but very comfortable. Photos below!!!

The New Car

Dad had a current change of heart about his new car, i think the main reason was because the Nissan Quasqai did not fit into the garage, he has also always been loyal to Toyota so went to see the Avensis and decided it was too good a deal to turn down, so their new car is now at it's new home, a sad day for Carina ( the old Toyota) that after 156,000 miles and still going strong she would probably be sold for about £400 or scrapped....i think mam will have had a tear when she left her on the garage forecourt, but she was tired and old and now they have a new baby to drive. I suppose that fact that i bought it for them is a huge pleasure in itself for me, to be able to do that made me feel proud that i can,at least look after my parents.
MY nephew Christopher is now texting me and i will be sending him a card and gift for Christmas, No one else will get anything as it is not agreed and i am not strong enough to have my gifts returned like last time, it was too hurtful, too nasty and mean!!!!
Christopher has turned into a fine young man, he is polite and the fact he smokes is neither here or there, he has, and probably is mixing with the wrong people and maybe some guidance at an earlier age may have helped but i am proud of him as a human being and the fact he is my nephew.

Aerotoxic syndrome

After posting a forum on my depression i received a reply which was really interesting, i was unaware that some of fumes and toxins are bled back into an aircraft cabin via the air conditioning system, very scary if you ask me and something the airlines are covering up.

Reply:-
You are really brave to bring this subject up and I admire you. "loss of patience and easily irritated" sounds very like the symptoms of emotional volatility that is just one of the nasty effects of Aerotoxic Syndrome. I have a really good handout on how to cope and how to get your loved ones to realise you are suffering even tho you look normal. It's been written by a pilot who suffers from Aerotoxic Syndrome and it's very helpful. I know depression can be caused by many things but one of the main causes is a chemical imbalance in the brain - and we are inhaling toxic chemicals that affect our brains on a regular basis.
I have a Government advice paper on exposure to organophosphates and it says this causes " depression with suicide intent." This is one of the reasons I have been fighting for clean air for several months now - the CAA should be protecting our health but it isn't. I do hope you feel better soon, if you contact the Aerotoxic Association at http://www.aerotoxic.org or Sue at toxic free airlines http://www.toxicfreeairlines.com you will get practical,confidential, caring help from people who really do know how you feel.
People who are affected by Aerotoxic Syndrome will find they become sensitive to chemicals in food and drink so be careful of alcohol, caffeine, sugar, salt, MSG etc a spicy meal can make you an emotional wreck the next day.

American Historic Elections 4th November 2008

This is a truely historic day for America, the first Black President in history, 43 years after they were first allowed to vote.
I this Obama is ambitious, driven, hard working and an obvious family man, i would happily accept him as the Prime Minister of UK, he would be far better than the useless people who are now running this country.

I wish him good luck in his new position, things will not be easy with the credit crunch and the huge black cloud which is hanging over the world but i am sure things will get better.


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