Chute to Munich

Weatherwise it was lousy today. Rain, rain and more rain plus cool temperatures. Healthwise it was better, no fits for the second day running. A letter arrived this morning confirming an appointment at the Leicester Royal neurological department with a doctor I have never heard of for the 31st July..... The 31st July. A quick phone call confirmed it was not a sick joke (excuse the pun), but a few minutes later I received a phone call offering an appointment with a neurological nurse for Friday of this week, which was gratefully accepted. However, my joy was short lived as within half an hour another phone call confirmed this appointment would have to be cancelled. After a bit of pitiful pleading it was confirmed Mr Critchley, my private consultant, wished to see me at the earliest opportunity in his NHS role, and I would soon receive an appointment. A quick email was sent to Mr Critchley's secretary querying if he had already sent a fax to my GP outlining the drug change and process necessary to achieve it, as promised. My GP, in turn, has promised to issue a prescription for the new drug immediately the fax is received to allow for the change at the earliest opportunity. Ho-Hum. Booze-up and brewery spring to mind. In the meantime we decided to inspect the Shobnall Marina in Burton Upon Trent as a possible alternative mooring for Stensen. We again confirmed it is a pleasant place and has a very friendly and helpful owner, as apposed to our current nice marina and.......you know the rest. Unfortunately the journey there and back is considerably longer, both in mileage and time. We both agreed this disadvantage balanced the advantages and so we agreed to maintain the status-quo, at least until my drug change is successfully completed. In the meantime we may need to buy a bulk supply of Scentoff, the dog-repellant powder. Remaining on the subject of dodgy flights, this hijack incident is worth relating. The previously mentioned incidents were both on package holiday flights. Today's involves a scheduled British Airways 747 Jumbo flight to Malaysia. Having taken off from Heathrow and sat through the usual emergency procedure demonstrations we settled down to enjoy our peanuts and soft drinks until the captain announced we were making an unscheduled stop at Munich, but there was nothing to worry about (the worst thing to say). The steward then announced we would need to evacuate the plane via the escape chutes as quickly as possible,having put on our coats, taken off our shoes and secured all loose items in one bag. Larger items and duty free drinks to be left on board. The air hostesses indicated the order of evacuation and which doors to use. In pitch blackness we landed to be greeted by a large number of police and fire vehicles. Once the plane halted the chutes were released and everyone left without any panic. Buses transported us all to the airport terminal, which was locked and in darkness, where we sat for over two hours without access to food or drink, whilst our luggage was removed from the plane to the tarmac. We were all reunited with our shoes. BA staff explained a message had been left in lipstick on one of the toilet mirrors demanding the plane landed at Munich otherwise a bomb would be detonated. I assume a passenger, whilst quietly spending a penny, noticed the message and returned to his/her seat in a hurry with soiled underwear and pushed the call-button. We then had to identify our luggage which was re-loaded on the plane. We resumed our seats, took off and returned to Heathrow, (trying to ascertain who was missing) as the crew would have exceeded their flying hours if we had completed our flight to Malaysia. Again we spent several hours in the terminal but this time with access to food and any drink required. Frighteningly we were then put on the same plane and our journey recommenced. Please note : Air travel is the safest form of transport.