Expedition Canada

Ukraine Sat Feb 26th Of more immediate concern is the news from Ukraine and the Russian invasion (unless you live in  Russia where it is not an invasion).   I've posted a note on Linkedin, where many of my former colleagues keep the message of free and independent media alive. I have had the privilege of working closely with them and meeting many BBC World Service language journalists in their local bureaux, including Moscow. This is the post . After 35 years in the BBC, most in the BBC World Service, it is impossible not to be thinking of all the journalists working on the ground, reporting what is going on in Ukraine and Russia, and the dangers they face. For my former colleagues in the BBC, particularly the BBC World Service Ukrainian and Russian services who have family in those countries, it is even more difficult, as some of the reports have highlighted. We enjoy and sometimes forget that we have a free and independent media in most democratic co...

Trash Trashed Tue Nov 2nd Autumn colours in the garden - glorious! Some may recall the difficulty we had getting fares back from BA which promoted them to the 'World's least favourite airline' on the Cronk list of airlines.  Right now they rate behind Air Ariana, the national carrier I used when flying to Kabul some years back.  They only had one pre-used Air India airbus. Wanting to use the e-vouchers which BA refused to refund when our flight to Canada was cancelled last year, I spent 68 minutes holding on a call today before the call was dropped.  Nick is heading to the UK for a few days, and better he use the vouchers before they expire in March rather than BA win the money permanently.   An hour and thirty minutes later, I had got through, booked the ticket and Nick was scheduled to fly using the e-vouchers.  Ten minutes later an incoming call from India and the flight won't be honoured.  "As the booking is not being used by one of the two on...