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The Eyjafjallajokull edition
MrsM is pacing the empty corridors of the Department.
There are 15 academic staff stranded abroad;
they are experienced and resourceful travellers
but MrsM wants them all back. Safely.
1.
The Intrepid Research Assistant
was the first one home after driving overnight
from Denmark to Calais.
He emails to let me know that he is
'tired and dirty but safely home'.
2.
The Very Cultured Professor
has decided to visit Vancouver
while he waits for his rescheduled flight
'because I have never been there before'.
3.
The Professor of whom we spoke some time ago
has had a car accident in North Carolina
but fortunately is only shaken, not stirred.
4.
The Examinations Officer is stuck in Washington
and we confer on the phone to make sure
that the exam preparations are unaffected.
5.
The Expert on Hand Axes is in St.Louis
but it doesn't stop him from sending me emails
which make me laugh out loud.
6.
The Enthusiastic Academic
is in hot and humid Taiwan
about which she feels less than enthusiastic.
7.
The Expert on Fair Trade
has decided to wait it out in a beach hut.
She assures me this is the cheapest option.
8.
The Expert on Communication Technology
is in a very comfortable hotel in Finland.
Travelling overland is not an attractive alternative.
9.
The Head of Department is stranded in South Carolina
and his only consolation is the knowledge
that the Dean of Faculty is stranded in China.
10.
The Deputy Exams Officer says, gloomily,
'I hope they all get back
before the other volcano blows...'
11.
The Young Academic confirms his trip to Iceland
is still going ahead next week.
He assures me that you can fly in from the West.
I double check that he has travel insurance.
12.
The Vulcanologist from upstairs
is quivering with excitement;
Christmas has come unexpectedly early
if you are a Geologist.
MrsM is pacing the empty corridors of the Department.
There are 15 academic staff stranded abroad;
they are experienced and resourceful travellers
but MrsM wants them all back. Safely.
1.
The Intrepid Research Assistant
was the first one home after driving overnight
from Denmark to Calais.
He emails to let me know that he is
'tired and dirty but safely home'.
2.
The Very Cultured Professor
has decided to visit Vancouver
while he waits for his rescheduled flight
'because I have never been there before'.
3.
The Professor of whom we spoke some time ago
has had a car accident in North Carolina
but fortunately is only shaken, not stirred.
4.
The Examinations Officer is stuck in Washington
and we confer on the phone to make sure
that the exam preparations are unaffected.
5.
The Expert on Hand Axes is in St.Louis
but it doesn't stop him from sending me emails
which make me laugh out loud.
6.
The Enthusiastic Academic
is in hot and humid Taiwan
about which she feels less than enthusiastic.
7.
The Expert on Fair Trade
has decided to wait it out in a beach hut.
She assures me this is the cheapest option.
8.
The Expert on Communication Technology
is in a very comfortable hotel in Finland.
Travelling overland is not an attractive alternative.
9.
The Head of Department is stranded in South Carolina
and his only consolation is the knowledge
that the Dean of Faculty is stranded in China.
10.
The Deputy Exams Officer says, gloomily,
'I hope they all get back
before the other volcano blows...'
11.
The Young Academic confirms his trip to Iceland
is still going ahead next week.
He assures me that you can fly in from the West.
I double check that he has travel insurance.
12.
The Vulcanologist from upstairs
is quivering with excitement;
Christmas has come unexpectedly early
if you are a Geologist.
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Would it be churlish to say that living in West London, the last few days have been a blessedly peaceful interlude? A friend said to me this evening, this is what it must have been like in the 1950s ... Alas, the skies started thrumming again early this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteVulcanologist!!! Quivering with excitement!!!
ReplyDeleteLove it.
The expert on Communications Technology sounds decidedly like my husband, who tells me that he could probably get on an earlier flight if he stayed at the airport overnight, but he doesn't think it's an attractive option.
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a man who has not been the sole parent for weeks now. Next Thurdsay, they reckon....
hope you get all your fledgings back in the nest soon Mrs Magpie x
ReplyDeleteHow canyou not heart no. 12!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!
ReplyDeleteNumber seven sounds like she has it "sorted"!
ReplyDeleteThe whole saga praecised in 12 points.
ReplyDeleteThe paragraph about the Vulcanologist made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteThe Very Cultured Professor has exactly the right attitude to travel and would appear to be a person who counts their blessings and grabs opportunities as they arise however unexpected - not a bad outlook to have on life I feel.
I am waiting for VCP to delurk at any point. Must have a bit of time on his hands at present ...
ReplyDeleteAm I right in thinking the Deputy Exams Officer is the only person in the department who didn't fly off during Easter as is feeling miffed?
ReplyDeleteI must admit my thought were along the same line as Janes.....is there anyone left there?? :-)
ReplyDeletea beach hut? that sounds good to me too!
ReplyDeleteVery good indeed. Better than travelling 2000Km with three children in the back seat like I did.
sigh... a beach hut...
Are you the only person left in the department? I would have imagined a Vulcanologist was something to do with Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, my Small Grandson is obsessed by weather, at present. He is overjoyed seeing all the 'action' and I am sure he wishes he could witness some exciting 'weather' firsthand. He would also love to witness a tornado, though we try to convince him, he would not.
ReplyDeleteAlice once again you paint the most colourful and detailed of pictures with your well chosen words and my, oh my, yes, The Vulcanologist must be beside himself.
ReplyDeleteWow what a mess! Hope they all got on flight home when the pened up the air space the other day!
ReplyDeleteOh, how interesting!
ReplyDeleteFancy so many people in so many places! And stranded? How delicious!