Eventually. Flight out of Martinique delayed slightly (didn't matter as I had a long wait at Paris Orly anyway). Flight out of Paris taxied out, made strange whirring and clanking noises, taxied back for mechanics to poke with screwdrivers and hit with hammers, eventually cancelled so back into the airport. Rebooked on next flight, which is also delayed several times before being cancelled due to "mechanical difficulties". Rebooked on even later flight, which is also delayed but does eventually leave.
Catch DLR into London, miss change due to being confused where it is, then on spur of the moment take route from Bank involving two changes rather than one (despite heavy bag) thus miraculously taking the only tube lines which weren't suffering serious delays.
Naturally the railways have to make up for this. Hop on first fast train towards Oxford (already late to depart), eventually discover that we're going nowhere due to signalling problems, and later still the train is cancelled. Scoot across to earliest non-cancelled fast train for some more waiting. Eventually advised to go and find another train, then immediately told to get back on again for immediate departure (but with more delays to come as there's only temporary signalling in place).
Eventually get back to Oxford at around 00:20, but at least the night busses are still running - and on time at that. Total journey time: 25 hours, at least six more than expected. Most amusing aspect: none of the delays were caused by the snow and ice which usually bring the country to a stand-still...
ETA: It looks like I've got about 550 posts to catch up on, but first I've got 9 TV episodes to watch...
February 12 2007, 21:55:00 UTC 14 years ago
I hope you got the miles for all of it, anyway!
February 12 2007, 23:05:19 UTC 14 years ago
Alas, I'm not quite organised enough to have managed that, although it's certainly likely that I'll be flying out that way again. Still, hopefully by then the TUI group will have finished consolidating and I'll be able to take advantage of their cheap flights (Corsair were, alas, doing one of those annoying "you can only book if you live in the country where your flight originates" things).