I was also going to ask Netla how she is doing.

The Spanish news reports that it's calm in Reykjavik at the moment but we don't know if that's where you are.

Please let us know.

SharonCb

I was thinking of her yesterday after a comment from our patent attorney. I told him that our COO was out of the country and that I didn't know where he was (He's on vacation) but that two weeks ago he was in Taiwan and that he might be in London now. The attorney then said, "I hope he's not in a plane over Iceland," and that was the first I heard of the volcano. Someone else told me that people were evacuating parts of Iceland on boats, but then I also read that Reykjavik was okay, although they probably aren't having any flights. I don't know what that particular volcano is capable of, but I know it's not as dangerous as the one under Yellowstone.

Lars

Nearly all flights in northern Europe have been cancelled because of the dangerous situation of flying through volcanic ash.

Spanish airports are full of people sleeping on the floors because their flights have been cancelled.

Volcanic experts say that the ash could cause problems with air traffic for the next six months.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sky News: Volcanic Eruption Flight Ban

I thought of you too, Netla, when I heard the news.
Please check in when/if you can so we know you are OK!
Praying for your safety and any others affected!

Deanna

I, too, was going to ask.

I'm fortunate to have found a silver lining in the cloud - my German cousin who's in Dallas on business can't get home and is now taking a detour thru NY for the weekend. Don't get to see him often, so this is a treat.

Fortunately, and ironically, my sister was in Munich and London this week on business and left Europe just in time, Wednesday night.

But no one is closer than you, Netla, sure hope you are safe.

I'm here too, checking on Netla and hoping that she's OK. Hopefully she'll check here and let us know....

Annie

I hope she is okay too. I'm not sure how far she is from the eruption but I did see on the news they were evacuating a lot of people for flooding. I hope she isn't in an area subject to flooding from all of the ice melting. I'm guessing that could be wide spread depending.

The grounded planes and aviation in general is starting to concern me too. I'm thinking that will have major affects on all kind of things. The news tonight wasn't all that positive. They even mentioned another volcanoe that could be a problem.

David

Netla, I'm thinking of you also. Please check in & let us know you're safe.

/tricia

You've been on my mind too Netla. Hope you are safe and sound. Sounds like the flooding is very bad in some areas although reports are of no fatalities and few personal injuries which is a blessing.

Wishing you and your countrymen well.

Netla, I am thinking of you too. Hope you are safe and far from the heart of the disaster area.

Check in when you can, we're all concerned.

Linda

Checking in... I've been thinking about you Netla and hoping you are safe.

I hope to hear from her, too. Here's a story I found about what's happening in Iceland.

Here is a link that might be useful: Life goes on

Netlaaaaaa! Hope you are okay.

I can't imagine being stuck in an airport for so long and the ash is getting worse. I just heard an update that airports in 23 countries have been impacted. DH and I have been to a number of the airports that are impacted and were talking about the implications are of being stuck. Money, kids, food, sleep, illness and many situations that we haven't thought of.

I've been thinking about her too! Netla, are you okay?

Sally

I have a very good friend that went to Germany for an impromptu, quick trip to visit her husband that is on his 4th deployment. He was to be in Germany for a few days, so she left her young kids for a few days and hurried over there to visit with him. Now she is stuck there and can't get back to her kids. On the bright side, her husband is probably stuck in Germany with her so she will get to spend much more time with him than she thought!

Hoping to hear from Netla soon, too.

another CFer thinking of you!

I do hope you are ok ...what a terrible thing.

Oh Netla?! Still thinking about you...

Haven't turned on the news yet this morning but was thinking that people stuck in airports is, maybe, not the most important part of this story.

Air traffic has been shut down long enough that it has to have disrupted the supply chain. Europe does not grow enough food to feed itself. Some food products are also exported to other countries from Europe so it's affecting those supplies as well.

Also, what about pharmaceuticals? Are shipments getting through? Maybe, those are some of the few planes that are still flying?

I'll bet there are perishable loads sitting on runways all around the world with rotting produce, meats, etc.

/t

She must be okay as she was still posting to her book blog on Saturday evening, April 17th.

Please check in Netla and tell us how you are doing. We're all thinking of you!

SharonCb

Here is a link that might be useful: One of Netla's Blogs

Hi! Thanks for your concern, everyone. I'm fine - the eruption is about 2 hours drive away from where I live and so far my area has not been affected. The only danger in my area is ash-fall.

As I am writing this, I am watching the TV news, with images of the magnificent ash plume over the volcano, 10 cm (4 inch) deep ash deposits in the area near the volcano, and a glacier turned black with ash.

This started out as what we call a "cute little eruption for the tourists", meaning it was small, well-situated, produced lava, was no threat to any farms or towns, and very picturesque. Then a different part of the same volcano started up, one situated under a glacier, and it stopped being cute. This one melts the glacier, causing floods, farms have had to be evacuated, and the explosive power is enormous.

Click on the link to see a rather demonic photo of the volcano.

Here is a link that might be useful: Face of the volcano

Glad you're safe, Netla! Hope your country can get back to normal life very soon.

Linda

Good to hear from you and glad you are ok. Keep us posted.

I'm glad you're ok.

I just read an article on MSNBC about how the farmers are really having problems. The cows like the salty taste of the ash, but it corrodes their insides, and in a matter of days can make their bones and teeth disolve because the high flouride binds with the calcium. So they are trying to gather all the cattle into barns and feed/water them by hand. Also, they are in the middle of lambing season, so that's another big worry.

I don't feel too sorry for someone missing their fancy European vacation, but I do feel badly for these poor farmers. It's not an easy life at the best of times, and this could put them right out of business.

Glad you are well Netla.

Ann

Netla, I'm glad you are fine and not impacted thus far.

Renee, I read the same article. Dad always said that farming was "like playing poker with God" and that's without a volcano. Sigh. Since agriculture is such a large part of life there, I hope they manage to escape with their farms and animals still usable.

Annie

Good to hear from you and that you are okay!!

David

Netla, glad to hear you are well. I guess the only ones who aren't well are the stranded travelers. Our local news did a piece on a British woman who is stuck here. They took her on a tour of the city and showed her all the highlights, including Pat's Steaks. She even took a bit of a razzing from the people who dress as colonists in the historic area (nyah, nyah, we won the Revolutionary War).

I have a friend who is stuck in Paris with her husband. Sounds fun, but they have a young daughter (6) who they left with the nanny for a week. They can't get back for ten days and the nanny's husband is due for surgery during that time. It's a mess.