What's a man gonna F**Qingdao!?

[Cyclefrance]

So far - not so good

Will it all end here?

I hope not - so far I've made it as far as the Emirates lounge at London Gatwick - those dreaded words 'technical fault - more news in another hour' being the only information available at the moment. I am assured that Emirates are working all out to ensure I reach my final destination - let's hope that's before 50 Chinese delegates arrive in Qingdao and take their seats on Tuesday morning (and I can't help remembering similar words being spoken by American Airlines at JFK a few years back after which pronouncement the situation descended into total chaos and confusion. I eventually flew home with Virgin, arriving some 14 hours later than planned and just in time to catch our Burman female kitty being dispatched to be sired by some lustfull male blue-point of the same breed. Funny how you remember these things).

So I sit here waiting for my fate to be decided. Strange to think that I only live 20 minutes drive away, and yet I am unable to move from this spot.

I expect you're wondering what it's like here - probably not, but if for some unaccountable reason you actually are, well, don't get too excited.... there you go... (see what I mean):

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[Cyclefrance]

Oh,dear - I shouldn't have said what I said in that last entry.

My original flight is now cancelled.

Good news? I'm on the 19.15 to Dubai (let's hope that doesn't have a fault!)

Bad news? That gets in at 05.00-ish on Sunday morning, but the only onward flight to Beijing is at 03.00 Monday morning. - I get to Beijing at 15.30 Monday and then, all going well, I get the connecting flight to Qingdao at 1645 (or a later one if I miss that one!) - bang goes the time I had allowed to be in Qingdao to be sure that everything was set up properly for Tuesday morning - now it will be a rush job early on Tuesday morning to do this.

Good news? I spend a day in Dubai at Emirates' expense and therefore might even have time to be able to take some interesting photos. Might not be so bad.... but,

Bad news? Turns out that the Chinese course organisers had mistakenly booked my onward flight from Beijing to Qingdao for the Monday instead of the Sunday, anyway - so God knows what would have happened if I had turned up on ten Sunday as planned. So,

Good news? at least there's a ticket and flight for me from Beijing to Qingdao when I arrive Monday in any event (there always was!!!).

And I thought this was going go be the boring bit of the trip!?!? (and that thread title is suddenly looking more appropraite than first intended as well!)