1 EAGLETON NOTES: Storm Gertrude

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Friday 29 January 2016

Storm Gertrude

I'm sitting in Stornoway Airport. I'm not alone. Storm Gertrude has so far managed to prevent the flights from southern Scotland from taking off for Stornoway and two have been cancelled. So there are now three sets of passengers waiting for the 1530 flight to Glasgow. Not that they will all get on. The question for me is "Will I?".  The more important question as I write this after 1500 hrs is whether this flight will also be cancelled. It was supposed to have arrived at 1500 but hasn't yet taken off from Glasgow. Fortunately being a reasonably sensible sort of chap I made sure that I had a few days in Glasgow with a friend which days also act, conveniently, as a buffer for incidents just such as this.

We're doing well (or badly depending on the point of view) so far this season: this is the seventh named storm since the middle of November.

A – Abigail (hit the UK on November 12-13)
B – Barney (November 17-18)
C – Clodagh (November 29)
D – Desmond (December 5-6)
E – Eva (December 24)
F – Frank (December 29-30)
G – Gertrude (January 29-?)

Just in case you are wondering which name comes next the answer is as follows: Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon, Wendy. If you are wondering why there is no name associated with Q, U, X, Y and Z The Met Office and Met Eireann have decided to follow the US National Hurricane Center, which names - you guessed it - hurricanes, and does not use names beginning with those letters. As storm systems often develop over the North Atlantic, they want to be consistent with their American colleagues.

However it's unlikely that we'll arrive at Wendy this season as the worst season recently (2013/4) only had 14 named storms. 

Well we've just heard that the flight has been cancelled.

I'm now booked on the 1920 flight. Most others have gone for the Inverness flight oprion with a bus to Glasgow. With snow forecast for Drumochter I don't fancy that. Oh well what will be will be. I was going to say que sera sera but I'll probably get told off by YP for being pretentious.

23 comments:

  1. I would never tell you off for being pretentious as I have certainly not seen that character trait in your many blogposts. I view you as a thoroughly nice chap and am sorry about the flight delays. How wise of you to factor in a few buffer days. I wonder what Hurricane Graham will be like when it hits these shores in the distant future - probably gentle and perhaps a little balmy too. Or should that be barmy?

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    1. You're very kind YP. Still sitting in the airport and got a few looks when I burst out laughing at you last comment.

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    2. Mrs McSporran probably turned to Old Lachlan and whispered, "Och, that wee beardie over there is barmy! Hope he's no on oor flight! What's that wee thing he's staring at?"
      "It's one o those new-fangled compurgators hen!"

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  2. When Nature wants her way, her way she shall have; and we mere mortals can do nothing about changing her mind. And what impresses me, Graham, you're not getting cranky about the delays. It always intrigues me how some folk get all up in arms when they're delayed at airports because of weather conditions. Getting all aggravated is totally pointless and a waste of energy because nothing can be done. Would they prefer to fly off into a raging storm...or remain safely on the ground? I know what I'd prefer!

    There's a cyclone over in Western Australia at present just off the coast and expected to cross the coast this morning...Cyclone Stan is its name. We had wild storms here on the east coast last night. In some areas the storms were more severe and damaging than in others. One poor man up at Hervey Bay, just north of Maryborough was killed when a tree crashed onto his caravan.

    Touch wood, here where I am on Tamborine Mountain...all was/is well. We received some very nice rain from the storms that rumbled around here. More storms are predicted for today and they'll may hang around for another four or five days.

    I hope everything falls into its rightful place for you soon...in the meantime, keep writing and keep us up to date...stay safe. :)

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    1. Lee I've never seen the point of getting angry or worrying about things over which one has no control. Just before 10pm I arrived back home. The plane arrived, aborted the landing and returned to Glasgow. The joys of travel. Hopefully the weather will relent and we'll get away tomorrow.

      I was disturbed to hear about problems in Hervey Bay. I'd never heard of the place until a few weeks ago. Friends (who gave me the picture The Unmade Bed that I blogged about recently) who live in New Zealand but were originally from Scotland are working in Hervey Bay at the moment.

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  3. Hoping you have waited your time out well, and are now flying!! Here's to a good flight.

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    1. Well not yet Lynda! I'm back home. Hopefully tomorrow! If not I could have serious problems!

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  4. If you don't have connecting flights you just have to cool your jets and sooner or later you will get there. the main thing is safety.

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    1. Red I'm fortunate in having a nature that doesn't worry about things over which I have no control.

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  5. So, poor old Quentin, Ulysses, Xaon, Yannick, and Zeta will never find fame.

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    1. Looks like it Cro. There are other names that aren't used now because they did find fame such as Katrina.

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  6. Safe journey, whenever you start it!

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    1. Thanks Kate. I'm booked on the 1235 from Stornoway to Glasgow and so far this morning the services have been running so my fingers are crossed (or would be if I were superstitious).

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  7. Not the best of starts to your long trip, but it is good to know that those responsible for the safety of craft, crew and passengers rather cancel a flight than insist on them sticking to the schedule.
    I hope your flight will be smooth when it happens.

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    1. No Meike the worst bit was, after 8 hours wait, sitting in the departure lounge hearing the plane and being told that the pilot had decided not to land (presumably because of the very strong crosswinds and snow).I just hope my flight today happens because the storm is due to get worse again. I don't think the flight will be anything like smooth but I can cope so long as we take off and land safely!

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  8. On, good luck, Graham. I do hope you get there safely, and soon. Bon (eventual) voyage.

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  9. Hope all is well, and that you are safely on your way to your destination. Take care and God bless, DeeDee

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    1. Thank you DeeDee I'm now safely ensconsed at a friend's near Glasgow.

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  10. Very sensible of you to break your flight. You are clearly well practised at avoiding flying stress whenever possible!

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  11. Very sensible of you to break your flight. You are clearly well practised at avoiding flying stress whenever possible!

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