Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat ??“ Maria Doherty

March 8, 2006

SHANGHAIED IN DUBAI

Violet Apted

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Well here I am back in Australia after a nightmare of a journey! It all started before take-off in Gatwick, when customs arrested two people and their luggage had to be removed from the plane before we could take-off.

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We came in for a landing in Dubai, for what was supposed to be a two hour in-transit stop. The pilot swerved violently and we soared higher... We were told it was foggy and we would be circling for a while. An hour later we were told we had to be diverted to Abu Dhabi to take on fuel???? On landing two passengers were arrested and taken off the plane, after which we had all in-flight baggage confirmed and identified by every passenger on board. On the tarmac were the police, Ambulance and Fire. Along with a bus ready to take us off the plane.?  ????? (In case of what???????)

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Finally we took off back to Dubai, by now we all knew we had missed our connecting flights! On being given clearance to land we descended, only for the pilot to once again swerve violently and fly back higher? There was a plane on the runway he had been told to land on! We were herded off the plane, not told anything or where to go etc and wandered the airport trying to find out. No guides or escorts??? We walked what seemed miles of terminal lounges until all finding ourselves in a queue?  waiting for them to sort out what to do with us. Six of us women ndiansg along one only twenty years of age. One a Mother with a young son and me, seventy-four years of age ? and very deaf. So we all agreed to stay together no matter what to help each other. Our scheduled landing had been at 07.00, it was 15.00 before we finally stood outside the airport waiting for our transport to the hotel. No food or drink was offered.

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At the hotel, miles from the airport, we were too late for lunch and dinner would not be served before 19.00hrs.?  We all agreed to get a shower and then demand food and drink, which we did. It tootwo hours of arguing before they agreed to serve us!?  As we finished our club sandwich a smorgasbord dinner was being laid out, so we all had a dessert . They took our lunch and dinner for vouchers from us. This left us with our breakfast voucher. Every one of us went to bed after arranging a 05.00 wake up call.?  I ordered a breakfast from room service and was told I could only have light refreshment. I demanded breakfast and got it after being told I would be charged for it when I checked out! However I wasn??™t!? ?  and was relieved when out 06.00 transport arrived to take us to the airport. I was stopped as I went through the barrier, because I had set off the alarm and had to be searched, despite only having exactly the same clothes and bags that had NOT set the alarm off when I arrived. Nothing was found of course!?  No one had a change of clothes and we women had agreed we would wash out our undies in the hotel and dry them with the hair dryer in our rooms!?  It at least made a difference psychologically for us, but the same clothes for 48 hours was awful!

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Thank God, we had no trouble at Brisbane airport and we were through customs in half an hour and on our way to our respective destinations. But no before Julie ensured I was met and in safe hands before she left me. What a wonderful friend she was!?  Fate may have thrown us together, but I am so lucky it did! We will keep in touch.

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It??™s good to be home! Wonder what my next adventure will be?

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? Copyright Violet Apted

violet77 @optusnet.com.au

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Work: Freelance writer and Tutor U3A
Creative writing

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I am Originally from Sussex, Kent, UK, Australia, Queensland .

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I can write in any genre and have many stories and poems published in
Magazines. I self published a book of my own poetry book, Titled `A POSY OF
VIOLETS and a book of poetry for my pupils.

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I have completed my first novel a Murder abduction story and now writing my
second. I think my favourite writing would have to be children's stories.
(Pen name Violet Apted) http://www.powerup.com.au/~strummer/violet /Htmls/
MainFrame1.htm