Good thing I double-checked my flight booking: I am actually going to Dublin by Ryanair tomorrow, not Easyjet as I had previously written. That is, if Ryanair’s cancellation of flights does not affect it. The prospect of getting up at 3:00am, taking a three hour bus ride, and waiting two hours in security for a flight that may not happen is not a delightful one.
Also, with regard to my friend who was able to get to Madrid after all: she is now stranded there, until her flight is re-scheduled.
On an unrelated transport matter, the pedal of my bike broke off while I was riding to college to print tutorial essays. I have a nasty little bruise where my leg slammed down onto the top bar of the frame, and it looks like it will be making another maintenance visit to Beeline Cycles. While they are very kind about fixing things under warranty, I rather wish they would hold together a bit better in the first place. So far, they have had to repair the handlebars, replace the entire gear and chain system, replace one pedal and the shaft it is on (before today), and straighten out my rear tire (which may have been my fault).
[Update: 4:30pm] My flight to Dublin is meant to leave at 10:00am. They say to be there three hours early for security and, given how many people are missing flights because they get held up amidst the x-ray scanners and metal detectors, I mean to be at Gatwick at 7:00am. The coach ride is meant to take two hours but, mindful of how two successive coaches broke down when last I went to London, I am banking for three. Catching the 4:00am bus would mean waking at 3:00am to shower and lug my suitcase to Gloucester Green. Since that is only an hour later than I would probably go to sleep anyhow, the sensible thing seems to be to restrict sleep tonight to a short nap, and adopt a tax on my vitality for the first couple of days I will be in Dublin.
All that said, I need go go buy some film (since my digicam is still off at the repair centre) and a copy of The Dubliners to read while in the city.
[Update: 12 October 2006] The pedal fell of my bike again – the same one as before. I need to take it to Beeline Cycles on Monday.
Sounds like your bike’s been in the wars a bit, but then you do use it a lot. I almost wish I’d got as much use out of mine, just to make use of the warranty – guess I’ve had it almost a year now though…
Ben,
I have definitely not been aggressive with the poor thing. I just use it to commute between my home, libraries, and other places in Oxford – with the occasional ride in the countryside.
I wasn’t suggesting you’d been rough with it, just use it a lot. I generally do a ten minute journey each way to town most week days, sometimes with shopping, and rarely any more.
Hope you enjoy the trip to Dublin, and don’t have any troubles at the airport.
Harsh words from Ryanair:
As a result of the BAA’s chronic inability to staff their Stansted security facilities, combined with nonsensical hand baggage restrictions, security queues are now stretching dramatically through the Stansted terminal paralysing the operation there.
Just Dubliners. Not The Dubliners.
Thanks. I couldn’t find a used copy anyhow, and seven quid for a paperback I am sure to encounter used the moment I stop looking seemed a bit steep.