1.3.26

Before we knew Kevin & Sharon wouldn’t be flying Liz and I discussed walking to Benaulim today, a last visit to Roger’s beach bar, and last minute shopping, for Liz.

Sharon & Kevin were up early, looking at ways to get home, how to contact Gulf Air etc. All to no avail, so they decided they’ll go complete with luggage to Dabolim to find someone who may be able to give some clue as to what’s going on.

I had a few tears when we set off, because we would be flying to Mumbai tonight. Felt like we were abandoning them in limbo.

Along our beach walk an old man in a long white dress and a long beard stopped and asked how we were, where are we going etc. He walked along with us and I was asking all sorts of questions, as I do, and vice versa. I chatted about our predicament, if we’re stuck we can stay with him. Bless him. Abullah. Abdullah was 58. He looked at least 75.

As we approached Colva he said we should visit his shop. When will I ever learn?

So a detour past where people were drying fish. The smell was awful. There were people living in a small shanty village, apparently they come from outside of Goa to work. It was really horrible, and sad. A stark contrast to the sun bathers on the beach a few feet away sipping their drinks and enjoying breakfast.

In we went into the dingy shop with jewellery that could have been there since the 18th Century. There was however one beautiful amythyst ring that Liz fancied, but a magnifying glass revealed a defect on the silver. I said to Liz ‘come on let’s go, we don’t want to spend our last day in here’ and left the shop.

A bit later Liz appeared. ‘ you attract the crazies then go and leave me with them’.

At 11.30am I received an update, Mombai to Istanbul flight is now cancelled. Omg, now what!

On we went and soon saw the lovely sign, Roger’s. My plan was to have a last chilli chicken there, but they brought the breakfast menu. OK Muesli and curd as they’re fab there and chilli chicken later.

Right. Notebook, pen, let’s get home. Chat gpt was a help with all airline details for flights to Frankfurt, Austria, Paris etc.

The prices were mad. OK, we’ll go back to the T24 Retro in Mumbai tonight and just have to stick it out there until we find something possible.

Liz was reading about all the backlogs and countries where we can’t go to. My ability to multitask isn’t great anymore. Never mind all that, let’s get out quick before all flights are full.

A bit later on Indigo site a Plan B was posted.

Oooh, great.

Goa to Mumbai then Ras Al Khaimah, then… Oh. No way of scrolling down to see the rest and click to confirm.

What a nightmare. I tried every which way for over 2 hours. John was in Türkiye trying to display it on his laptop between teaching. He needed a code sent to my email to access the site. These kept expiring because of students and so it went on. We were both trying. At one point John got as far as selecting seats on their app, but then it said there’s a problem and it never worked again.

Meanwhile messages from friends and family started, what’s happening? etc etc. Liz said her daughter had got on the site and there were flights on 5th March. Yes but we have to pay for those. We have to accept Indigo plan B to get them changed free, or pay loads of money.

No, she’s definitely on the site, it’s there, we just need to book. No Liz, she can’t be because it’s on my log in and she can’t get on my account without the OTP message that comes to my phone. She definitely is.

At one point I did tell Liz I might have to kill her.

I explained Indigo Plan B again.

Ohhh she thought it was just any old plan B. Go sunbathe Liz, no point missing valuable sunbathing time!

It’s such a shame we’re going to be stranded in Mumbai, staying longer in Goa was not a hardship.

Kevin called to tell us that going to the airport had been a total waste of time. No one told them anything. So they’ve left Betalbatim and booked somewhere cheaper in Benaulim. Its got 2 bedrooms if we get stuck, no such luck our Goa to Mumbai flight is still scheduled.

Liz and I browsed the shops. I got a phone call at 4.30pm from Indigo.’ You’re flying tonight to Mumbai.’ ‘yes’ Don’t come, stay in Goa, you’ll be stranded in Mumbai’. ‘Oh, but will we still be eligible for a free flight change?’ ‘Yes, what date you want to fly ma’am? ‘ 2nd? ‘not possible, 3rd?` yes, great’.

Tried to call Kevin & Sharon, next thing there they were walking along the street. ‘ We’re staying in Goa!! ‘ Where? ‘ With you guys’ Yayyy, fab. They’d felt sad when we’d gone and wished we were all stranded together.

Awwww.. Week 5 and still great buddies, although I think (quite rightly) that Liz hates me a bit right now. I did apologise.

The apartment is great, everything we need and a pool. Liz and I are back to bed sharing but it’s fine.

Indigo called again Do we want a refund? 3rd March may not be possible. The refund would be 200 pounds each. No way we’re getting anywhere with that. No. We have no choice but to wait.

All we can do now is make the best of it. We’re on an economy drive, breakfast is going to be at home now.

We’ve bought muesli, curd, honey, bread, butter and jam. Not sure we’ll resist going out for curries though. Oh and that chilli chicken still has my name on it.