We learnt all about fog last week, and the impact fog can have on flights. We weren't the only ones, most of the flights to the South East of England (and Amsterdam) were delayed by the fog.
We arrived a the airport, went straight through to the departure area to wait, and noticed that the flight to Amsterdam was delayed. The kids played, and we caught up with social media & emails as one does these days. Ah, the bliss we felt, not knowing how much the fog was going to distrupt our best laid plans.
Our flight was called, and we all trooped off through passport control and into the departure gate to wait for boarding. We waited a bit more, and a little while longer before being told that there was a 3 hour delay due to fog at Gatwick. Had that happened in the UK, I think the reaction of the passengers would have been different. We politely listened to the rest of the announcement, and Norwegian Air offered us all meal vouchers - could you imagine one of the other budget airlines voluntarily offering meal vouchers? (Turned out to be about £35 worth of meal vouchers too!)
Now, the flight normally leaves at 6pm and arrives at 7.30pm and there are usually lots of children on the flight home. This time was no exception, so after some food, Jim put a DVD on the laptop and got all the kids to watch. Other parents shared snacks and the atmosphere was actually quite relaxed - the kids were happy and occupied.
Eventually the flight was called and we departed at 10pm. To be honest the flight was actually really smooth, apart from the landing where we literally came out of the fog and landed with a bit of a bump. With no hold bags, we were through passport control and customs and back at the van by midnight with minimal pushing and shoving to get on the bus to the car park; I have sharp little elbows!
Now, I was due back at work at 9am Monday morning, but Jim had the day off work, so the deal was he would sleep on the flight; I would sleep on the drive home. Thanks to the fog, I was required to stay awake (eventfully permitted to have 3 x 20 minute naps, 1 on the m4, 1 on the m5 and the last one on the link road back to foggy North Devon. Although the last nap might have been a little bit longer than the regulation 20 minutes......) The kids were brilliant and slept all the way home, woke briefly to be put into bed and slept until 7.30. Jim and I finally fell into bed at 4.30 before getting up at 7.
And you know what? We all made it to school, nursery and work on time, dressed and with everything we should have had.
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