Chevyman

Spring will be good
Talking dosh.........how's the new job?

"Don't interrupt Pike or you'll be sent home!"

MB

It was just for the Christmas season. But I had to stop early because my daughter was unhappy with the childcare.

batman

It is estimated that the new runway will create 50,000 new jobs and around 20,000 more permanent jobs via a regeneration of the local economy once the project has been completed. Heathrow is falling way behind the other major airports of the world in terms of it's capabilities and business. In the current economic climate anything that helps to create jobs and boost the economy is welcome IMHO.

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

MB

It is a huge consideration, but at what cost? This argument was also used by supporters of the nuclear industry. Giving people jobs that could be detrimental to all our future.

ttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jan/14/aviation-jobs-heathrow-baa

This is interesting – including the point:

The biggest lie is that a third runway is about something called "the business economy". The BAA lobby has conned the CBI, London First and even the unions into believing this, fobbing them off with a factoid that the runway would "create 50,000 jobs". So would rebuilding Britain's mental health infrastructure, which would thus also be "good for business".

It is also worrying from an air safety point of view – the configuration in safety terms means that two of the runways at any given time will have aircraft either landing or taking off at the same time which means that you have aircraft flying in close proximity to each other at critical stages of flight.

We need to reduce flight - not increase it.

Chevyman

I've been hearing about this guy today. What a reluctant hero?

New York fetes pilot who landed jet on river | World | Reuters

Someone described him, shortly after he'd been brought to safety, as looking like David Niven quietly sipping a coffee.

A water landing like that was one hell of a feat

"Don't interrupt Pike or you'll be sent home!"

Mark O

It sure was Chevyman!..........I'm full of admiration for the Pilot, as the Plane was about to hit the water he tilted the Cockpit upwards so the fuselage wouldn't break up, and everyone was thankfully saved

I hope he is the first person to recieve a Bravery award fom President Obama

Mark

Mark O

Again I take your point MB, thing is if say 'cheap' flights were banned all it would do is reserve the airways for the rich, same with road pricing, it's a social apartheid, and we're supposed to have a Government that believes in 'equality' for all

I've just read that London Mayor Boris Johnson wants a brand new Airport built on the River Thames Estuary, yeah right, talk about NIMBYism!

Boris is more than likely unaware that plans for a new Airport have been mooted within the past decade at Cliffe on the North Kent Marshes which is quite unthinkable as it's one of the last 'wildernesses' left in the south-east, all sorts of different wildlife, fauna, etc; thrive there, even Clarissa Dickson-Wright and her Countryman had one of their episodes filmed there, but partly due to the lobbying efforts of we Estuary dwellers and some (but not all) local MP's the plans were scuppered.

I've also read that a future Tory Government wil scrap the extra runway, though I don't see 'Eco-warriors', etc; as traditional Tory voters at all! (though part of methinks not many of them would be on any Electoral register!)

Whatever the rights and wrongs I've nothing against peaceful protest as long as it remains peaceful and with Summer on the horizon no families with young children are forced to miss their flights

Mark

batman

I have had a shite day so far. I had to get up very early and then drive 20m to work. About 1m from where I turn off the Ipswich road there is a barricade whch says 'Road Ahead Closed'. No warning anywhere prior to that. So I had to turn round and head back about 4m to the next appropriate turning. When I got there I had to ask direction of how to get to my destination (I don't know this neck of the woods very well). A very nice chap gave me directions and about 45mins later I am in the middle of nowhere without a clue where I ma and how to get to work. I travelled between deepest Norfolk and Suffolk for about another 45mins before I found someone to ask further directions. He was obliging but didn't realise that the road he told me to use was flooded and barricaded off. I was now 50mins late for work, I had no mobile phone with me so I had to stop at a garage to ask furtherdirections and to phone Mrs Bat who rang work to tell them I'd be (very) late. The bloke in the garage hadn't got a clue about the place I was trying to get to so off I went again. I eventually decided to head back to Norwich on the A11. Got to Norwich 12m later and was stuck in works traffic. I managed to get back to the Ipswich Road and made my way back to where the debacle had started. This time I met another very nice chap who gave me excellent directions and I eventually made it to work 2hrs late! The night nurse who waited for me was very good about and I was able to swap a shift with her so she was OK. I then discovered that the next 4 weekly batch of medication hadn't arrived from the pharmacists so I was in a drug free zone. Not good! 3hrs of manic phone calling (pharmacy suppliers do not like being disturbed on Saturdays) and arse licking later and the drugs arrived. Because of all this I missed a very nice toad-in-the hole lunch. I now have to wade through bucketloads of medication, do the related paperwork and organise a trip out for the patients. Deep joy!

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

suzepulcheria

What might be called a Clark Kent day, Bats. And I thought I was unlucky, having cancelled meeting friends all weekend in order to work. But at least I am working at home.

Well we love you, anyway.

suze

"I've come a long way you know!" "Equally long way to go back..."

Marky B

He is one hell of a guy. No doubt a film version will be on the horizon with Tom Hanks playing the pilot.
Ta Ta
Marky B

I am special. The heavens always open for me.

Chevyman

Sorry about your day bats. Didn't anyone tell the Highways Agency that the Germans are no longer expected?

Journeys like that make you think that someone, somewhere gets a perverse thrill out of organising bad signage?

Sounds like you have a good team at work though

"Don't interrupt Pike or you'll be sent home!"

batman

Cheers .... they are a good bunch. Now all I have got to do is negotiate the journey home!

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

Chevyman

Erm..........follow the way you came?

I'll get my coat...........................................

"Don't interrupt Pike or you'll be sent home!"

batman

Give us a lift!

"Aha Mr Aubergine ... that's where you're wrong!"

Mark O

Hope you get home okay Bats.......day off tomorrow?

You deserve a stiff drink after the trying day you've had........cheers!

Mark