No Fly Zone

The week that the United Kingdom became an island

This month's week-long shutdown of UK airspace was an unprecedented event causing massive disruption and a 'Dunkirk spirit' as stranded passengers tried everything they could think of to get home. And, in terms of lost revenue (£2.2 billion at the latest count) and chaos caused, at least, it was seen as 'worse than 9/11'.

But, most of all, the volcanic eruption in Iceland reminded us in the UK that we are an island, connected to the next land mass by the Euro Tunnel alone. And that filled up pretty quick. Funny how a holiday turns into a nightmare when you can't get back from it.

Amid reports of "I never thought I'd see the day when a volcano would push a general election off the front pages" that's exactly what happened.

Stranded travellers could only look on in awe as Iceland's Eyjafjallajoekull volcano (try saying that after you've had a few) plumed and sparked with lightning strikes. Putting all the destruction and disruption aside, no one could doubt the powerful display of nature made for some striking photographs and video footage, especially when pictured in combination with the Northern Lights.

Amidst all the disruption, there was peace to be found. The silent skies over West London were a relief to residents who live under the (usually unstoppable) noise of the flight path. Kew gardens were returned to the audio state they should always be in - a place where you can actually hear the birds sing. I especially enjoyed reports from a West London beer garden where people could sit outside without their beer shaking and without having to pause in conversation every three minutes.

But for anyone else who wasn't affected by the air traffic noise pollution - ie everyone else - grounded flights were a pain in the neck. The feeling that we were back in the Blitz was compounded by the news that Gordon was sending Royal Navy warships to, err, somewhere in Spain. Cynics may say this was entirely related to the general election being just weeks away. I couldn't possibly comment.

Turns out stranded tourists who'd made their way to Santander in northern Spain got to share the HMS Albion with troops returning from a six-month tour in Afghanistan. Among those on board was Stanley Johnson, father of London Mayor Boris Johnson, returning home from a reporting assignment in the Galapagos Islands. He described the rescue, and the chance meeting with soldiers from Camp Bastion, as a humbling experience - if marooned tourists thought they had had a rough time of it they couldn't really complain given the company they were in.

Stanley wasn't the only stuck celebrity - Jeremy Clarkson had to fill in for Demi Moore, Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jnr on Jonathon Ross' TV chat show. And Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles got stranded in the States too - so there was something of a silver lining to this particular volcanic dust cloud.

Then, almost as suddenly as it began, it was all over. The airlines got fed up with grounded planes and paying for people to stay in hotels, and previously dangerous levels of ash were no longer considered such a threat. The mayor has estimated the loss to London alone has been £100 million - based on typical tourist spending. So some people at least - Boris among them - are happy that the pints of beer in West London have started to vibrate once again.

Was Jewellery Heist an Inside Job?

A current court case has revealed how a raid at Graff's New Bond Street jewellery shop last August was one of a succession of suspicious robberies at the London stores in the last 30 years. Prosecuting counsel has been suggested the shop's manager, Martin Leggatt, held at gunpoint in the £40 million diamond raid, helped plan the robbery. He stands accused of helping to set up the crime as "an inside job for the insurance payout". The case continues.

Hanging out for a Hung Parliament

There's much excitement (or is that trepidation?) that we may well be heading for a hung Parliament on the 6th May. The shift in predictions has primarily come from the televised 'Big Debate' between the three party leaders when the media realised there was a third candidate in the running for Prime Minister. Step forward Nick Clegg. The jury is still out on which way the balance of power will hang - and who will be hung out to dry.

Foreign Office Red Faced over Pope Memo

Just days after Richard Dawkins called for a legal ambush of the Pope Benedict XVI on his forthcoming visit to Britain - the first papal appearance here since 1982 - the Foreign Office has been embarrassed by a leaked internal memo. The memo listed suggested activities for the Pope on an "ideal visit" such as bringing out his own line of condoms, blessing a same-sex "marriage", or opening an abortion clinic. The Pope's autumn trip is still expected to go ahead and is expected to include visits to Coventry, Glasgow and London.

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