Shropshire Lass and Lad

We haven't blogged for a while because we haven't been travelling for a while. Instead we have been staying in Mary's Aunt Helen's cottage near Church Stretton clearing and cleaning it to prepare it for sale. 

Mary started in fine style by painting the fences at the front and mowing the lawn at the back. 

Then it was into all the cupboards, drawers, nooks and crannies where 52 years of Helen's life had been stored. We had the foresight to hire a small SUV and many loads of useful items have now been delivered to very grateful local charity shops for reselling and recycling. 

Lest this imply we are ruthlessly stripping the cottage bare: all has been done at Helen's request; almost all has been recycled; and some of Helen's most treasured items have been moved to her room at Stretton Hall. And after all that clearance, the cottage is still fully furnished and looks fully occupied - and is now on the market :

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/132936434#/?channel=RES_BUY

 

We will be here for next week as well, primarily to further settle Helen, including bringing her back here on Monday to bid a final farewell. 

Then it will be away next weekend, sightseeing in southern England before returning here for Easter. 

While all worthy stuff, the above account is hardly entertaining to our loyal audience, so a few observations from our flight to England :

So far, all our international flights had been with what we would consider major airlines, simply because they fly the relevant routes and/or have the best deals. For the first time we flew with budget fares on a budget airline, Ryanair. 

First of all, full marks to Ryanair. They were efficient, easy to deal with, and the flight was hassle free. 

However, budget airlines clearly attract a higher proportion of 'interesting' passengers. For us the check in process was absolutely seamless. For some of our fellow travellers, not so much, and I confess to being amused not by their various predicaments but by their unexpected solution strategies:

Passenger A approached the queue and asked if they could queue jump as they were apparently running late, to which everyone readily agreed as we had plenty of time. Passenger A then approached the  counter to be told: 

"I'm sorry Madam, your flight departed 15 minutes ago" 

Passenger A's response:

"Yes, but why can't I check in?"... 

Passengers B and C likewise were running late and were allowed to queue jump. The check-in staff kindly rang through and ascertained that the flight was prepared to wait a little bit longer as they weren't quite ready for departure. B and C were advised accordingly. 

B and C said thanks, and then just stood there, faffing around with their travel documents, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the airline was doing them a massive favour, at which point the staff gave them some succinct advice: "You need to run" . 

Still they stood there faffing around. The check in staff provided an addendum: "Now" 

Passenger D had no visa to enter the UK. The check in staff advised that he could therefore not board. 

"But why can't you give me a visa?"... 

Passenger E had missed their flight, by quite a margin, yet still fronted up to the check in counter. 

"No problem, Madam, there are plenty of flights today with spare seats so you can just book a seat on one of those. All you need to do is book online on our website, and there's even free WiFi in the airport". 

"But I want you to book me on a flight and issue the ticket here at the counter"

"Madam, we don't have any such facility here. All we can do is issue boarding tags and luggage labels for passengers already booked and who have checked in online". 

"I don't see why that's my problem".... 

So a big shout out to Ryanair, whose check in staff at Rome Ciampino Airport clearly have the patience of saints.