Tours airport is an English enclave in France
Time was passing by. The clock hand advanced stealthily towards the hour. The tension was unbearable. Twice I heard a dull roar in the distance; I jumped from my seat to look for a dark speck distant in the sky. But no, both times it was a false alert, the espresso machine letting off steam.
The waiting crowd was now essentially English. They threw the remains of their picnics on the floor. Mouldy cheese sandwiches, empty beer cans, whisky bottles, trash of all sorts. The queue to the toilette was lengthening. The installed capacity couldn’t handle the flow. Liquid seeped out from under the toilette door. The sight…… and smell resembled an English pub. The last remaining French people withdrew, not being able to support the insalubrious conditions. The personnel made themselves scarce to avoid the abusive behaviour of those waiting. What would be the denouement?
And then it came, loud and clear, over the tannoy. ‘The flight has been diverted to Poitiers’ Why Poitiers? If they were looking for an airport beginning with ‘P’ Pyongyang would have been a good choice.
It occurred to me that it was probably a safety precaution. Surely there was rowdiness and drunkenness on the plane. There were insufficient CRS in the airport to handle both the incoming and waiting trouble makers. By dividing them between the two airports they had a better chance of mastering the situation. The passengers would then be transferred, bus load by bus load to Tours, more digestible lumps.
I made myself useful; I explained to the French personnel that the labour law was simpler in England and social charges lower. Was it not worth waiting and bringing over English drivers to chauffer the buses? No, Ryanair was concerned about its service image and would pay the extra for French drivers. Yes but do not travel today, there is a lot of traffic on the roads maybe ice, better to wait for better weather, the spring is coming. I pleaded with them to take every precaution, the people I was waiting for were extremely dear to me and it would be a total catastrophe if there was an accident. They were very polite and patient, but though they would take every precaution imaginable and possible, they had 150 English people on their hands and had every intention of getting rid of them as quickly as possible.
Defeated, I waited for my forthcoming misery.
They met their match
I didn't mention the fog
2 commentaires:
There can't have been too many troublemakers - the lavatories were clean (I really can't believe Roo that you go to the gents with your camera AND take a photo...)
It's infinitely preferable than if he were going to the ladies' with the same intent, Louise.
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