A Really Bad Day!

[Tilly2]

My elderly uncle has just been visiting us and has gone back home today via National Express Coach.

I waited with him at MK coach station for his delayed coach, which arrived an hour and forty five minutes late due to an accident on the M1.

He missed his connection at Birmingham and has just rang me to say he's just arrived at Hanley bus station, 6.45pm. The person who was supposed to pick him up at 4.00pm cannot now pick him up because he's on night shift, so my Uncle is catching a service bus to his hometown. He has now been travelling for eight hours and is not home yet.

Oh, he has also left his suitcase on the first coach! I am so upset for him.

[Mamyalynne]

Poor Uncle, he must be exhausted - hard for you too as you feel helpless so far away.

He'll soon be safe home am sure.

[jno]

he could be at the gates of Disney World by now... Still, old folks like us know the difficulties of travelling round Britain, and the smaller the place you want to go to, the longer it will take.

[Tilly2]

He is exhausted, Mamya, as well as being worried about his lost suitcase!

Apparently, he will have to go to Walsall tomorrow to retrieve it. Bless him.

[Chipchopper]

Sounds like one of those days, Tilly!
I hope it will all work out in the end, and you'l be chatting and laughing about it with him tomorrow, hope so!

[marval]

Oh no, what a terrible journey for him. He will be glad to get a good nights sleep.

[Tilly2]

Yes, Jno. He could have been!

It's just unfortunate that the crash on the M1 caused so much delay.

[Tilly2]

What makes it worse is that its the first time he's come to see us, by himself.
In the past, other relatives have brought him.

He'll never come again!

[Tilly2]

I will ring him tomorrow to see how he is, Chip. I'm sure you're right.

Marval, he will sleep well, unless he frets about his suitcase!

[ummmm]

The M1 seems to have daily crashes between Northants/Beds.

[jennyjoan]

I think when a very old person has this happening they get very upset and a wee bit frightened cos you think - am I never going to get home.

I always say it only takes 5-6 hours by plane to get to New York and there he is - still not home. He will get there and gladly. God love him!

[Tilly2]

Yes, Jennyjoan. He was upset. That's why he forgot his suitcase when he got off at Birmingham. He was more concerned about the next leg of the journey.

Poor man.

[jennyjoan]

I know this is a different set of circumstances. But in 2008 I fell in Fuerteventura and broke teeth, shoulder and ankle and remember on the plane saying to the strange man beside me "are we there yet - are we there yet" - the longest hours of my life - that's why I never travelled again.

[Cloverjo]

Poor man. Does he know his suitcase is safe and found? Is someone available to take him to retrieve it? It is a worry when things like this happen. Hopefully, he can relax soon.

[eanceoil]

I had to travel by train to Dublin recently, took all of 9 hours (getting there and back) to me that was a whole day, that was a Wednesday, took me until the following Monday to be back in any kind of routine after it. I found the place very fast paced and didn't know where to ask for help.

[jennyjoan]

To Dublin from where Ean

[eanceoil]

Midlands - in Ireland - it's about an hour in a car

[jennyjoan]

You could have been in Disney World in Florida Ean.

[eanceoil]

I'd almost wish I was - anywhere but Dublin, was not a pleasure trip

[ummmm]

We went back to Ireland for my BIL's birthday. Spent a night in Dublin before heading to Tipp. The others got the train. Me, my OH and uncle waved them goodbye and went and hired a car...

[Tilly2]

I don't know about his suitcase, Cloverjo. I think that someone at Birmingham told him he would have to go to Walsall. I'll find out more tomorrow.

He's home now. Thank goodness.