We’re all not going on a summer holiday, thanks - Fiona Duff

Usually I try to be a bit positive here – I try to distract with a bit of cheer and nonsense, but frankly I am just getting a bit hacked off by the whole thing. And I know I am not the only one.

I know it is being seen that Scotland has done ‘well’ – the cases have gone down, although just check out the per capita response if you really want to see the statistics because they ain’t that good.

We could have had face masks enforced in shops and public transport from end of March and even now no-one bothers. And as for airports with no testing for incomers – that’s just a bloody disgrace.

However, it’s the outgoing travellers about which I am having a rant today. I had trips to Budapest and Italy booked for May and June. Obviously they were cancelled and when I got the email from Ryanair asking if I wanted a credit or refund I requested the latter.

Needless to say, as I am sure many of you have done the same, since summer holidays have gone asunder for many of us.

I then received another email from one of Mr O’Leary’s minions (as I am sure he sees them). It explained that staffing was down, requests were up and if I took credits I could use them for next 12 months and anything left over would be refunded at that point.

Well, I know we’re all in dire straits - even a company with assets of over 12 million euros (they are Dublin-based so Wikipedia only has it in that currency), so I agreed to a credit.

That was in May and here was me thinking that a wee trip to Italy in September would be just the thing. Except that my account shows no credits.

Apparently I have to have received an email from the boys and girls in blue and yellow with which to activate them. Although six weeks later I am still waiting and trying to deal with them could be a full time job.

All I can say is shame on them – they haven’t caused the virus more than anyone transporting people around Europe this spring. But they specialise in making travelling a misery and now have made not travelling a flipping nightmare as well.

Happy holidays everyone (sic)!