Thoughts associated with the volcano eruption in Iceland.
I know there have been plenty of people probably more horribly affected by the volcano that has blown it's top over in Iceland, but these last few days have been a little bit stressful for me... waiting on news from my family.
Mum went to Palma in Italy for a physio conference early this month (she left Easter Monday), and was then going to go meet dad on April 16 for a couple of weeks holiday in Malaysia before they'd both come back to Australia.
Mum isn't particularly computer literate, although I'd have to say I consider my father to be. So it was a little frustrating and concerning that I hadn't heard *anything* since Dad's original sms telling me mum got to Rome (and ultimately Palma) fine... I wasn't sure where in the world mum was... and all I knew about my father was that he made the train that would take him to the airport fine. I had decided at worst mum would be in Rome (somewhere - she's at least got a friend who might have been able to arrange temporary accommodation) and Dad would be waiting for her in Malaysia.
Turns out, after sending them an sms tonight*, that Mum arrived in Malaysia yesterday and she and dad have met up without too much drama. They've already met up with some family - the extended family of my half chinese cousins... and are enjoying themselves. Apparently mum sent a sms to my sister, who didn't think of passing the message on to me. (I'll cut her some slack and assume she thought I got my own sms.)
Still, it's been interesting "listening" to people's strategies to get around the effects of the volcano. One couple was due to fly home from Malta via England, and have instead been sent via Dubai (and got to skip a few cues given that the wife is several months pregnant - and visibly showing). Another was to travel from Spain to England and has ended up taking a boat instead. I do find it interesting how humanity finds ways to get around things when the higher order technological strategies are taken from them.
* = I decided I needed news after Alex told me all European flights are grounded until at least Tuesday.
Mum went to Palma in Italy for a physio conference early this month (she left Easter Monday), and was then going to go meet dad on April 16 for a couple of weeks holiday in Malaysia before they'd both come back to Australia.
Mum isn't particularly computer literate, although I'd have to say I consider my father to be. So it was a little frustrating and concerning that I hadn't heard *anything* since Dad's original sms telling me mum got to Rome (and ultimately Palma) fine... I wasn't sure where in the world mum was... and all I knew about my father was that he made the train that would take him to the airport fine. I had decided at worst mum would be in Rome (somewhere - she's at least got a friend who might have been able to arrange temporary accommodation) and Dad would be waiting for her in Malaysia.
Turns out, after sending them an sms tonight*, that Mum arrived in Malaysia yesterday and she and dad have met up without too much drama. They've already met up with some family - the extended family of my half chinese cousins... and are enjoying themselves. Apparently mum sent a sms to my sister, who didn't think of passing the message on to me. (I'll cut her some slack and assume she thought I got my own sms.)
Still, it's been interesting "listening" to people's strategies to get around the effects of the volcano. One couple was due to fly home from Malta via England, and have instead been sent via Dubai (and got to skip a few cues given that the wife is several months pregnant - and visibly showing). Another was to travel from Spain to England and has ended up taking a boat instead. I do find it interesting how humanity finds ways to get around things when the higher order technological strategies are taken from them.
* = I decided I needed news after Alex told me all European flights are grounded until at least Tuesday.