A disastrous day

I was up early as I had quite a few things to do before being picked up for the airport. I had a list of chores and went through them with military precision, feeling very pleased with myself that I had managed to be so well organised - strip and remake the bed, do two loads of laundry, go for a run, clean the coffee machine, cook food for the weekend for Thomas and Gavin.....when the taxi driver arrived 30 minutes earlier than scheduled I was actually ready. 

There had been a serious and fatal accident on the M25 in the early hours of this morning and consequently the M25 near us was closed. The driver arrived early as he was worried that when it reopened the flood of cars would mean very severe traffic. We got on the M25 with no problem, as it was still closed just before our junction. It was peculiar going on to an empty M25, the only cars on it were from our exit. The sun was shining and the snow covered hills adjacent to the M25 looked so beautiful, it seemed like the perfect day so far.

However when I got to the airport, it all went horribly wrong. Stupid, stupid me did not realise that you need photo ID to check a bag onto a plane. I did not bring my passport with me as I was only doing a local flight to Scotland so I thought it not necessary, and as I had changed purses before I left home and took a much smaller one with only my bank cards - I did not have my driver's license either. I could therefore not board and there was nothing I could do but go back home to get my passport. I had that horrible sinking feeling that my trip to Scotland would not be happening after all.

I managed to find a taxi outside the airport to take me home, the plan was he would wait for me while I collected my passport and then return me to Gatwick airport. It's only about a 30 minute journey each way so I thought I had plenty enough time to get there and back again, as to was about 2 hours before I had to board. I did not realise that the roads around our house were now gridlocked with traffic due to the closed M25, and so we sat in traffic for so long that by the time I got home I realised I would not make it back again in time for my flight. The realisation hit me hard.

If I did not go today I could not join the workshop as they were setting off to Skye tomorrow morning and it would be too expensive and complicated for me to get to Skye on my own, particularly if snow was forecast I did not want to be hiring a car and driving myself. However, I checked the Easyjet website and there was a flight later today...I immediately booked it, wincing at the cost and the waste of money for a second flight, but I either had to throw money at the problem or write my trip off completely - funny how when a problem occurs it always costs money to get out of it.

I phoned our usual taxi driver and booked another pickup for later in the day - he was very surprised to hear from me as he thought by now I would be on the plane to Inverness. And so later I set off for the second time today to get to the airport. No problems this time, and I finally arrived in Inverness at 9pm. It is currently -6C but it is so cold at home with snow that it does not seem that cold.

So instead of a promised scene of Inverness, you have an emergency blip of yet another hellebore taken earlier this morning as a safety shot. I am very tired after this horrible day and so am now off to bed.

I don't think I will have any free time for commenting on journals over the next few days, it looks like we will be very busy with no down time. The workshop leader has already sent an email earlier today saying dress warmly as we will be out all day and staying out until after sunset.....