Syl Kiekt 2025

Not a return:
THE RETURN

Waiting to leave.

Little did I know at that moment
we would have to wait over 6 hours
to leave the airport,

due to technical problems,
complete engine failure,
calling in a new crew,
and even postponed fueling.

But finally we could leave Southampton
with a familiar female pilot!!

Can you see it?

(click to see the photo in the album)

Colour difference due to another camera
and breaking through the clouds.

Arriving at Schiphol, Amsterdam,
didn't end waiting and waste of time.
We arrived at our homes after midnight!!!

The trip could have been just a few hours,

but lasted over 16 hours!!!

JJ fetched us and drove us to the airport. No problems. JJ gone, luck gone.

Son1 got an extra safety check by Customs.... of his bankcard and other cards, neatly piled.
Assistance desk. None present. Phone not working.

Finally someone showed up. Assistance made us sit somewhere, made us sit somewhere else, and back.
Stood outside a long time...inside again.
6 hours delay (six!!)
In the plane: "we need refueling and are 4rd in line, might take 40 to 50 minutes" (the sigh of the passengers alone would move the plane )
No extra food on board as it was "a rescue flight".(which was not a problem, they still had enough on board.)
We landed as far from the airport as possible, took a long time taxiing.
No assistance waiting. When someone turned up she told us we were not registered (later turned out we were!) and maybe had to wait half an hour.
A nice guy turned up and took us with a car to another hall. He was very helpfull.
Due to some misunderstanding walked a long stretch.
Border Control. The guy started a friendly talk. Must be a friend of a real friend who works at Border Control and visits out parachute group regularly. So he must have known my face better than I knew his.
Entered the country by foot. Saw someone from assistance with a spare wheelchair...uh...mine!
The nice assistant pushed me all the way to the main hall.
Train we wanted to take was only going a small stretch due to a defective overhead line.
Son1 wanted to stay somewhere in the place where he works, but couldn't book.
Transfer at a city nearby.
Transfer at the central station of my town...train at the outer part of the station, so a long walk...
Delay because of a break-test.
Delay because the intercity needed to pass first.
Finally my station. No "mind the gap" warning", but a huge gap . Lucky that my daughter was there, otherwise I couldn't have made the large step.
Son2 was there...horribly tired, because he had been to a para-weekend. But he drove us home anyway.
Son1 , at the next station, couldn't take the last bus, as there was no last bus...had to walk.

Finally...long after midnight we were at home!!!