How amazing a volcano in Iceland has closed our entire airspace in the UK. How distressing for many many people. I am pleased we are not trying to fly in or out of the country today.

i could not believe it when i heard! Those poor families  that cant get back to th uk.  I just hope that when the ash and debree does finally come down, it happens way out to sea and not over us .

im hoping my puppy buyer can fly in tomorrow! On a lighter note, had to laugh at the people who said they could finally open their windows and sit in their gardens in Heathrow....I hadnt realised that living there was compulsary.... I thought they were all their as volunteers!

It's several other countries as well. Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France and Ireland have also stopped all air traffic according to the Swedish newspapers.

> had to laugh at the people who said they could finally open their windows and sit in their gardens in Heathrow....

just like the people who buy a house next to a school and then complain about cars parking outside the house twice a day !

> just like the people who buy a house next to a school and then complain about cars parking outside the house twice a day ! <

It's fine until they park OVER your drive twice and day and leave the car to go collect their kids ggggrrrrr.  I have been known to sit in my car blocking up the road until they return though :) 

I wondered what the ash was about as I only heard it briefly on the weather this morning.

> It's several other countries as well. Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France and Ireland have also stopped all air traffic according to the Swedish newspapers.

My friend's husband is stuck in Holland, and he has no idea when he'll be able to fly home due to the closure there. Though she did say he could try to get the ferry!! :-D

Got a friend stuck in USA anmd it looks as if it is now shut until at least Sat pm.

My son and his girlfriend are in Italy at present so I'm waiting to see if they can make it home for the weekend. Hoping things will clear for tomorrow, we're just constantly watching the news at present and are making no plans, it must be a nightmare, those poor people sitting around in airports, a couple of hours delay is bad enough for me I get fed up waiting around, must be awful for all those people, just hope my son doesn't end up being one of them too.

But saying that, it is better than flying dangerously, being fed up and frustrated is better than being in danger.

I have just heard that Gatwick and Heathrow airports have put all their aircrafts under covers.

looks like my puppy wont be going to his new home on theflight/ day we planned :( :(

The disruption to us not being able to fly somewhere is nothing compared to what must be happening to the lives of many who live in the region of the volcano.

Means no newspapers for us, only our own local one. :(
Most of the inter islands have flown, and I understand soime private aircraft to the UK as well.
Karen

The problems seem to arise at around 30,000 feet which is where the volcanic ash is located  and this is also the height commercial aeroplanes fly at. Bits of volcanic ash get sucked into the engines and the air flow through the engines is blocked by the ash and debris which causes engine failure.

Had 2 helicopters & 1 small plane go over here this afternoon, there is a private airfield nearby so some are getting up there.

Am I the only one fed up hearing on the radio of people complaining they can't get to/from their destination? One presenter described a family's "heartbreaking" situation of not being able to get to Orlando. To me "heartbreaking" is a death, cancer, losing a limb, one of my dogs dying - REAL things! (grumpy old woman kicking in again)

Humpff no mention on the news of the more serious issue - I'd just washed and polished the car and now it's covered in ash! :-D

wolfiestruppi...how i agree with that!!! people just moan and whinge abouteverything!

and some people have absolutely no sense of humour :-)

> Those poor families that cant get back to th uk.

There are also many flight crews stuck all over the world who are also suffering disruptions , and who have families waiting at home for them .

> I have been known to sit in my car blocking up the road until they return though

Good idea , but we just used to anticipate the problem and park on the road if we needed to go out around that time .
It is a shame that all those yummy mummies just can't walk a few hundred extra yards and park legally .

My family home was in Eton. Both my parents had gone to work at the college in the 1920s, and they lived in a rented house. I used to be so scared at night when the planes went over that I hid under the covers, always terrifed that they would crash into the house. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to choose to live in a quiet peaceful neighbourhood.

Everyone living in any flightpath must be relishing the unexpected peace, especially in this lovely weather!

The ash has reached the Midlands now - all the cars are covered in it.

Kent here, ash over the cars this morning, but beautiful clear blue skys since about 9am. GLorious day.

I would do this if I was in but sometimes especially in the afternoon it would be as I was returning from somewhere.  Thankfully most people are considerate but there are a fair few that aren't.  It's the same when there is a church service on - yes, I've gone in and asked whoever owns the car to shift it.

I'm in yorkshire and haven't really noticed any ash around here but then again there is currently a building site opposite my house so I'm used to the dust!

i didnt mean you tigger2....iwas just meaning the people on the news moaning about their week in some sunspot being ruined.....maybe theyd rather be in an air crash!?

> and some people have absolutely no sense of humour :-)

*wipes screen clean of sprayed on Pepsi Max after a laughter explosion*

My daughter commented on a news article where they interviewed a girl due to go on her hen night abroad, she was furious they would not carry on flying. Hen night versus death, a tough choice!! :(

Both my neighbours are stuck abroad, one in Siciliy (where she went for a friends birthday celebrations) they must have more cash than we did at that age!! and the other is in Rome, I will be glad when they get back as their sons have been entertaining some "Laaadddieees" in the garden and I had to down tools before I screamed at them to be quiet!! Wouldn't have been like that if the parents were there!

It's fine until they park OVER your drive twice and day and leave the car to go collect their kids ggggrrrrr.  I have been known to sit in my car blocking up the road until they return though

Or actually park in your drive, so you can't get in and have to go off and park 3 roads away till they move thier car, then you can wal all the way back for your car and bring it back home to your own driveway.

The BVA have issued a warning for pet owners to keep their animals indoors. I have the press release here somewhere.....

VETS ISSUE ADVICE TO PET OWNERS ON VOLCANIC ASH

Following the Health Protection Agency's advice to the public on the possible health effects of the Icelandic volcanic ash reaching ground level, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued some simple advice to pet owners in the UK.

The HPA has suggested that people who experience symptoms such as itchy or irritated eyes, runny nose, sore throat or dry cough and those who notice a dusty haze in the air or smell sulphur, rotten eggs, or a strong acidic smell, may wish to limit their activities outdoors or return indoors. The HPA also suggests that people with respiratory problems may notice the effects more than others. The HPA stresses that the concentration of particles which may reach ground level is likely to be low and should not cause serious harm

The BVA advice to pet owners is:

-          if you notice any symptoms or smell sulphur, rotten eggs or a strong acidic smell take reasonable action to protect your pets by limiting their time outdoors;

-          any pets with respiratory problems should be well protected from the atmosphere;

-          cover outdoor aviaries to protect birds; and

-          find suitable shelter for any pets that usually live outdoors.

Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association, said:

"At this stage we don't know for certain what the impact of the volcanic ash on human and animal health will be but we know that dusty particles can cause irritation to eyes and the respiratory system so it makes sense for everyone to take sensible precautions for themselves and their pets.

"Pet owners should limit the amount of time that they and their animals spend outside if they detect the ash and consult a vet if they have any concerns about the health of their pets."

The Health Protection Agency is monitoring the situation and providing advice to the public. For more information visit the HPA website: www.hpa.org.uk

One interesting thing you might try... If you look up at the sky it appears blue and clear or maybe a bit hazy. Put on some good sunglasses and you can see variations in the blue which is caused by the ash.

Yesterday my car and window sills were covered in a fine black ash with few gritty feel to it. Cleaned off the car and today it is just as bad!

Dear Iceland

We think you must have mis-heard us - we asked for CASH BACK - not ASH BACK

Yours faithfully
Great Britain ;)

lol @ lokis mum :) love it :)

:-) :-)

My drummers parents went to Gran Canaria last week and cant fly back. They have now been given 10 free days in a 4* beach side hotel with a roof top pool and all food included....Absolutely free!!!
They are certainly luckier than some, but they certainly arent complaining.

First they take our cod, then give us Bjork, then take our our money - now they're throwing the country at us!

:-D :-D Very funny JG.

Finally got my son and his girlfriend home by road and sea. Phew!

A friend is stuck in Germany so much for a  cheap weekend away. The family of four have been told they will not be covered by insurance as this is classed as a "act of god". They have paid out over £300 for train tickets in Germany  but cant get on the train due to over booking. Then they will have to pay for ferry to Dover then train to Scotland. I cant see them getting much change from £1000. The dog is in kennels so more cost there and of course both should of been at work today.

Isnt mother nature wonderfull

We have  4 staff off - Egypt, USA, Kenya and Argentina and costing them all a fortune to remain where they are.

My new puppy owner is stuck in France, and keeps sending me emails, because she wants to collect her puppy.

The latest email today, says that once the airports start operating again, she will be in a backlog, and seats will be prioritised, so she won't know her departure date right away.

11-yr old step g/d is over here from Isle of Man visiting her dad for easter hols - the first time she has been able to fly alone - and it doesn't look as if she'll get back home to Mum, other Dad & little sisters until the weekend!  She's missing school - so she's quite happy! 

Hubby Trevor is stuck in Dubai - he's just heard this morning that the flight he's managed to get booked on  to Glasgow has been cancelled and it looks unlikely that he'll be able to get away soon - meanwhile his hotel have put up their fees from £100 per night to £150 and  restaurants and food outlets have upped their prices for all the basics such as water  he says that desperate holiday makers have run out of money and are camping at the airports - he can get little information and there seems no contingency plans to take people home by an alternative method such as ships.

The last time this volcano erupted it lasted months ( years ? ) surely they cannot leave people indefinitly !

Yvonne

It's terrible how they raised the prices....how long to they really think people will be able to pay....

Friends have just called us to say they're stuck in Brisbane airport and have been for 3 days!!
(Although have been put into a motel room for those 3 days).

They are now travelling down to the Gold Coast to stay with us, as they've been told that the flights back to the UK may not happen until the 5th May!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lol @ JG

I quite like Bjork :)

I opened my back door last night to see if there was any falling ash but was pelted  with cheap chicken drumsticks, pizza and black forest gateaux.

I wasn't worried though, its only the fall out from Iceland.

>its only the fall out from Iceland.

*groans* :-D

LOL Tooolz and whatabout the plane spotters out in force today :-D

Yes and when you think of hurricanes, floods and earth quakes it all gets put into perspective doesn't it. Yes I had to wash mine again (car) as well.

I hear there was a bank crash, now a fire and they are claiming it on the insurance. I smell a scam!