Blog archive August 2010
<< July 2010 / September 2010 >>
17.08.10 / 01 / down
An insertion from 2026: I never did explain the 'downs'. I got off the train at Geneva airport with my suitcase, my mind on other things, and left my backpack on the seat. It had my laptop and camera in, current moleskine etc. When I realised and got back to the train ten minutes later, the bag had vanished. I had to find an internet cafe and log on to change passwords and report things, and got my flight back home. The balloon trip was literally the next morning, I had no camera so the photos were taken on my phone which thankfully was up to the job.
I had to buy a new laptop and camera the next day in order to function. My insurance company (Aviva) were very good about it, and paid up in full for all I claimed without comment - just what one needs in such circumstances.
There was a strange aftermath a month or so later. I observed that the train cleaners at the airport station get on and off from the line side, hidden by the train from the platform. They had taken my bag invisibly by this route. They stole it rather than handing it in, but when they opened my laptop and saw I was a Christian they were overcome with conscience (their explanation!). I had an email requesting to meet up to be given back my laptop (the rest was not offered but I didn't press). This happened - I got my laptop back unharmed and did not pursue the matter further. The laptop was clean, but I already had a new one, so I reformatted the drive to make sure and gave it to my mother for computer practice. She never did get the hang of it, but that's another story.
From this point I had remote lockdown and tracking software on my laptop (which nowadays comes as standard). I left my backpack with laptop and camera on a train twice in later years - this happens when I have a suitcase as well and am mentally elsewhere, I can't seem to handle two items of luggage. On both future occasions I got the bag back intact, but now I have an Airtag and a messenger bag that I don't take off to sit down!
16.08.10 / 01 / up
last week had some major ups and downs. the literal up was a balloon flight across central and south london, a birthday present from my brother and his family. i rose at 3.30am to be in hyde park at 5am. we [the passengers] helped set up and inflate the balloon, and rose into the air at about 5.45am. the timing and route of our flight was constrained by the heavy air traffic that passes over london, and the balloon pilot was in constant contact with air traffic control, giving position, height and direction of travel.
our flight took us over buckingham palace and westminster, and across the south london inner suburbs with superb views of the city centre to the north. the sky had been cleared by rain the day before so visibility was very good. having lost my camera the day before [one of the downs] my photos were taken on my phone - still they are not bad and give some idea of the awesomeness of the experience.
after about an hour we had to come down due to air traffic restrictions. the pilot looked for a place to land - a golf course had too many little trees, but just beyond was a small playing field. we crashed through the tree tops and landed in a space just long enough for the balloon to collapse without landing on a fence. it was barely 7am, so we had to wait for groundsmen to come and unlock the gates. champagne was drunk and certificates written. i had a traditional english fried breakfast with the crew at a nearby workman's cafe - 'greasy spoon' is not an adequate label when the food is done really well.
and then all the way across london to home, sleep for an hour or so and go to work!
