Christmas Visit a comedy of errors

Zaandam December 3rd.

It all started so well we were on time for the train and made the Airport with time to spare. The baggage was deposited into the automated system and we went through security with plenty of time for a relaxed cup of coffee. We boarded the plane on time and had a decent flight with KLM landing on time at Birmingham.

This is where the fun started! We phoned our son in law to say we were just off to get the baggage and he said he had just seen us land and would meet us in arrivals.  we stood with all the other passengers and waited, and waited, all of us watching the belt going round.Nothing! then came an announcement, will all passengers from Amsterdam please go to the desk in front of belt 14. We arrived to be told that non of the baggage had been loaded on to the Aircraft as the automate system in Amsterdam had broken down. Well you can imagine the result of this as some passengers were there for connecting flights all over the place. forms were being handed out to be filled in but no one had a pen! All of our Christmas presents were in the luggage: we were told that it could take up to 5 days so we let instructions that they be sent to our Daughters not the Hotel in case we were back in the Netherlands. So after getting to our Daughters picking up her car and booking into the Hotel it was off to buy shirts underwear etc for our stay. The luggage eventually arrived whilst we were preparing the Christmas meal so at least we were able to dish out the presents.

The Flight back was even more eventful. The Taxi was early so we set of for the Airport, on arrival we were told they could fit us on an earlier flight but that was delayed due to high winds at Schiphol  we got our boarding cards and headed for the security check in. Well this is where the trouble started Carol set off the alarm so back through she went again the alarm sounded so the wand came into use. It turned out to be hairgrips and bra strap. Meanwhile I sailed through and was collecting my hand luggage when we noticed Carols had been taken to one side. Out came the knickers in which she had wrapped a present from my Brother and sister in law. embarrassing! it turned out that they were looking for organic blocks they thaught might be cemtex that had shown on the xray  four of them, on getting down to the blocks it turns out that our new  buisness cards look like Cemtex so we were allowed on our way and the armed officers withdrew. We had now to wait for the delayed flight again and again the board went to five minutes gate open and then bounced up to ten. eventualy we were boarded and told that we were to wait on the tarmac for a slot into Amstrdam airport which had all but one runway closed. We took off after about 40 minutes and landed very bumpily 40 minutes later in very high winds

Birthday Girls! Grandaughters Bekky 18 and  Freya May 1

Blow Hard!

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