Only two more flights to go

Only two more flights to go

It is 2.45 Oxford time and I can say (in ways of a general resume for the day) that flying is an experience one should get paid for, not the other way round. When we arrived in Heathrow yesterday afternoon I believed at the time that the check-in process was quite chaotic. There were long queues everywhere, of course, and the security checks were not made easier by the fact that I was traveling with two laptops, not one. Having packed and re-packed our hand luggage several times we had to board pronto, so all we could do to get lunch was try out the drinks- and chocolate machines in the boarding lounge. These, alas, turned out to have the sole purpose of swallowing change and after L. had invested £1.20 and Y. another 20p we boarded without further ado. The flight was acceptably pleasant, though, and I even watched James Bond. I was also very impressed by Y.s ability to fall asleep while writing.
Arriving in Chicago, however, impressed me far less. Some further queuing opportunities were provided, but over and above these it was especially aggrieved by the fact that only a third of our luggage had travelled with us. The discovery that one of the suitcases got ripped in transit was somewhat less annoying as a result. I was also very unimpressed with the American Airlines service when we tried to find out what had happened to the other suitcases. They finally let on that they were travelling via Paris and would arrive in Cuzco later.
It was hence a heartbreaking experience to see my rucksack disappear once more on the conveyor belt...to be taken to the plane to Miami, then on to Lima, then on to Cuzco...or perhaps not, as it were.
The journey has not been without moments of reconciliation, though: having had to unpack my hand luggage once more to check in for the flight to Miami I was then asked to divide it into four different plastic trays in a specific way. When I subsequently tried to march through security with my main bag on my back because I had by then forgotten that it was still there one of the conveyor belt security guards just exclaimed 'Don't worry, we're all driven into madness here', which earned him a general cheer from his colleagues.

Almost there!

Here is my last English sunset for some months

It seems somewhat unfair that I have to go to a land where darkness falls around six no matter what time of year just a few days after the clocks have been changed to summer time. But as it is I shall not dwell on it because I have only packed 4 big suitcases today and there are two more to go. J. looked at his one doubtfully and explained that he was going to take just those items that would fit into his second bag at home but not the whole suitcase because we can only take two bags. Thank god he changed his mind after some thought and decided to take only his rucksack plus my equipment suitcase. And so I feel very guilty for making my colleagues carry my equipment - but also relieved that it is indeed all travelling with us.
I think I have got most of the things I need to take - I think...

Spring early?

Having had the pleasure of receiving two further jabs this morning (four for the price of two: rabies, tetanus, polio, diptheria) I decided to walk back home rather than cycle . As I turned a corner I got hit by a bumble bee speeding along the pavement at at least 56 mph. I hope she won't regret her decision to start business that early.

Weather

This morning a colleague and I had an appointment with a weather station that needs to be wired. We were very much looking forward to our geeky outing but then the unimaginable happened: we woke up to 8 cm of snow.
As is English custom on these occasions everybody felt totally overwhelmed, traffic flow broke down, schools closed and pictures of the winter wonderland were quickly dispatched to the bbc news.
And that was prudent - everything had melted by approximately 11 am.

Snow!

Climate

The 4th IPCC report is out, accompanied by some more or less dispiriting comments from the wider public. Meanwhile I'm not an angel either as I have given in to the temptation of booking a cheap flight to get to one of my favourite milongas tomorrow. I haven't used aeroplanes for almost seven years now but the thought of not being able to tango for three months had brought about this frivolous fit!
Needless to say that I will also fly to get to my fieldwork destination - but for these flights at least there will be a carbon offset scheme in place. Hopefully a good one.