A messy end to the year

So - British Airways' flight attendants have decided to bring their own special version of the Twelve Days of Christmas to their customers.  In summary:

• On the first day of Christmas BA gave to thee a contract they didn't agree
• On the second of November the union gave to me strike ballot papers and for contract I didn't agree
• On the third day of Christmas BA gave to me one less steward, strike ballot papers and a contract they didn't agree
• On the fourteenth of December I gave to BA notice of strikes, no one less steward, strike ballot paper and a contract they didn't agree
• On the fourteenth of December many loyal customer GOT REALLY ANNOYED.  Notice of strikes, no one less steward, strike ballot papers and a contract they didn't agree.
• From the fourteenth of December BMI said to me we've trebled all our prices, GOT REALLY ANNOYED, notice of strikes, no one less steward, strike ballot papers and a contract they didn't agree.

I think you get the idea.

We're able to get into the UK as our flight is before the strike.  However, our internal flights will be screwed up so we've rebooked those.  Getting back to Cairo will be interesting as well - we're due to fly on the 2nd when the strike is still due to be in place.  School starts of the 4th.  Will we be back in time?  Who knows.  But it would cost us over a grand for the two of us to take a single flight from Heathrow to Cairo with a different airline, which is crazy.  We're going to sit tight on that one and see what happens - the most important thing is we can be where we want to be on Christmas and Boxing Day - we'll deal with getting back to Cairo when we need to.

But will we have kids from the 4th?  The answer is a resounding, "who knows?!"

School was due to finish on Thursday and - though we staff will continue to be in for the next two days - our students won't be due to swine flu which has, after a term, finally caught hold and is (it must be said) spreading like wildfire.  Or wild pigs.  Whatever.  As a result we may have another delay to the start of the term in January, but I'm nto counting my chickens.  Or my pigs.  Or my air stewardesses.