Visiting the Mankelows in Tonbridge

Saturday 16 August 2008 in London
At Shannon airport we were charged €180 for overweight baggage (Rayan Air allow only 15kg) and Barb noticed other passengers were carrying two bags whereas, according to Ryan Air instructions with the ticket, she had packed her handbag into the carry on bag. We could have saved some Euros if Barb had carried her hand bag on her shoulder. Oh well things you learn. We changed departure gates three times yesterday, Gate 2 to 5 and finally to 4. When we finally walked out to the plane, I'm sure we were walking past Gate 2.

When we finally got on the plane, the Captain said there had been an ATC (Air Traffic Control) problem and if we didn't get the doors closed and rolling within 5 minutes, ATC would impose a delay of 1 and half hours!

People we were chatting to whilst waiting at Gate 4 said Ryan Air were normally on time. However the woman in the aisle seat in our row said, Ryan Air were notorious for being late.

Walking through Arrivals at Gatwick we found John and Deanna (my old school friend) and our host Aelwen was watching and wondering if it might be us and went up to John and Deanna, tapped them on the shoulder and asked if that was Ray and Barb.

We all went back to Aelwen's place and John and Deanna (with their Tom Tom GPS) took Ray to Tonbridge to meet Alan and Yvonne Mankelow.

Then Sunday 30 November 2014, daughter Sarah Bennett posted on the George & Sarah Mankelow Group page "It is with great sadness from your distant relatives in England that i tell you my lovely Dad ... Alan Edward Mankelow passed away suddenly last Tuesday at the respectable age of 78 ... Bless him xx"