Day 89 - Ostrava to Home - Really Mixed Day.

Thursday was certainly a day of mixed emotions.  Normally I go through the day and tell the story chronologically but this time I think I will start with the two news items for me.

Firstly I was collecting my luggage from the belt at my favourite Manchester Airport (sarcasm) and as my little case appeared from the chute it looked like it had done five rounds with Mike Tyson, the front pocked was ripped to pieces and the material on the rest of the case had a few punch marks.  So, with very little confidence on anything happening I walked over to the baggage counter and said to the guy hey buddy, what can you do about this, without batting an eyelid he said, “one minute and I will get you a new one” and off he went.  A few moments later he appeared with a really nice brand new case and to boot apologies as he didn’t have one with the green pocket as my current case had.  I filled in some forms which wasn’t alot as he had done most of it and a few minutes later I left this really nice guy who seemed so helpful and sorted things out with so little fuss and was walking out with my old battered case and a brand new one. 

So I was in a good mood as I drove the dark road and at just after 2:00 a.m. I bumped and bussled my two cases and laptop bag into the house.  The only person to greet me and with wild enthusiasm was the dog, he, at least was pleased to see me.  So after I had thrown my stuff to the ground more in self defence from the dog I turned to open my post that was on the shelf near the door and the first thing I found when I opened the first letter was a fine.  A few weeks ago when driving during the early hours of the morning and not having had any sleep I was feeling very tired and pulled into a service station to close my eyes in the car.  I managed to sleep for just over the two hour mark and then left.  Apparently my fine of £100 is for taking a little more than the free two hours without offering to pay the £10.00 per hour parking fee.  I appreciate I did spend longer than the two hours but it wasn’t like the parking was full, with only me and another three cars in a car park of about 500 places.  Also the fact I was tired I suppose I should have put and alarm on but I thought it was better to not risk driving when feeling tired but apparently that doesn’t matter to the people of Parking Eye who have decided I should have been back on the road or paying then £10 per hour for the pleasure of sleeping in a unsecure car park.  I know I broke their rules but it is not like I was using their car park as some sort of free park and ride or doing it every day but I suppose that is the law and I will have to write a cheque to cover my indiscretion.  Ironically about the same price as the free case I have just got from the Airport people.

Other than that it had been a nice day, a pleasant train journey from Ostrava to Prague with a nice environment to do my work and then took some time to sit in the park outside of the railway station in Prague to relax and chat with my Lithuanian colleague before getting the bus that doubles as a sauna to the airport.  My learning point today was Schengan, not sure how you spell it but apparently some companies are Schengan and some non Schengan, something to do with a European country that you don’t need a passport for.  It seems Prague to Frankfurt is a schengan journey but Frankfurt to UK isn’t.  Other than that I have no idea.  My Lithuanian colleague did spend some time trying to explain it but I think she now thinks I am thick as I couldn’t quite grasp.  She concluded by just saying, look we are all in the club and you aint.

I am not going to let things like the fine bring me down and realise that sometimes living the life I lead may not always go right but if that was the worst thing that happens, it’s not so bad.

Next week I have done something different, not stayed at home, not that different.  I have to be in Dunkirk and Luxembourg so I am going to drive.  I worked out and go with my thinking here.

Drive home to Manchester – 1.5 hours

Arrive at airport in time for check in 2.0 hours

Flight – 1.5 hours

Wait at airport for baggage and get hire car 1.0 hour

Drive from Brussels to Dunkirk – 2 hours

Total 8 hours

Drive from Home to Folkestone – about 6 hours with a stop or two (but not longer than 2 hours stop J)

Calais to Dunkirk 1 hour

Total 7 hours

So with about 30 mins on the train through the tunnel I could technically be in Dunkirk an hour or so earlier.  And the tunnel is cheaper than a flight and my own car cheaper than a hire car so should be considerable cheaper for the company.  Also I am looking forward to the road trip as most of the travelling will be with a UK colleague and he has a good sense of humour so it should be fun.

That is all for now so a chance to enjoy the weekend.

Night All and hope you all have a good weekend.