Realised I have only indicated this on FaceBook but the fact is we left Montserrat on Sunday 4th January. Although the ferry was not operating, there being some delay with the introduction of the new vessel, and thus flights were very overbooked, we received an early call to get to the airport by 8 a.m. Because the airport had been closed down by the volcanic conditions thoughfully extra planes had been chartered and we found ourselves channeled onto a small 8-seater and were back in Antigua before 9 a.m. Alas we could not get an earlier flight than 7. 10 p.m. and because of some dispute between LIAT and the local air traffic control, this was delayed until well after 8 p.m. but at least we did not have to overnight in Antigua. Instead we were home safely in our own bed with no signs of ash clouds and falls which had characterised our week away.

Tonight we have watched a 90 minute DVD – The Price of Paradise “Memories of Montserrat” – The story of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano – and will be showing this to our friends over the next little while. I’m glad we went. Glad to have some small understanding of what our friends, Gordon & Delores with their families and friends, have to live with all the time.

Pyroclastic flow seen from the observatory on 2nd January 2009