But, after checking for the impact of the storm, I was able to get to Birmingham International Airport by 1155. Biggest problem was finding a train at New Street, as Virgin and London Midland were not able to run beyond Watford Junction due to several trees on the line.
Thomson's flight to Hurghada at 1355 was on-time, and only half full, so I had a bit of space to relax.
Met in the airport by my transfer taxi - seemed a bit peeved that I would buy my visa from the bank rather than off him. GBP10.00 with no change seemed about right.
Had the usual battle with an ATM - checking, savings or credit - I can never remember the options for my Visa debit cards. And the machine was restricted to LE2000 per withdrawal.
Sunrise Crstal Bay Resort at Hurghada is huge and blingy. Not my sort of place at all, but I will survive two nights. My single room is 35m2. Eventually managed to get a wifi connection.
Anomoly: beer on room service card is LE22 for a 500ml bottle of Luxor, but at the bar it is LE22 for a much smaller glass, and naturally they had no change smaller than LE50. (so I had to have a second glass). Very quiet except for a few young Russians who had obviously been overindulging all day.
Bed comfortable, and room quiet except for fighter planes early in the morning. I heard the 0420 call to prayer, but it was very muted.