Volcano update

[innocent_lex]

Flights are still grounded in the UK, and across a lot of Europe.The news are reporting how many people can't travel, can't get to where they need to be, and maybe 5% of those stories are actually worth reporting. The ash cloud is expected to come back over the country and sit here for several more days, with no change of wind direction to take it away. Every so often outside tastes faintly of sulphur.

Still, it's a beautiful day. I'm going to do some shopping for things I need, and then probably sit outside with my laptop and notes and do some writing. No clouds (of the water-based variety) are expected above me today, so I think it's worth making the most of that.

Comments

[stop_thinking]

The skies are blue here too but, just as I noticed how much bluer the skies are in Australia than here, so I notice that today's blue is far murkier than usual for the UK. I assume this is the effect of the ash high above.

[lachli.livejournal.com]

yeah we've noticed the sky looks a little different this morning too.

[carlinjona.livejournal.com]

Is our sky that noticably bluer? It's probably that ruddy great hole in the ozone layer. But it is pretty. ;-)

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

That ruddy great hole was closed, I thought, or at least a lot smaller? Maybe I'm confused.

Yes, your sky (well, NZ sky - I haven't seen yours) is brighter and bluer and generally nicer to exist underneath, particularly when out of cities.

[stop_thinking]

Very noticeably bluer in both Oz and NZ. I think part of it, at least, is due to less pollution. Even the nicest blue that we get on certain sunny days is still more insipid than the blue of your skies.

[lachli.livejournal.com]

I am getting fed up of people whining about not going on holiday, I get their frustration and I sympathise, but there's only so much of it I want to hear on the news. I do have great sympathy though for those stuck abroad who can't get back, the time, cost and loss of wages could be very significant. My brother finally made it back from Holland at midday, think it took him nearly 24 hours by ferry and train and now he's got to drive for 4 hours, but he's just glad he could get back. Got another friend who has been trying to get back from Majorca with half a dozen relatives including young kids, they've just been told no chance until Friday!

Thought the sky here this morning looked a little redder, but I've washed the car so I'm hoping for no ash settling!

[dallista.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you get sick of my whining, unless you unfriend me you will continue to come across a lot about it.

[lachli.livejournal.com]

Not you muppet! The strangers that the news keep insisting on showing me ad nauseum who I have no interest in whatsoever. Unfortunately over here when they get a news story of some worth they go on and on and on about it and it gets very tiresome.

I'm not sick of your problems at all because I care about you :-)

[innocent-lex.livejournal.com]

I think the stories that matter more to get out there are the ones where people's livelihood is being impacted significantly. A large amount of our fresh food comes from various places in Africa, and while there's been efforts to improve the way that business works for the benefit of those who grow the food, apparently it's still very short term payments and this could have a massive impact on a lot of people's ability to feed themselves and their families.

Plus, I think today was the first time I heard any mention on the news as to how this was impacting people in Iceland. Y'know, the ones right next to the big, dangerous geothermal activity.

[carlinjona.livejournal.com]

It's fascinating to watch the effects ripple around the world. Down here, they were still sending planes off to get as far as Singapore or Bahrain but that stopped as all the hotels filled up. Now nothing is leaving for England or Europe. On the radio yesterday they were trying to find people to host stranded travellers. they've come to the end of their holidays and are facing possibly one or two more weeks before they can leave.

And it's all the cargo as well, fresh food spoiling... Apparently John Cleese hired a taxi and three drivers to take him from Oslo to the Chunnel. Bet that was a fun trip.

Hope it doesn't come down on you. That would be icky.